If you’re not particularly knowledgeable about the waters running in your pipes, you may not be aware that those waters are either hard or soft. It makes no sense when you hear or read that for the first time, but the type of water you use may have something to do with the condition of your hair, skin, appliances, and dinnerware.
Around 85% of American households are supplied with hard water, so chances you’re also one of them. If you notice dried water stains on your glasses or utensils and/or soap scums around your faucet, those are caused by hard water.
On the other hand, one of the most common ways to tell if the water is soft is through its taste. It has to have a slight sodium taste, though in many cases, the taste difference it has with hard water is imperceptible.
Soft water is said to have benefits such as improving our skin and hair and boosting the efficiency of water heating systems. In Ogden, Utah and other places, water softening systems are available, so you may check out what they have to offer if you just got curious about the difference soft water makes.
But is water softening really worth it? Just how different are they from hard water?
Health Risks Linked to Hard Water
If health is your major concern for considering swapping hard water for soft water, there aren’t actually any serious adverse health problems linked to drinking hard water. But if you’re trying to treat your dry skin or hair, or eczema, using hard water may only aggravate those conditions instead of doing the opposite.
Hard water is packed with minerals, specifically calcium and magnesium, which can alter the pH balance of the skin, weakening its purpose to defend against harmful bacteria and infections. Hence, if you have eczema that doesn’t seem to get better, you should definitely switch to soft water.
How Water Softening Works
Water softening works by reducing hard’s water calcium and magnesium and replacing it with sodium or potassium. The process is called ion exchange. To explain it in detail, the water enters the water softener tank, then seep through the resin beads, which have negatively charged ions. These ions attract positively charged minerals, whose deposits will cling into the resin, resulting in softened water.
Facts About Soft Water
- Since soft water reduces calcium and magnesium, you might need to take multivitamins if your diet lacks these minerals. Otherwise, drinking soft water shouldn’t pose any risks to your health.
- If you have high blood pressure, the sodium content of soft water may worsen your condition, so opt for the one that uses potassium instead.
- Soft water can improve the efficiency of water heating systems. Hard water leaves mineral deposits in the pipes, which may affect water pressure. With soft water, the pipes will be free from deposit build-up, hence maximizing the efficiency of your water heaters.
- Home appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines, and kettles can have a longer lifespan, because they’ll no longer be affected with mineral deposits.
- Soft water will break down mineral deposits and soap scum in sinks, faucets, taps, baths, and other surfaces.
- You can save on bath and laundry products with soft water since they deliver a healthier lather for these products.
- Your clothes may also last longer from the absence of mineral stains.
- Soft water is good for people with dry skin and/or hair, and eczema, because it eliminates the minerals that alter the skin’s pH balance.
Considering the benefits of using soft water, it can be deduced that it really does make a significant difference to our households. However, it still comes down to preference, so if the effects of hard water don’t bother you, then sticking to it shouldn’t be a problem. But if the benefits of soft water are something you really need, then it’s an absolutely worthy investment.
