Mia
The global water softener market had an estimated value of $2.05 billion in 2017. Come 2025, experts project this to grow to a whopping $3.57 billion.
Water softeners may not be essential or necessary, but they can be a great home addition.
With that said, we created this list of reasons why you might want to get a softener installed. Read on so that you can determine if it’s a worthy home improvement investment.
Helps Make Cleaning and Washing Easier
Hard water contains high concentrations of calcium, magnesium, and other dissolved minerals. These minerals react with soap molecules, forming solids called precipitates (AKA soap scum). Scum doesn’t dissolve and makes it hard for soap to lather or make bubbles.
That’s why hard water makes it more difficult to clean not only objects but your skin and hair, too. Soap scum is also aesthetically unpleasant.
A water softener removes calcium, magnesium, and other dissolved minerals from the water. In doing so, it’s easier for soaps and shampoo to form a lather. It also helps minimize soap scum formations on dishes and surfaces.
Can Help Lower Your Water Usage and Bills
Did you know that the average eight-minute shower can consume up to 20 gallons of water? Every extra minute you run the shower adds about 2.5 gallons more.
You might end up taking longer showers all the time if you have hard water. That’s because the harder the water is, the more difficult it is to remove soap residue, too. For the same reasons, hard water can also force you to double or even triple-wash your dishes and clothes.
If your skin still feels icky after a shower or if you have to re-wash your dishes, it may be time to get a water softener. Soft water is easier to clean and rinse with, so it can help you reduce your water usage and bills.
Can Help Keep Your Appliances Efficient
According to studies, scale build-up can increase the energy usage of water heaters by 24%. Scale, in turn, is a hardened layer of dissolved minerals found in hard water.
Scale can affect the efficiency of water-using appliances as it acts as insulation. For example, scaling can reduce heat transfer from a heater’s heating element to the water. As a result, the heater needs more time and energy to heat the water.
Since soft water has little to no dissolved minerals, then it can be better for your appliances, too.
May Be Healthier For Your Skin and Hair
There’s evidence that hard water can contribute to the development of atopic dermatitis. It appears that excessive levels of calcium can impair the skin’s barrier. At the very least, hard water may make you more prone to dry skin, dry hair, and an itchy scalp.
Before you spend a lot of dough on a water softening device, take the time to shop around for a salt-free softener. According to this Morton salt water softener review, salt-based systems can add a lot of salt to tap water. Over time, all that extra sodium can spike up your blood pressure and put you at risk of health woes.
A Salt-Free Water Softener Can Be a Healthy Home Addition
Soft water is more of a matter of personal preference rather than being a necessity. However, its cost-saving and potential health benefits make it an attractive home addition. Just make sure that if you decide to get a water softener, go for one that uses salt-free technology.
Ready for more guides on home improvement, lifestyle, or even health and safety? Feel free to look around our site for more informative posts like this!
