Soft water is water that contains fewer metallic ions like calcium and magnesium. Water with high levels of calcium and magnesium, on the other hand, is hard water. Using hard water in your home can lead to a lot of problems, both big and small. Likewise, there are several benefits to Soft water. It’s easy on the skin (especially for people prone to eczema), and easier on plumbing pipes as well.

Long story short: there are a lot of reasons to have whole-home water softener. We’ve listed a few of our oft-forgotten favorites below.

Extend the life of pipes, fixtures, appliances

Hard water has minerals, and minerals leave scale behind. Limescale causes the sort of corrosion that can eat through pipes in what feels like no time at all.

Scale residue also builds up in appliances like dishwashers or coffee machines. If the water in your home is hard, you’ll have to clean your appliances much more frequently.

Use less soap and shampoo

Calcium ions, like those found in hard water, inhibit the ability of soaps and shampoos to create lather. The harder it is to create a lather, the more soap you’ll have to use to wash effectively.

Soft water makes it easier for soaps and shampoos to lather up, so smaller amounts go further. Shampoo can get pricey, so why not save a little extra money amidst all the other benefits?

Easier on the skin

Soap reacts with the minerals in hard water, creating a curd-like residue that clogs pores and makes it harder to moisturize. As pores clog, skin dries out, making it susceptible to flaking and cracking.

People with hard water may notice their hands are dry, they develop rashes easily, or they have dandruff. Dry skin is especially prevalent in the winter. Using soft water helps keep pores open, helping prevent symptoms of skin problems like eczema and acne.

Preserve clothing

The minerals in hard water can get trapped in the clothes you wear when you wash them. These minerals dull colors and stiffen the materials in the clothing, making it more prone to wrinkle over time.

Using soft water to wash your clothing helps preserve its appropriate color, softness, and flexibility.

Lower power bill

Soft water allows appliances to work more efficiently, because there’s less mineral residue in the water slowing things down. Any appliance that uses both water and energy works more efficiently with soft water.

According to the Water Quality Association (WQA), using soft water could help you save up to 27% on energy costs in just one year.

Help your house plants

Water softeners remove more than just calcium and magnesium. They also removes traces of other chemicals found in tap water, like chlorine. A small concentration of chlorine won’t hurt you, but it will hurt your house plants.

When house plants drink hard water, they absorb the chlorine in it, as well. This chlorine makes plants dry out and die faster than they would otherwise. Soft water doesn’t contain the same concentration of chlorine, making it easier on plants.

Soft water can make a world of difference not just for your plumbing and yourself, but a number of other things in your home as well.

If you’re interested in taking the next steps toward installing a whole-home water softener, get in touch with the experts at Ben Franklin Plumbing in MN today.

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