You’ve probably heard the terms “hard water” and “soft water” thrown around on occasion, but if you’re not sure what these concepts actually mean, then you’re not alone. Many people have a tendency to go about their day to day business while accepting their household water supply for what it is. Little do many realize that their water might be “too hard” or “too soft” for their own good. As the owner of Daniel Fish Plumbing, a company that has been serving Los Angeles and Ventura counties since 1981, Daniel Fish feels that it’s important for people to get the facts about their water supplies so that they can take the necessary steps to install filtration systems or water softeners as necessary.
When rainwater falls from the sky, it is soft by nature. However, as water finds its way through a plumbing system, it often manages to pick up minerals such as calcium and magnesium. Water that is “hard” contains a relatively large amount of these minerals, whereas “soft” water contains a much smaller amount in comparison.
So what does this mean for you? As you go about your regular household chores, you might notice that your dishes don’t seem to get as clean and spotless as you’d like them to be. You might also come to realize that you seem to need an awful lot of soap and detergent to properly clean your body and clothing, respectively. If this sounds like you, then chances are, you’ve got hard water.
Of course, having hard water isn’t a problem for everybody, and in some cases, hard water can be just fine for outdoor chores such as watering the lawn and washing the family car. However, when it comes to indoor use, many people believe that soft water is the better option of the two. Not only does soft water require you to use less soap and cleaning products, it also helps reduce the buildup of soap scum on showers, tubs, and sinks. Soft water also makes it much easier to clean dishes way that leaves them shiny and streak-free, not cloudy and spotty.
One of the problems with hard water is that over time, it can cause deposits to build up within a home’s plumbing system. It can also reduce the life expectancy of common household appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines, and water heaters. Hard water can also take its toll on plumbing fixtures such as faucets, shower heads, and toilets, and it can cause calcification of grease in drain lines. Soft water, on the other hand, is not known to cause such issues. Additionally, soft water is said to be much healthier for one’s skin and hair, whereas hard water has been known to cause skin roughness and irritation.
While soft water certainly has its advantages, most people tend to agree that from a taste perspective, hard water is better for drinking. Soft water not only tastes salty, but can be detrimental to those requiring less sodium in their diets. Therefore, while it’s more common for people to install water softeners in their homes, some people might feel the need to implement methods of water hardening.
Another thing to keep in mind about soft water is that it can cause your skin to feel slippery and your hair to feel like it has been coated with specialty conditioners, even when it hasn’t. This is due to the fact that many water softening systems use salt or chemicals to alter the water, and while some people might not mind this sensation, others do tend to find it bothersome. The best way to avoid this problem is to use a non-chemical method of water treatment that is not very noticeable to the touch. Although few plumbers offer non-chemical water treatments for softening purposes, Fish recommends the non-chemical method over the various alternative options.
If you’re unhappy with the quality of your water, then don’t just give in to it – do something about it. Contact a trusted plumber and ask what water filtration options he has to offer. Remember, household water is something that you’re going to need to use regularly, and you deserve to be happy with your supply.
