Do you have a lot of trouble with mineral buildup in your sinks and shower? Do you feel like you’re constantly cleaning your shower head because it gets clogged? If so, you might have hard water. It is safe to drink and cook with, but it’s not all that pleasant for bathing and showering. The good news is that it can be softened.

A residential water software is a device designed to remove most of the minerals in hard water. A high-quality unit can do an amazing job with even the hardest water. Of course, the harder your water is, the more work a water softener needs to do.

Hard Water Is a Problem

Hard water is a bigger problem than most American consumers know. According to Beehive Plumbing in Salt Lake City, Utah, an estimated 80% of U.S. homes have hard water. The Salt Lake City area has very hard water at approximately 13 grains per gallon. So it’s no surprise that Beehive Plumbing sells, installs, and services water softeners.

Hard water is a problem because:

• It Causes Clogs – Hard water leaves scaly deposits inside pipes and fixtures. These deposits can eventually lead to clogs that are hard to remove. Excessive buildup can mean expensive repairs.
• It Harms Appliances – Appliances that use water tend to be sensitive to hardness. Hard water can damage internal components and even shorten the lifespan of certain types of appliances.
• It Leaves Residue Behind – Hard water is a nuisance for homeowners because it leaves behind a residue. The minerals are a problem all by themselves, but when combined with soap and detergents, they leave soap scum behind.
• It Impacts the Laundry – Hard water interferes with laundry detergents, leaving clothes less clean and more stiff. The minerals also damage sensitive fabrics.

The icing on the cake is that hard water dries out skin and hair. For people with sensitivities, hard water can be quite irritating. With so many U.S. homes on hard water, it is no wonder Americans buy so many moisturizers and conditioners.

How a Water Softener Works

Beehive Plumbing says that the basic concept of the water softener is pretty simple. Hard water tends to be heavy on minerals like calcium, magnesium, and iron. Inside a water softener are resin beads that are saturated with either sodium or potassium. As water flows through the system, an interesting process takes place.

Without getting into the chemistry of it all, the beads exchange their potassium or sodium for the minerals in the water. Both sodium and potassium are softer than calcium, magnesium, and iron.

As you might expect, there are fewer sodium or potassium molecules to make the swap as time goes on. Eventually, the water softener’s beads are saturated with the unwanted minerals and are no longer capable of doing the job. That’s when the water softener needs cleaning and recharging.

A company like Beehive Plumbing would come out and flush the water softener with a salty solution. This solution flushes out the minerals and regenerates the potassium or sodium in the beads.

It’s Worth the Investment

If you have hard water and it’s causing big problems, a water softener is worth the investment. Your plumbing and appliances will last longer, your water heater will work more efficiently, your clothing and dishes will be cleaner, and you’ll probably notice a significant difference in your hair and skin.

Water softening is an excellent way to make hard water less hard. A high-quality unit can really make a difference by removing calcium, magnesium, and iron from your tap water.