Do I Need a Water Softener?

Water softeners come in handy if your faucets and clothes are covered in stains and you feel a “scummy” residue on your hands after you wash them with soap—a clear-cut case of hard water.

Water is hard if it has high levels of dissolved calcium and magnesium. Water with more than 120 parts per million (PPM) of calcium or magnesium is considered “hard.”[1] It is estimated that 85% of U.S. water has some degree of hardness and while it is not a health concern, it can be a bother. There is a relatively easy fix: a water softener.

Table of Contents:

• What is a Water Softener?
• 7 Signs You Might Need a Water Softener
• Test Your Water and Consider a Water Softener
• What's the Takeaway?

What is a Water Softener?

Water softeners remove excess calcium and magnesium ions via exchange with sodium or potassium ions—which won’t lead to staining or build up in your pipes.

Water softening systems help increase the lifespan of your plumbing, water heater, and clothes. They are water guzzlers though, using up to 25 gallons of water per day. To put this in perspective, the national average per capita water use is about 80-100 gallons per day.[3

7 Signs You Might Need Water Softener

1. Dry Skin and Tangled Hair
   Your skin and hair can take a hard hit when you have hard water. The minerals in the water settle on your skin and soap often fails to remove them; this can lead to itchy and dry skin. These minerals can also react with soap to form “soap scum,” a sticky substance that can build up on your skin. Soap scum, along with the minerals themselves can block your pores, causing inflammation. Your hair may also feel dry, brittle, and prone to tangles, because hard water prevents your hair from absorbing moisture.
   
   
2. Scale Buildup on Your Appliances
   Mineral deposits, also known as scale, are indicative of hard water. It appears as a hard, chalky substance (made of precipitated calcium and magnesium carbonates). Scale can form on appliances like coffee pots, but more pressingly, it can also build up in your pipes. If enough scale accumulates, it can clog your plumbing and make your home’s water system less effective (see point 6 below).
   
   
3. Your Glassware has Become Brittle
   Along with causing unsightly stains on glassware, mineral buildup from hard water also weakens your glassware, making it prone to breaking. While a water softener is the best way to eliminate the problem altogether, if you do have cloudy, brittle glassware, here are two things you can do:
   
   Option 1: Run your glassware through the dishwasher with a solution of ½ cup vinegar and no soap.
   Option 2: Soak your glassware in the sink with water and ~1 cup of vinegar.
   
   
4. Your Clothes Look Dingy and Faded
   While there are many types of water quality-related clothing stains, hard water often results in stiff, gray laundry. Because laundry detergents (especially powdered ones) attach to the calcium and magnesium in hard water, it can be hard to get your clothes looking and feeling clean. There are several ways to combat this:
   
   -Choose liquid detergents rather than powdered ones
   -Add ½ cup of laundry borax to each load
   -Soak your clothes in 1 cup of white distilled vinegar mixed with 1 gallon of water for 30 minutes. Rinse, then launder.
   
   But, as you might have guessed, a water softener is the best way to avoid the problem from the start.
   
   
5. Stains on the Fixtures and Bathtubs
   Stains often form when tap water evaporates, and if you have hard water, calcium and magnesium precipitates are left behind. This will leave plaster-like deposits around faucets and tubs. If you already have stubborn stains, there are a few tricks to removing them:
   
   Fixtures: Wipe them with some vinegar
   Bathtub: Fill your bathtub, pour in 1 cup of bleach and ½ cup of powdered dishwasher detergent, and soak for 1 hour
   
   
6. Plumbing is in Constant Need of Repair
   This may be of greater concern if you have steel pipes because they are the most easily damaged from the buildup of scale. While copper and PVC pipes perform better, all types of pipes can suffer lowered water pressure with excessive scale build-up. What’s more, buildup occurs at a faster rate the more restricted your pipes become. If scale builds up around valves in your appliances, the valves will not close properly—leading to water leakage. This, in turn, reduces the lifespan of your washing machine, dishwasher, etc.
   
   
7. Skyrocketing Water Bills
   The harder your pipes have to work to let the water flow, the more water you use. This will be reflected in your utility bill. While a water softener might cost you in the short-term, it will probably save you money in the long run if you suffer significant water hardness problems.
   

Test Your Water and Consider a Water Softener

Look into your water hardness levels with a laboratory test kit:

Tap Score water tests will test your water for water hardness, in addition to many other parameters and potential contaminants. With a personalized water quality report, we will provide you with an unbiased-assessment of water treatment options.