Without a doubt, one of our most popular new installation services each year are water softeners. Just as we mention quite frequently on social media, hard water is a problem that definitely impacts the Kansas City area. As a whole, Kansas City is said to have above-average levels of hard water. While hard water is safe to drink and wash with, I’d be lying if I said there were absolutely no downsides to it. And to ultimately alleviate many of these hard water issues, most homeowners simply opt to have a water softener installed.
Here at Stine-Nichols, we primarily work with two brands of water softeners. Are there other brands out there on the market? Of course, but we’ve had tremendous luck with these two manufacturers and feel confident in recommending their products to our customers. These two are North Star and NuvoH2O. While both essentially serve the same purpose, they do have their own unique qualities. For example, North Star is a traditional salt-based water softener system, as opposed to NuvoH2O which uses a citrus-based technology.
However, for the purposes of this blog, we’re going to analyze the situation from a more general perspective. Knowing that hard water is something people don’t necessarily love, what are the most popular advantages of having a water softener system installed? Having installed these for plenty of Kansas City homeowners over the years, we’ll also include some of the feedback we’ve received from them to provide a more accurate representation.
Better For Your Plumbing System
If you’ve ever gone through a significant plumbing repair project, you know it can get a little pricey. Whether that be a substantial repiping job or even replacing the sewer line, whenever there’s more construction involved, the price tag typically goes up at the same time! Well, when it comes to hard water, it can be tough on your plumbing pipes, fixtures, appliances and so on. This is largely due to mineral build-up. If you’ve been following us here on the blog, you may have seen this term mentioned before on the topic of maintaining your water heater. As we discuss the plumbing pipes themselves, these mineral deposits will calcify and clog up your pipes. When they clog up, the water pressure diminishes and the potential problems escalate from there.
Hard Water Can Be Tough on Laundry
Have you lived in different parts of the country? If so, did you notice your laundry experience change any throughout these changes? Well, if these different geographic locations had different levels of hard water, that is a perfectly normal thing to experience. To put it simply, the harder the water is, the harder it is on your laundry. In fact, it’s also said to have an impact on the actual lifespan of your clothing too. A study from Purdue University (highlighted by The Driller Magazine) “indicated that fabrics washed in hard water tend to wear out up to 15 percent quicker than fabrics washed in soft water.”
In terms of laundry itself, hard water also makes it tougher for the water to mix with detergent. As a result, most Americans will end up finding themselves using more detergent or dealing with stiff/scratchy clothes.
Impact on Appliances
On the first point we highlighted here, I mentioned how hard water can be damaging to your plumbing system itself. To add to this point, it can’t be understated how hard water can also impact the various appliances throughout your home. In addition to the pipes themselves, water softeners can help minimize mineral deposits that are capable of building up in various appliances, including the dishwasher and washing machine. On that note, have you also ever noticed rust stains accumulating in your sink, toilet or bathtub? Well, guess what? Those stains could also be the result of hard water! While it’s not a guarantee, water softeners are capable of making some of your various household appliances last longer.
Healthy Skin and Hair
If it’s not already clear, hard water can be quite frustrating for homeowners! This is particularly the case here in Kansas City, where we experience above average levels of hard water. Another item to add to the case for a water softener is the fact that it’ll produce healthier skin and hair. One of the more common things people notice with hard water is the fact that it dries out their skin and hair. This is a known effect of hard water and something that certainly makes a water softener worth the investment.
Saves Money
Last, but certainly not least, a major advantage of having a water softener installed is the realization that it will save you money! Yes, there’s going to be an upfront cost of having the actual softener installed, but look at all of the advantages we’ve highlighted throughout this blog. To top off this list, you’ll also be saving money in a variety of ways. Here are a couple to consider:
Energy Bills: When there’s scale build-up in your water heater, the water heater has to work harder. Simple enough, right? Well, with this scale build-up, there’s more calcium that the unit has to fight through. As a result, guess what you need more of when this happens? Energy!
Cleaning Supplies: As we’ve mentioned a few times throughout this blog, one of the bigger benefits to soft water is not having to use as much cleaning products to get the job done. This could be a plethora of different things. Soap and shampoo in the bathroom, laundry detergent and any other household cleaning product.
How much could this be saving you? While a lot of this is dependent on the number of people in your household and the actual water hardness in your particular area, it’s clear there are savings to be had!
Water Softener Installation in Kansas City!
Tired of dealing with all of the annoying side effects associated with hard water? We understand! Our team hears this exact same frustration from plenty of homeowners throughout the Kansas City area. As evidenced in this blog, there are a number of negative attributes when it comes to hard water. And considering the large majority of Americans deal with hard water, you’re certainly not alone.
Luckily, water softeners have made this a problem of the past. With plenty of reliable water softener options on the market, there’s no reason to continue putting up with the adverse effects of hard water. As briefly mentioned in the introduction, our team at Stine-Nichols Plumbing primarily works with two different brands of water softeners. First, you have the NuvoH2O, which is a newer citrus-based solution and quickly becoming a fan favorite due to it being so user-friendly. On the other side, for those wanting to go with a traditional salt-based option, we have the always reliable North Star. Both are quality products and more than capable of resolving hard water issues.
Interested in getting a free quote to have a water softener installed at your home or business? We would love to help you out! Fill out the form linked here for more information. As a bonus, just for checking out this blog, we would like to offer you $150 OFF any new water softener installation. Just make sure to mention this special when scheduling your appointment to be eligible for the discount. Certain exclusions may apply.