What is a Water Softener?
A water softener is a device that, simply and perhaps obviously put, softens the water in your plumbing system. When water is in the ground, it picks up minerals as it passes through rocks and soil. High concentrations of these minerals harden the water that will now enter your plumbing system.
Calcium and magnesium are of the biggest concern, as they can greatly impact the functionality of water in your home. A water softening system can remove these minerals from your home’s water supply.
Why Would a Water Softener be Needed?
Hard water creates limescale, a chalky substance that attaches to surfaces it comes into contact with. This brings with it a number of negative effects to both you and your home.
Our top reasons to install a water softening system:
1. Hard water can damage your home’s plumbing and water heating systems.
Over time, these deposits of limescale can create blockages in your plumbing system, which reduce the flow of water to your water taps and appliances. This buildup can also reduce the efficiency of your water heating system by up to 50%!
2. Hard water lessens the effectiveness of your cleaning products.
Soap will not completely dissolve when it comes into contact with hard water. Instead, it leaves behind a residue, resulting in either more soap being required to effectively clean a surface, or a surface never actually getting 100% clean. This occurs with both home cleaning products as well as skin and hair care products. If your hair has ever felt dull or lifeless after shampooing, hard water could very well be the culprit! A water softener can bring forth cleaner dishes, softer laundry, and livelier skin and hair!
3. Hard water can worsen skin conditions.
Hard water is known to aggravate eczema and other dry skin conditions. This is due to both the extra cleaning product needed to effectively clean skin, as well as soap scum that develops on skin and clothing washed in hard water.
4. Soft water saves you money on cleaning.
Because soft water is more effective at cleaning than hard water, you can wash yourself or items in your home at lower temperatures, for less time, and with less cleaning product. You’ll save money through less energy consumption, lower utility bills, and lower cleaning product expenses. When you think about how often you wash your clothes, dishes, car, and yourself, the cost savings can really add up!
How Does a Water Softener Work?
When hard water enters through a main water pipe, it will then pass to the water softening system, which includes a resin tank. Through a process called ion exchange, resin beads within the tank will attract and hold onto the hard water minerals, pulling them out of the water. This leaves behind soft water, which will now leave the tank and be readily accessible for your home plumbing needs.
Water softeners will typically need to be replaced every 20 years, depending on the quality of the system and its maintenance over time.
Worried that you may have already done damage with years of hard water in your plumbing system? Rest assured that a retroactively installed water softener will go to work dissolving already existing limescale deposits in your water system.
Water Softener Repair in Loudoun County, VA
Need help installing a new water softening system or need maintenance on your current system? Our plumbers are licensed, insured and certified to handle it all! From routine maintenance to repairs, replacements and upgrades, our work speaks for itself. Check out our client testimonials and request a service appointmentto receive a prompt response from your friendly neighborhood water softener experts.