What to Know About Water Softeners

When it comes to the water in our homes, we should get the best quality available. Sometimes we don’t really know what is in our water until we see the remnants around the house. Do you have buildup on your showerhead and faucets? Or rings on your toilet, bathtub, and dishes? Most North Americans live in areas with hard water, and this takes a toll on our homes. If you’re considering a water softener, here are some things you should think about before you buy.

1. How hard is your water?

Water often contains minerals like calcium and magnesium. When these minerals are present in water, it’s called hard water. Every region has a different level of hardness in the water. Water softeners filter the harsh minerals out of your water. You can test your water to determine its hardness level. These tests are simple and easy to perform. Once you know the hardness level of your water, you can determine what type of water softener you should buy.

2. Look Clean

Hard water minerals leave deposits on your plumbing fixtures, clogging up your faucets. These deposits can also leave rings around your toilet and bathtub, as well as marks on your dishes. Soft water will make your dishes and clothes look cleaner and increase the life of your plumbing fixtures.

3. Feel Clean

Soft water not only makes things look cleaner, but it will make you feel cleaner, too. Soft water makes it easier to get a good soap lather, making it easier to clean your skin and hair. You’ll notice a difference the first time you shower with soft water.

4. There Are Options

It can also be difficult to carry large bags of salt all the way to your basement. Talk to a plumber and see if your home layout will allow for your brine tank to be installed in your garage. This makes filling the tank so much more convenient and accessible. Although salt systems are the most efficient, you could also consider several salt-free systems to avoid refilling salt. These systems can often run without electricity and have different ways of softening water that don’t require salt.

5. Accessories

If you don’t like annual maintenance, consider an ionizer that will last for up to 20 years. This will help you get the most out of your water, and protect your softener and water heater. The ionizer protects your water heater from limescale buildup and keeps it running efficiently.

There are several cheap water softener options available, but when it comes to your drinking water, we recommend buying a quality product. At Standard, we only sell plumber grade softeners that are built to last and have a warranties included. An inexpensive water softener can end up costing a lot more when mineral buildup destroys your faucets, pipes, toilets, and bathtubs.

See our selection of water softeners here (http://bit.ly/2LENFAS) and come visit us in store to find a professional water softener for you!