Have you wondered if you need a water softener? Some parts of the country have harder water than others, but here in the Charlotte metro area, we’re in an interesting part of the country. Some people, especially those who have well water, may have very hard water, where as some people, especially those who have city water, may have quite soft water. The answer varies from home to home, depending on the water source.
Check With Your Municipal Water Supplier
If you’re on city water, just check with your water supplier to find out what the water hardness of your water is.
Perform a Water Hardness Test
If you’re not on a municipal water system, you can buy a water hardness testing kit from a pool supply store or you can send your water in to a water quality company for a test. You should expect to pay between $10-$20 for such a test.
How to Read Water Hardness Test Results
The test will give you a result that reads as grains of hardness in every gallon of water (recorded as “gpg”). The grains of hardness refers to how much calcium, magnesium, or other mineral sediment is found in the water. You want your test to show less than .5 grains of hardness per gallon, but really, you shouldn’t be concerned unless your test results say you have over 3.5 grains of hardness per gallon. Anything over 10 grains is extremely hard water and requires immediate attention for sure.
Why is Hard Water a Problem?
Hard water can lead to a variety of problems, including scale build up, which can clog pipes and appliances. It can also leave build up on skin, hair, shower stalls, tubs, sinks, and toilets. Sometimes hard water leaves stains and deposits on appliances, clothes, and sinks, showers, tubs or toilets.
What Should You Do If You Have Hard Water?
It’s advisable to invest in a water softener if you have hard water. You’ll experience more pleasant showers, better hair, improved clothes washing, and will extend the life of your plumbing system and your appliances. We’ll be covering the details of water softeners in the next couple blog posts, so be sure to read up on what kinds of water softeners are available and how water softeners work. If you have any questions about water softeners in general, contact us here at ER Plumbing and we’ll give you our professional advice on water softeners and water filtration systems right away.
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I never took into account the fact that hard water can stain our clothes and damage our appliances in the long run. With that in mind, I will be contacting a company that offers a water softener to install one in my house. It might be the reason why some of my light-colored clothes are not looking that good since they might have been stained already. I wash my clothes really well and wear them carefully that is why I am really confused what is it happening.
Hey Millie, Not sure how bad the staining is but the softener will defiantly help your appliances and faucets. I would say if your on well water get a water test performed for water quality.
Thanks,
Dave
Really helpful post! This adds more knowledge about water softener. I agree, this will also help home owners. Thanks for sharing!