Crusty White Buildup
White crust on faucets and showerheads and cloudy glass on shower doors are telltale signs of hard water. Hard water minerals (calcium and magnesium) are to blame for these bathroom nuisances, causing flaky buildup and inability to fully rinse away soap and cleaners. A water softener removes the excess calcium and magnesium from your water, keeping faucets sparkling and eliminating the problem before the water is even plumbed throughout the house.

Damaged Appliances
Appliances such as refrigerators, dishwashers, coffee makers and water heaters are cornerstones of the home and see a lot of use. They also rely heavily on the use of water for proper functioning. If hard water is being plumbed to these appliances, scale can build up in the pipes and within the systems themselves. Because of that, there will be reduced water flow to your refrigerator, and your dishwasher will no longer clean dishes as effectively. A thick layer of lime scale may even build up in your water heater, making it less efficient. And that morning cup of coffee that you love so much may taste worse or take longer to brew. In addition to costly damages, the lifespan of these appliances can be reduced by 30 to 50 percent with hard water. A water softener will minimize the need for costly repairs or premature replacement.

Stiff, Discolored Laundry
The minerals found in hard water deposit themselves onto fabrics, which cause discoloration and stiffness. 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. Soft water will allow you to use less laundry detergent while getting cleaner, brighter and softer results.

If using soft water sounds like a good New Year’s resolution for your household, there’s no better time to find the water softening system for your home. Everyone and everything will benefit—and it will be the easiest resolution you’ve ever made.

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These are some of the most common problems you may be experiencing around your home due to hard water:

• Around the home
  • Crusty, white scale buildup on faucets, shower heads and water-using appliances
  • Dishwasher that no longer cleans dishes very well
  • Reduced water flow due to clogged pipes
  • Hard-to-clean film and scale on bath and kitchen fixtures, shower walls and toilets
  • Spotty, filmy glasses and dishes—even after washing
  • Soap that refuses to lather despite using copious amounts
  • Gray, dingy clothing
  • Towels that feel hard and scratchy post-wash
• Financial hits over time
  • Higher utility bill costs over time
    • Hard water will require up to 29% more energy to heat your water over the life of a water heater
    • The estimated increase in energy bills over a 10-year period: $1,500
  • Decreased efficacy of major water-using appliances, including big ticket items like water heaters, dishwashers and washing machines
  • A 30% to 50% decrease in the lifespan of major appliances
  • Increased purchases of items such as laundry detergent, bath and kitchen soaps and lotion
    • Estimated annual cost without a softener: $1,039
    • Estimated annual cost with a softener: $225 (75% to 80% percent savings)
• Personal well-being
  • “Squeaky” skin post-wash
  • Excessively dry skin
  • Dull, limp hair
  • Razor burn
  • Hair color that quickly fades

If any of these signs are present in your home, the best way to know for sure if you’ve got hard water is through a hard water test. It’s quick and easy, and it will tell you how hard your water is. Armed with that info, you’ll be able to look into the best solutions for your home.

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