Hard water. Not necessarily the worst plumbing problem to have, but also not something you’re dying to have! If you’ve followed along on our blogs before, you know hard water is a real issue that affects thousands of homeowners here in the Kansas City area. In fact, it impacts homeowners in a number of different cities throughout the US. Is hard water something people should be concerned with? Yes and no. Luckily, it isn’t a major health risk, as it is safe to drink and wash with. While it has some negative side effects, like drying out skin and hair, the major downside it presents is in regards to being a plumbing hazard.
This leads us to the main topic of this week’s blog post: whole-house water softener systems. Here at Stine-Nichols Plumbing, we take pride in providing every potential residential plumbing service you could think of! Sewer lines, water heaters, fixture installation, drain cleaning, sump pumps, you name it! We strive to be a one-stop shop for any potential plumbing problem homeowners may face. With that said, let’s hop right in and examine why it would make sense for a Kansas City homeowner to consider installing a whole-house water softener system.
If you’re experiencing these, you might NEED a water softener…
Dry skin and hair
Let’s start with one of the most common side effects of hard water: dry or itchy skin and hair. With all of the extra calcium and magnesium in the water, as the water hits your skin, it simply dries it out. Add in the fact that soap doesn’t dissolve very well in hard water and you’ll start to notice a slight residue film left on your skin.
Constant repairs
Next we have an issue that primarily affects those with steel pipes. Fortunately, copper and PVC are much stronger against hard water, which is likely why they are by far more common nowadays! However, back to the idea of steel pipes, they simply struggle with hard water. As the limescale gets built up, it causes increased wear and tear on your pipes, before eventually leading to leakage. This can be particularly troubling with the valves for various appliances, including your washing machine and dishwasher. So, if you notice appliances consistently having issues and needing repaired, it might be time to consider investing in a water softener.
Hard water stains on glassware and silverware
Do you find yourself always having random water spots and streaks on your silverware and glassware? If so, this is typically the result of hard water. It can gradually wear them down and make them much more brittle as well. With this said, you can avoid those annoying water streaks in one of two ways: (1) Polish and shine them individually by using one of the many natural solutions. To remove the blemishes, wipe them down with a dish towel dipped in olive oil. Then, to shine the items, wipe them down with a cloth dipped in vinegar. (2) Use a water softener system. This is going to be the best long-term option and provide spotless glassware and silverware for years to come!
Faded Laundry
Before diving into the reasons why you should consider getting a water softener, let’s discuss one final damaging effect of hard water. Just as is the case with soap not dissolving as effectively in hard water, the same can be said about laundry detergent. The result? Residue left behind on your clothing that ends up fading out your clothes, turning them a dullish gray color, funky smells arising and even your clothing starting to feel scratchy.
Why should you get a water softener system?
Having discussed a few of the many reasons why hard water can be an annoying thing to deal with, we’re sure you already have an idea as to why a water softener could be so beneficial! With that said, let’s look at a few benefits for installing a whole-house system.
Money Saver
What’s the best part about a plumbing system that operates without constant malfunctions? It saves you money! The more years you can get out of your various appliances and plumbing fixtures, the better! As we’ve mentioned throughout this blog, there’s a number of reasons why hard water can be particularly troubling. Here’s just a few of the areas in which it’ll keep more money in your pockets:
Appliances – Limescale buildup inside appliances leads to appliances (like ice makers, water heaters, washing machines, etc.) dying earlier than expected. As you might guess, replacing these is not always the cheapest investment.
Gas/Electric Bills – As limescale builds up inside pipes, there’s less and less room for water to pass through. Thus, to push water through, the water pressure must go up! Furthermore, transferring heat becomes a challenge as well. As a result, your water heater has to work harder and it’ll quickly take on much more wear and tear. All in all, the one thing homeowners will notice are higher monthly bills!
Your Plumbing System – Last, but certainly not least, you run into the challenges of clogged pipes and eventually breaks in your pipes. In what should come as no surprise, any repiping job can be a costly one.
More Free Time for YOU
You have enough on your plate as-is. The last thing you need to be worrying about is the harmful effects of hard water, wasting time re-washing laundry and trying to remove annoying water stains from the dishes, showers, sinks and faucets. A water softener resolves all of those issues and frees up more time for you.
But is soft water bad for your health too?
This is a common misconception many have. We know of the dangers behind hard water, but don’t we still need that calcium and magnesium in the water for our health? Yes, however there’s more to this story. We need calcium and magnesium to live a healthy life. There’s no denying this statement. However, the amount of each of these that you actually consume from hard water isn’t really that large of a number. You’re more likely to ingest adequate amounts of these minerals through having a healthy diet. You shouldn’t be relying on hard water for your mineral intake anyways!
Can I DIY a whole-house water softener system?
As with many other household plumbing repairs, we tend to lean towards saying “No” when it comes to DIY efforts. While some of the more straight-forward projects can easily be knocked out over a weekend, the last thing you want to do is turn a simple repair into a MAJOR headache. Unless you’re already fairly used to the various plumbing functions, leave this project up to a licensed plumbing technician! It’ll ensure the project gets done correctly the first time and doesn’t result in future issues a couple of months down the road!
Get Your Whole-House Water Softener System Installed Today!
Our team at Stine-Nichols Plumbing understands you want to keep your plumbing system running as effectively as possible, while also not having to invest a ton into constant repairs. We get that and make a concerted effort to provide long-lasting repairs and knowledgeable advice. With that in mind, it’s tough to go wrong with a whole-house water softener system. Particularly, here in the Kansas City area where we see increased amounts of hard water, it’s important to prevent this from creating costly plumbing projects!
If you would like to discuss water softeners in greater detail with one of our residential plumbing experts, don’t hesitate to give us a call at (816) 348-3481 or fill out this form. We’re happy to answer any questions you may have and determine whether or not a water softener system makes sense for your home.