Water Softener: Is Your Water Soft Enough?
What to look for when you’re looking for a water softener!
It’s a topic that can be confusing for the uninitiated. New homeowners might listen in as someone complains about “hard” water and not really know what that means, especially if you’ve never experienced it. If you have however, and you’re currently considering the purchase of a water softener, there are some important things you need to know before you go shopping! That’s why today we’re talking “hard” and “soft” water and why it matters what is coming out of your taps.
The thing about hard water is it can cause lasting damage in a number of ways. Of course the water itself isn’t literally hard, but it sure can cause some hard to handle damage around the home and even to your scalp, hair and skin. If you are experiencing any of the following, it might be time to consider a water softener:
- Scaling and discoloration and unsightly stains around plumbing fixtures in you sinks, shower head or bathtub
- Clothes that fade faster than you might expect
- Dry skin and hair or scalp
- Difficulties with the actions of your soap and/or detergents
- Dishware that never seems quite clean enough or which stains easily.
All of this is just what you can see! There can be hidden damage going on inside your pipes, fixtures and even appliances like your washing machine or dishwasher.
Perhaps you didn’t even realize that hard water was the cause of some of these issues so if you are now on the hunt for an effective water softener to help address these issues here are our TOP 5 Considerations for when you are looking for a water softener:
- First and foremost – and perhaps most obvious – you’ll want to consider your household size and typical water usage.
A typical person uses an average of about 75 gallons of water per day so in a four or five person household that will begin to add up! Calculating the total for your family will help to determine what size of water softener you should install. You will also want to know the flow rate of the unit you are considering.
- Will you be looking for additional features such as filtration?
Most purchasers aren’t just looking for a softener but also a unit that will filter out the impurities that cause hard water. Make a list of the concerns you have, or bring your water to Watermaker Orangeville for testing. Some of the things you will find in hard water include:
- Sediments
- Iron
- Chlorine
- Odors
A variety of units offer different levels of filtration and rely on different methods of filtration as well. You’ll want to ask questions about what type of filtration system in on the model you are considering along with what level of maintenance and “hands-on” involvement you will have to undertake to help maintain the softener itself.
- Warranty is always a consideration for any new household appliance or system.
A warranty is always an important consideration of course. Many of the systems available at Watermaker Orangeville offer units that come with a resin bed offering a lifetime warranty. We also service what we sell, and all of our installations are done by our own trained technicians who are experts in the field.
- Cost
We know this is an important consideration for most families. Single tank and cabinet designs, units scaled for the size and usage of your home, extra features; all will influence the final cost of the water softener system you choose. At Watermaker Orangeville, financing is available to help ensure you’re able to buy the best product to meet your particular needs and expectations.
- Smart Systems
Softeners can do all kinds of things these days such as learning the patterns of your water usage and letting you know when salt is needed. Some integrated systems will allow you to simply add salt, with no leveling and measuring required because the system itself will detect salt levels and alert you accordingly. As well, is the unit something that you are able to control with a simple smartphone app and/or does it have WiFi enabled technology? You might want to ask if the system you are interested in will continue to operate during a power outage and/or has backup capacity and let’s face it – finally – you might want to ask is it easy to use? We are talking about water after all and while we shouldn’t take it for granted (as discussed in our opening paragraph) we certainly don’t want to spend a great deal of time monitoring and taking care of our softening system!
If you are considering the purchase of a water softener, you may want to print off this list and take it with you as a reminder of what to ask. A good system is an investment in the future health of your home and your family. It’s going to help preserve the life of your appliances, your clothes, your water fixtures, tubs and shower heads and it will improve the taste, filtration and health of the water your family is drinking and using every day. The team at Watermaker Orangeville is happy to discuss all your options and don’t forget we offer financing too. Give us a call today if you’d like to talk about hard and soft water. It’s a subject close to our hearts!
