What Is Hard Water, Anyway? 

Hard water is when too much sediment and minerals are inside the home’s water supply, leading to issues like scale buildup, soap scum, and dry skin. The minerals in hard water can include calcium, iron, and magnesium. 

Some places have harder water than others, and hard water is scaled in parts per million (PPM). For instance, Madison has the hardest water in the state, measuring 350 PPM, and Green Bay still has moderately hard water, at 130 PPM. 

So, do residents of Green Bay need water softeners? It’s a matter of preference, but households can benefit significantly from them. This post will discuss water softeners, signs of hard water indicating the home would benefit from a water softener, and the advantages of installing one. 

Water Softeners Explained

A water softener is a specialized appliance that helps to remove unwanted minerals from hard water. Hard water contains high levels of calcium and magnesium ions, which can cause problems such as soap scum buildup, reduced effectiveness of detergents, and damage to plumbing systems.

The most common type of water softener uses a process called ion exchange. The hard water passes through the tank, where the calcium and magnesium ions are exchanged for sodium ions. This process effectively softens the water by removing the minerals that cause hardness. Several types of water softeners are available, but the most common ones are salt-based ion exchange systems.

Recognize the Signs of Hard Water 

There are many signs of hard water that indicate the need for a water softener, including: 

• The feeling of a film on hands: When washing hands, the soap interacts with the minerals in hard water, which can cause soap scum and the feeling of a film or residue on the hands, requiring someone to spend more time rinsing and scrubbing their hands. 
• Clothes that don’t last long: Rough and faded clothes after washing can be due to the washing machine using hard water to clean the clothing.  
• Spotted glasses: Glasses and silverware that have spots on them after being washed in the dishwasher can be due to hard water. 
• Poor water pressure: Water pressure in the home can suffer due to mineral deposits from the hard water that can form inside the home’s pipes, impeding water flow. 
• Scale deposits on fixtures: White-colored scale and mineral deposits can form on the plumbing fixtures due to hard water.
• Dry hair and skin: Showering, bathing, and washing hands with hard water can cause the skin and hair to become dry and the skin and scalp to be itchy.

There Are Many Benefits of Water Softener Installation 

Some benefits of installing a water softener at home include: 

• Saves homeowners money: Mineral buildup from hard water can cause issues for the plumbing and appliances that use water, such as water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines. With a water softener, these appliances will last longer and work more efficiently, saving homeowners money, and plumbing problems caused by mineral scale can be avoided. 
• Softer and more hydrated hair and skin: The minerals in hard water can dry out the skin and hair, but a water softener helps improve skin and hair health. 
• Better water pressure: A water softener prevents minerals from forming a scale inside pipes that lead to reduced water pressure, ensuring good water pressure in the home. 
• Clothes that stay brighter and softer: A water softener helps colors stay bright and keeps clothes soft for longer, preventing colors from fading and clothes from becoming rough.
• Cleaner dishes from the dishwasher: By washing dirty dishes in a dishwasher with softened water, they will come out looking cleaner and without spotting. 

About Vern Kummers Plumbing, Inc. 

Vern Kummers Plumbing, Inc. has more than four decades of experience serving Green Bay and the surrounding areas. They offer honest, competitive pricing, personalized service, and fast and reliable service every time. Call them today for water softener installation and repair services in Green Bay, WI. 

• 
  +