You may have heard people complaining about hard water in their homes, or comparing the benefits of hard water with soft water. A water softener is an installation that can turn hard water into soft water, but what exactly does this mean, and why would you need to use one?

What is hard and soft water?

The “hardness” of your water supply comes down to the amount of naturally occurring minerals in the water. Hard water contains a much higher concentration of these minerals, such as magnesium and calcium, which it picks up in trace amounts no the way to your faucet, from the inside of the pipes, for example.

Hard water is not dangerous to drink. In fact, people often prefer hard drinking water over soft water because the minerals can add a pleasant taste, as well as contributing to your daily intake of those minerals. However, hard water can have side effects when it comes to bathing, washing your hair, and washing clothes and dishes.

How to tell if you have hard water

The most obvious signs that you have hard water in your home can be seen on your glasses and dishes. After washing your dishes or removing them from the dishwasher, you may notice that they’re not entirely clean. If you have hard water, then spots are typically left behind where the water has dried. These are mineral deposits left behind on your dishes and glassware.

Hard water can also leave mineral stains behind on your clothes after washing them, and you may notice things like dry, irritated skin and hair that’s drier and more brittle after washing. Less noticeable side effects include mineral deposits building up inside your pipes and an increase in limescale build-up around your plumbing fixtures.

Using a water softener

If you are having problems with hard water in your home, then you can have a home softener system installed to extract the mineral ions out of your water before it is dispensed from the faucet or showerhead. This will help to prevent all of the effects of hard water listed above, but it is important to regularly clean and maintain the softener to ensure that it is working properly and does not cause contamination of your water. But consider the extra costs of installing and running a water softener before making the decision for your home.

If you’re using a water softener in your home but prefer the taste of mineral-rich water, then you can benefit from a spring water delivery service from Mountain Park Spring Water, delivering fresh and tasty water around Virginia and North Carolina.