If your repair list includes the following, one of the first things you may want to tackle is installing a water softener is your home.

• Repairing dishwasher that no longer cleans dishes well
• Hiring a plumber to unclog pipes because of reduced water flow
• Fixing your washing machine due to clothing coming out gray, dingy and stiff

Installing a water softener provides a significant cost savings in several areas of the home. From extending the life of your water-using appliances and cutting cleaning time and effort in half to providing cleaner dishes and laundry and giving you softer skin and more manageable hair, water softeners benefit a household in many ways.

To find the right water softener for your home, check out our water softener buyers guide. Once you’ve found the right water softener, you can either choose to have someone install it for you or do it yourself. If the DIY option is your thing, we have some easy installation advice for you to make the process less daunting and have time to tackle the rest of your repair list.

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Unfortunately, if you have hard water, you can expect to lose 30 percent to 50 percent of an appliance’s projected lifespan. Rust and buildup form due to the high amounts of iron, calcium and magnesium found in hard water areas. The constant contact of these materials may cause severe damage, and the longer the iron and other minerals build up the worse the damage to appliances, sinks, and tubs.

Commercial products with strong chemicals provide a powerful solution for eliminating scale buildup and rust stains left behind by iron in hard water, but this is only a temporary solution to the problem.

The Hard Water and Rust Stain Solution
You may be able to find short-term fixes including lemon juice, vinegar, and commercial products, but you will not be solving the actual problem at hand. A water softener is the core solution to eliminating iron minerals that form rust stains in your home. The water softening process is able to absorb hard minerals from the water as well as clear water iron by using tiny resin beads, which act as a sponge. Installing a water softener is your only solution to eliminating rust stains from iron permanently.

You can find out if you live in a zone with hard water by referencing the map on our website. You may also fill out a form on our website to receive a free water test in the mail.

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Getting the Gray Out

For temporary help, choose a special additive for your laundry. They bind to the hardness minerals, softening the water. This is a quick solution, but unfortunately, a non-lasting one as those additives drain away. When your laundry is rinsed in hard water, some of the additives’ benefits are negated.

A water softener provides a permanent solution. It removes the hard water minerals from your water and laundry. You can purchase a water softener at any big box store and install it yourself with a little plumbing know-how.

Easy Water Test

To start, be sure you actually have hard water. Request a free test strip then use our easy step-by-step tool that helps you figure out the best system for your home.

And water softeners help you save money too by making your appliances more efficient and saving on cleaning supplies. You then have a few more dollars to buy more little black dresses for your closet.

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But did you know that your water might be affecting the taste of your food?

Hard water can leave you with spotty, filmy dishes, but you may not be aware that high levels of chlorine often found in municipal water supplies also affects your cooking and baking. Here are the top three reasons filtering hard water makes a big difference in the kitchen:

Taste the Difference

Does your tap water have a foul odor or taste? The culprit could be chlorine and impurities in your water. When you use tap water to wash your fruits and vegetables or cook pasta, the undesirable taste of the hard water doesn’t disappear. Instead, it’s absorbed into your food and affects the flavor. By filtering your hard water, the impurities and chlorine are removed and you’re left with higher quality, better tasting water for washing your produce or preparing family dinners. Specifically, you’ll notice that your pastas and rice will cook faster and have a creamier texture.

Baking and Hard Water

Are you frustrated with your baked goods not turning out right? Before you place blame on your culinary skills, know that your hard water may be the problem. Hard water minerals such as calcium and magnesium or chlorine-rich tap water affect the performance of some ingredients, including yeast. Minerals in your water change the gluten structure of dough, making it tough or slowing the fermentation process. Filtered and softened water gets rid of unwanted minerals in your water, so you can bake better bread and have softer cookies for the school bake sale.

Dull Food

Are your veggies losing their vibrant color? The high chlorine level in your hard water is likely the culprit. Why? Chlorine is an ingredient in bleach, so it makes sense that it would strip the colors from your food, leaving them a faded, yellowish color. Filtering hard water removes chlorine, so your food maintains its vibrant color.

Don’t let your hard water prevent you from creating the winning bake sale cookie. By installing a 2-in-1 softener and whole home filtration system, you can easily remove chlorine and other impurities while improving the taste of your food and the appearance of your home.

To learn more about selecting the best system for your home, visit EcoPureHome to view water softener solutions or test the water in your home with our free water quality test strip here.

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