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No more dry skin.
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Cleaner clothes.
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Longer appliance lifespan.
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Healthier water.
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Low maintenance.
Maybe you just moved into a new home and you need a new water softener -- and maybe you don’t know a single thing about water softeners (or even what “hard water” is). Why bother? Why do you even need a water softener? Do you need one at all? Why even use a water softener?
With this short article, we’ll answer your questions in as simple a manner as possible so that you understand the myriad benefits of water softening, including saving you money in the long run. But first, let’s talk about your health:
Water Softener Benefit #1: No More Dry Skin
Hard water is water that contains large amounts of magnesium and calcium. When water’s “hard,” it isn’t technically physically “hard.” No one knows exactly where the name comes from, but the “hard” part actually refers to “hard-to-lather,” as in “this water makes it hard to lather soap.” The purpose of a water softener is to get rid of all of that magnesium and calcium -- or to change its properties so you don’t get the side effects.
Additionally, when it’s hard to lather soap, a film of soap is left on your skin every time you use the shower or wash your hands. You might find it necessary to apply a moisturizer and/or body lotion every time you use the shower.
Ion exchange water softeners also cause a host of skin issues, because the sodium in the water increases some people’s sensitivity to other chemicals that are present in a lot of city water, like chlorine. There’s even some evidence, like this study by Viknesh Selvarajah, that “skin sodium storage could represent an additional system influencing the response to salt load and blood pressure in humans.” Ingesting higher amounts of sodium isn’t good for your skin, nor is showering in it. That’s why we recommend a different type of water softener, but we’ll get to that in a second.
Water Softener Benefit #2: Cleaner Clothes
As we mentioned before, water softeners make “hard-to-lather” water easier to lather.
Along the same lines as having a film of soap on your hands after washing, when you have hard water, you might have mineral stains all over your clothes -- not to mention the fact that most detergents just won’t lather in water that’s too hard.
If you buy a water softener, one of the best benefits you’ll receive is cleaner clothes. According to one study published in The International Journal of Consumer Studies, “Water hardness is a key factor in the washing process.” Most reports show that it saves anywhere from 50-70% of your laundry and dishwasher detergent. They also added that, “despite the fact that people blame the water hardness for deteriorating the quality of the washed garments, the percentage of people using water softeners is relatively low in all the countries examined.”
So, a lot of consumers recognize there’s a problem with their hard water -- but yet they don’t do anything to fix it. Does that make any sense to you?
Noticing a theme? We discussed showers and washers, but the benefits extend to all of your appliances. The result? Cost savings all around.
Water Softener Benefit #3: Longer Appliance Lifespan
Going back to the new-house example: Let’s imagine you just bought a new place. There are all sorts of costs that you never thought possible, and it’s adding up quickly. Furniture, closing costs, insurance, on and and on.
And now someone’s telling you have to buy a water softener, too. And it’s going to cost you anywhere from $800-2000. Is a water softener even worth it? Do you really have to buy one? Isn’t hard water just a slight nuisance anyway?
Well, yes and no, depending on the severity of the issue. By buying a water softener, you extend the lifespan of all of your water-based appliances. That means you won’t have to buy new water heaters, refrigerators, sinks, and so on.
The general rule of thumb is based on a 2008 study performed by the Water Quality Association. They found that hard water reduces the lifespan of your appliances by roughly 30%. The National Association of Home Buying found that most people spend at least $4k on appliances after moving into a new home. By adding a water softener, appliances that used to last for ten years will likely run for 13. On a $4k investment, that’s at least an increased $1200 worth of value (and that’s the low end).
When calcium and magnesium build up inside of your appliances, they can quickly ruin expensive equipment. You might think you don’t need a water softener, but when it comes down to it, you’re either paying now or paying later.
Water Softener Benefit #4: Healthier Water
This benefit depends on the type of system you buy, but if you buy a template assisted crystallization like those sold by FilterSmart, you get the benefits of hard water with none of the negatives.
Tons of people in the United States supplement with calcium and magnesium to become healthier; virtually no one supplements with sodium. Ion exchange softeners increase sodium intake, while template assisted crystallization doesn’t.
Water Softener Benefit #5: Low Maintenance
Another great benefit of template assisted crystallization: It’s ridiculously low maintenance. Filtersmart water softening systems are the closest thing you can get to set-it-and-forget-it water softening.
Unlike the systems of old, you don’t need a regular salt refill every two weeks. Our systems are so low maintenance, you’ll probably forget you even own one (well, after all your hard water issues go away).
The only thing you have to do is replace the filter media every once in a while -- nowhere near as often as you need to refill an old ion exchange model.
Conclusion: Why Buy a Water Softener?
What does a water softener even do? Why is it worth it? Should I install a water softener
We get it. You have enough on your plate as is; you don’t want to worry about buying yet another appliance -- and there’s so much misinformation out there on water softeners, it’s easy to get discouraged, worried that you might make the wrong decision.
Of course, we have a vested interest in telling you otherwise, but that’s just because we strongly believe our product offers lasting value at a competitive price. If you’re on the fence about buying a water softener even though you know you have hard water, hopefully this short guide put your mind at ease.
