If you’ve been following some of our past blog posts, you likely know that a plumbing system is composed of quite a few different items. Likewise, with each of these individual pieces, there are various maintenance practices that will be immensely helpful in keeping everything running properly. One of these plumbing components that won’t be found in every house and building, yet can definitely be a worthwhile addition, is a water softener.
Just as its name suggests, a water softener system is responsible for softening the water. I’m sure you’ve likely heard the term ‘hard water’ before and given that the Kansas City area is home to its fair share of it, you’ve likely experienced it first-hand. While hard water isn’t dangerous for your personal health, there’s a reason why plenty of homeowners opt to invest in having a water softener system installed. Throughout this week’s blog post, we’ll discuss why this is the case and even provide a few tips for those that are interested in having one installed in their own home!
Do you have hard water?
Unsurprisingly, the first question that you’ll want to ask yourself is whether or not you actually have hard water. After all, what’s the point of purchasing a new water softener system if the water isn’t that hard in the first place? Water hardness levels vary by geographic location. Being that our plumbing company serves Kansas City and the surrounding cities, we would like to note that this area has above-average levels of hard water. And even though most of the United States has at least a little bit of hard water, there are definitely parts of the country with lesser amounts in comparison to Kansas City.
To sum it up, before even considering investing in a water softener, take some time to do a little research and confirm that hard water is present in your area.
Do you know the signs of hard water?
If you’ve dealt with hard water before, you may be familiar with some of the typically-frustrating effects of hard water. Odds are many people may be familiar with several of these, but given that they are typically what prompt a water softener purchase, we definitely had to mention them here! So…what might these effects of hard water look like?
Dry Skin & Hair: As you’ll see with each of these items, most of the hard water signs are extremely easy to notice. Dry skin and dry hair are perfect examples, as well as any color-treated hair fading at a quicker pace.
Laundry: Another area where you’ll see hard water having an impact is when you go to do the laundry. Whether it be discoloration, soap scum residue being left behind or even the towels having a more scratchy feeling, hard water can also impact your laundry too!
Washing the Dishes: Did you know that hard water can also have an effect on the cleanliness of your dishes too? One of the most notable instances of this is when your dishes start to have a cloudiness look to them that requires extra cleaning to clear up.
All in all, while hard water is safe to drink and wash with, it does have some negatives! In addition to the items mentioned above, you might also start to spot mineral stains in the bathtub, calcium deposits clogging up your faucets and even mineral build-up in your water heater that requires you to flush it at least once a year.
Which water softener system is right for you?
Having said all of this, do you think a water softener is something that could be of use to you? They definitely offer a number of benefits and it really is no surprise as to why they’ve been so popular among many of our clients here in Kansas City. Nonetheless, as is the case with many other plumbing components (such as faucets, water heaters and so on), there are several options to pick from. Unless you deal with these on a regular basis, it can certainly seem a little overwhelming navigating through the various options and ultimately deciding which makes the most sense for your household.
Given that this week’s blog post is focused on tips for purchasing a new water softener system, we wanted to provide a few attributes that you can use to narrow down your water softener selection. Keep in mind that we also encourage using the expertise of your local plumbing company, as they’ll be able to steer you in the right direction of a reliable water softener.
Ease of Use: With any plumbing-related purchase, one characteristic that’s easy to overlook is how easy it is to operate and maintain. Yes, it’s important for it to be effective, but you also would like to avoid a bunch of maintenance tasks (if possible) to keep it running properly, right? With that in mind, when you’re comparing different water softener systems, take note of the amount of maintenance required. That’s one reason why the systems from NuvoH2O have been so popular over the last few years. With a maintenance process that simply involves replacing a cartridge, you’ll have no trouble keeping things running smoothly! Click HERE to check out NuvoH2O’s website.
Price Point: As you can likely guess, water softeners are available at a wide range of prices. Having a ballpark figure in mind for how much you would like to spend will definitely help in narrowing down the potential options. If you’ve never had a water softener before, it wouldn’t hurt to do a little browsing online and see what the different softeners are selling for.
Water Softener Size: Just like with water heaters, water softeners come in varying sizes to support different household sizes. The number of people in your household, as well as the square footage of your home, will factor into your decision. Since we highlighted NuvoH2O above, we’ll reference them once more here. Their Home Water Softener is designed for homes with less than 1500 SqFt, while their Manor Water Softener is for homes over 1500 SqFt. Water softeners aren’t a one-size-fits-all product, so you’ll want to make sure it’s sized properly for your home!
Effectiveness: The final factor (which is definitely the most important) is whether or not a water softener is able to do what it’s intended to do. After all, you’re likely choosing to invest in a water softener because you’re tired of dealing with hard water! This is where your local plumbing professional should be quite helpful. They should have recommended systems that they install for local homeowners and are trusted by their team. With a water softener being a sizable investment, it also wouldn’t hurt to browse around online and look into those systems a little deeper to see what the public’s perception is.
Water Softener Installation Services in Kansas City
Here at Stine-Nichols Plumbing, our team has had the opportunity to install a number of water softener systems over the years. As evidenced above, we always prioritize options that are effective at alleviating the negatives associated with hard water. However, there are a number of other characteristics that will factor into your selection, including maintenance requirements, home size and price. Knowing this, we have both a salt-based option (NorthStar) and citrus-based softener (NuvoH2O) that we recommend to clients. Although they each look a little different and approach hard water in their own ways, there’s no denying that they’re both effective!
Are you interested in having a water softener system installed in your home or business? If so, we would love to answer any questions you may have and provide you with a free estimate. Simply fill out the form HERE or give us a call at (816) 348-3481 to learn more!