Are you worried about the impact that hard water is having on your pipes?
Minerals in your tap water can have some positive impacts on your health, but they can also cause real damage to your plumbing and appliances. In this article, we will walk you through how to soften water so that you can protect your plumbing and your appliances.
So, let’s jump straight in and work out how to make hard water soft!
Table of Contents
What Is Hard Water and Soft Water?
Hard water is water that is high in minerals, particularly calcium and magnesium. These minerals are actually quite good for our bodies when we drink them. However, they have a number of other harmful effects, which we will soon see.
Hard water is formed when the water supply has passed through rock, particularly, gypsum and limestone. As the water percolates through the rock, it picks up these mineral particles. These particles then stay in the water, all the way to your tap.
Because hard water is dependent on the water passing through rock, you won’t find it everywhere. But, if you do have it, it can cause some havoc.
Hard water can also harm your skin and hair.
Why Is Soft Water Important?
The main reason why it is important to have soft water is that hard water can really damage your plumbing, as well as your appliances.
You have probably noticed in your shower that you can get a buildup of soap scum and limescale. If you’ve tried to clean these things, you know how hard these substances can be.
Well, these residues are caused directly by hard water. So, you can imagine that if you have that kind of buildup in your pipes, it can do some damage.
In particular, you will find that hard water can destroy appliances like dishwashers, washing machines, and water heaters.
So, now you are wondering how to soften water, right?
How to Soften Water
If you are wondering about how to soften hard water, you need to be aware of the different available products on the market. The main kind of water softener works by allowing water to pass through ionized resin beads.
These beads have a negative charge, as opposed to the positive charge of calcium and magnesium. As the water passes through, ions are exchanged, and the calcium and magnesium change their chemical structure. The result is software.
But you can also look at products such as a citric acid water softener review. You can read more about this kind of product to compare effectiveness.
A Worthwhile Investment
You should now know how to soften water, but is it really worth it?
Well, a water softener may end up costing you a fraction of the price of repairing your plumbing and replacing expensive appliances. So, it’s up to you, but time will tell.
Now you know how to make soft water, it’s completely your decision to make the switch!
If you’ve found this information useful, why not check out some of our other great articles on home and health topics?
