For all the benefits that softer water offers your home, there are still false beliefs about what it does to your water. In this video, we bust those myths.

Myth No. 1: Water softeners make your water salty and add sodium to your diet.

This is false. There are only about 20 milligrams (mg) of salt found in an 8-ounce glass of water. That’s equal to a few grains of table salt. There are approximately 2,300 mg of salt in a teaspoon, 59 mg of salt in an egg and 120 mg in a glass of milk. Water softeners do not alter the taste of your water or impact your daily diet.

Myth No. 2: Water softeners remove important minerals from your drinking water.

This is false. Water softeners only get rid of minerals your body cannot absorb such as magnesium and calcium. After water is softened, no nutrients are lost that will benefit your health.

Myth No. 3: Water softeners are expensive to operate in your home.

This is false. Your water softener will cost you $10/year on your electric bill — that’s the same as it takes to run your alarm clock. Water softeners can actually save you up to $800/year by extending the life of your fabrics, reducing the amount of soaps and cleaning product you use and improve the performance of appliances such as your dishwasher and washing machine.

To learn more about where it will save you, check out our “The Impact of Hard Water on Your Wallet” video.

The new water softening systems that you can find on EcoPureHome only use 6-8 bags of salt per year — that’s nearly half of the salt it used to take on older systems.

If you’re having troubles finding the right water softener solution for your home, use our water test tool and find what you need.

The post Busted: Hard Water Myths appeared first on HomeWater 101.

You know that water softeners eliminate several headaches around your home—from spotty dishes and stiff laundry to costly appliance repairs. But a common question is whether a softener will also remove important minerals from your water that you and your family need to stay healthy.

Happily, this is not a concern for water softener owners, and here’s why:

1. The minerals found in your tap water are in a form that your body can’t properly digest. If you’re looking to add key vitamins and minerals to your diet, it is more important to focus on the food you eat. A well-balanced meal plan will provide the daily dose of nutrients you need to stay healthy. If you’re concerned about your intake, consider adding a multivitamin or supplement.
2. Water softeners are designed to capture and remove specific minerals (magnesium and calcium) from your water. This process gets rid of the home-damaging hardness minerals and leaves minerals like fluoride (which helps prevent tooth decay) intact.

Not only will a water softener eliminate white, crusty buildup, scum rings in your tub, and spotty dishes, it won’t remove any essential nutrients from your water either. To give your home the gift of good “health,” start by getting a free water test to help you evaluate your water and find the best softening solution for your home.

The post Myth: I’m losing “good” minerals from my water appeared first on HomeWater 101.

Have you recently purchased a new white dress shirt only to have it look less than pristine after a handful of washes? Or what about your freshly laundered towels? Are they scratchier and harder than they should be straight out of the dryer? If you’ve noticed stiff, harsh fabrics, graying or yellowing of clothing, soil build-up and/or weakening of fabrics, hard water is most likely the culprit.

How hard water hinders the wash cycle

The minerals found in hard water (calcium and magnesium) deposit themselves onto fabrics, which cause discoloration and stiffness. Think of it this way: hard water is like rocks hitting your clothes and damaging them. Laundry detergent does not activate and perform well when used with hard water, which minimizes its effectiveness unless you add more soap to the wash cycle. This quickly becomes costly and wasteful.

Quick fixes

A chemical additive for the wash cycle is available. It breaks down the hardness minerals, allowing the soap to work more effectively and thoroughly to clean the clothes. However, once the water is drained from the machine, hard water comes back during the rinse cycle, undoing much of the initial work of the conditioner. This is less effective and not a permanent fix for your hard water woes.

The softening solution

By installing a water softener, the hardness minerals are removed before water is distributed throughout the house for daily use. Soft water will allow you to use less laundry detergent while getting cleaner, brighter and softer results. Your fabrics will last longer and look better, and you won’t have to go clothes shopping because you have to—only because you want to. Unsure what kind of water softener is right for your home? Answer a few quick questions about your home’s water use and get a personalized recommendation.

The post What happened to my laundry? appeared first on HomeWater 101.