When most people think of reasons to call a plumber, a water leak or clogged toilet probably comes to mind. But don’t forget, one important reason is to install a water softener, a necessity for homes and offices in some locations.
Do I Have Hard Water?
There are a few signs and symptoms of hard water, which can range from being a nuisance to affecting the building’s energy efficiency and water use.
The most obvious symptoms of hard water are staining around drains and scale buildup on shower heads. Over time, the same symptoms will begin to appear on dishes and glassware, and eventually result in grayish clothing after doing laundry. Hard water can further cause noticeably dry skin and hair from bathing in it.
Test kits are available to determine the level of water hardness, but ultimately, it’s a matter of personal preference to determine whether a water softener is needed for a home’s water system or for specific faucets or appliances.
Types of Water Softener Systems
Hard water is caused by minerals, typically an excess of calcium and magnesium. A water softener system works by removing or replacing those minerals. Options for water softener systems include:
- An ion exchange system, the most common type, replaces those minerals with sodium, which doesn’t have the same damaging effects.
- A salt-free system filters the water and is effective with high-content calcium water but doesn’t remove magnesium.
- A reverse osmosis filter solves the problem of removing magnesium and other minerals which may be in the water, but can be expensive to use as it wastes a bit of water in the process.
Contact Knight’s Mechanical in Cecilia if you have questions about your water quality or would like to speak to our team about installing a water softening system in your home or office. Your plumbing needs are our specialty!
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