Your Hard Water Solution

December 18th, 2013 Posted in Water Softener
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Hard water is filled with magnesium, calcium and other various minerals. This affects our daily lives in many ways if we live in a house that only has hard water. Keeping bathtubs and sinks free of buildup can be a never-ending task, clothes will look increasingly dingy and hair and body never feel quite clean. Furthermore, it can affect the taste of coffee, tea, drinking water and any other beverages one makes at home. In some cases, the mineral buildup can be so extensive that it negatively impacts the flow of water through a house’s entire plumbing system.

Some households have given up completely and resort to purchasing water by the bottle and by the jug. The most popular solution to the hard water problem, however, is to get a water softener installed. This can either be done by the homeowner or, in many cases, a trained professional, as water and electricity will need to be hooked up to the water softener.

Water softeners can be purchased at appliance stores, hardware stores and large retailers. Some, but not all, require the use of special water softening pellets, which one will need to purchase on a regular basis to keep the system working. Water softeners vary in size, which can make a difference when it comes to transporting it to your home from where it is purchased and where the unit can be placed in the home. With the variety of water softeners on the market, it is always a good idea to consult a local trained professional to help choose the unit that best suits your needs and provide professional installation.

Posted on behalf of Kiddco Plumbing

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Does Your Home Have Hard Water?

May 9th, 2013 Posted in Water Softener
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A vast majority of American homes, about 4 out of 5, have hard water. While some cities may claim some softening of their water, no city really provides soft water for their consumers. Many people have older water purification systems that they’ve just never felt the need to upgrade or, for that matter, even test as to its effectiveness. Unfortunately, water is something that most of us simply take for granted.

If you want to determine if you have hard water in your home, here are some signs that you can look for. With hard water, it feels difficult to get a lather worked up on a dish cloth or bath cloth from your bar of soap or liquid dish detergent; however, it will usually leave a scum-type appearance on top of your water or along the side of your sink. One of the first places to look for this white scum-like substance would be your showerhead; check to see if there is a build-up of white, crusty, material. Does your kitchen sprayer not work because of white, encrusted, mineral build-up? Also, look inside your dishwasher to see if the heating element is encrusted with minerals.

If you suspect that your home has hard water, you may want to call your local plumbing professional to test your water and check your overall plumbing system for any damage or corrosion. While a good water company can test the hardness of your water, they may also come with a convincing sales pitch for their particular water softening or refining product.  Your plumber should be able to help you narrow down the options as to what would be most beneficial and cost effective water softener for your home.

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Protect Your Appliances & Fixtures From Hard Water

January 1st, 2013 Posted in Water Softener
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Hard water contains minerals which can damage appliances and detract from the beauty of your plumbing fixtures over time. The mineral scale from hard water can build up in the water lines of your refrigerator and inside your dishwasher, in the bowl of your toilets and around your faucets. Hard water scale can also dull the appearance of your bathtub, shower surround or vanity sinks. If your hard water contains iron, the orange stain can build up on your plumbing fixtures, in your appliances and even discolor your clothing when it is washed. Hard water can also cause a build up in your hair that diminishes the shine and softness.

Installation of a water softener or a water filtration system to protect your appliances and fixtures from damage caused by hard water is an investment that easily pays for itself in retaining the value and beauty of the fixtures installed in your home. Filtering out the minerals will also improve the taste of your water, which can affect the taste of beverages like coffee that is made from your tap water.

Selecting the proper softener or filtration system for your home should be done after testing the water for hardness level and the iron levels. Once a system has been selected that will adequately filter the minerals from your water, a licensed plumber can install the filtration or softener system. Be sure to have the functions, settings and maintenance of the system explained to you once the installation is complete. Like any appliance, it must be operated properly to perform the its job adequately.

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What’s The Best Solution For Rusty Water?

November 7th, 2012 Posted in Water Softener
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If you have rusty water, the kind of water that leaves those lovely orange-brown stains in your toilets, tubs and sinks, the first step in fixing it is knowing where it is coming from. For some areas of the country, if your home is on a well, you know exactly where it is coming from. However, if you don’t have a well or iron-laden water is not normal in you area, most likely it is coming from within your home. 

There are two main ways rusty water can enter your faucet: your well water or your water heater. Figuring out which one is causing the issue is the next step.

  • Water heater. If your water heater is older, this may be your problem. First try flushing it out to see if that fixes the problem. It may be time to get a new water heater, maybe a tankless version that does not hold water so it does not rust.
  • Well water. If your water is rusty do to the water coming from a well, you need a water softener and/or an iron filter to get the rust out of your water. The amount of rust and other minerals in your water will determine the type of softner or filter required. Have your water tested for hardness by a professional and seek out expert advice on the proper filtration system needed for your particular problem.

Once you have the problem corrected, do a thorough cleaning of your plumbing fixtures to remove the rust deposits with the assurance that the rust stains will not be returning.

 

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What Do Water Softeners Do?

May 22nd, 2012 Posted in Water Softener
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According to the U.S. Geological Survey, about 85 percent of American homes have hard water.  Hard water is water that contains excessive minerals or metals such as calcium, magnesium, and iron. These minerals dissolve into the water as it flows through the ground.  A water softener (or water conditioner) is an appliance that treats water and reduces the level of minerals and metals in the water.

Hard water is not considered a health hazard, but some people find it to be annoying and it can cause problems with your plumbing.  Some people do not like the taste of hard water find that it leaves them feeling itchy after showering.  Also, hard water leaves mineral deposits behind that may cause noticeable spots on dishes, sinks, showers, or your car.  Over time, hard water can lead to build ups of mineral deposits in shower heads, faucets, water heaters, and plumbing pipes.

These deposits can clog show heads and cause leaky faucets.  Worse, the mineral build up inside your water heater can cause your water heater to work harder which uses more energy and shortens its useful life.  Mineral deposits inside plumbing lines and drains can cause clogs and other problems.

A water softener is a tank that contains little beads called “resin media”.  As your water flows through the resin media, excessive mineral are reduced by exchanging mineral ions with sodium ions.  The result is “soft” water with much lower mineral content but higher sodium content.

Whether or not you need a water softener depends on how hard your water is and your personal preference.  Some people are not bothered by moderately hard water while others prefer softer water. Your plumber can measure the hardness of your water and help you choose and install a water softener that is right for your home.

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Advantages of Water Softeners

May 22nd, 2012 Posted in Water Softener
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The majority of American homes have hard water that contains excessive minerals and metals.  Your plumber can install a water softener or water conditioner that will reduce the level of minerals and metals in the water in your home.

Water softeners offer numerous advantages.  The first thing most people notice is no more water spots on sinks, showers, and dishes.  These water spots are caused by the minerals in hard water.  Also, hard water causes scale to build up inside of pipes, faucets, shower heads, drains and water heaters.  By removing the minerals from the water, a water softener reduces or eliminates the accumulation of scale and prevents problems cause by scale build up.

Water heaters are particularly affected by hard water.  The mineral buildup on the heating elements reduces the efficiency of the water heater and causes it to work harder.  Soft water can extend the life of a water heater and save money on energy costs.  The same is true to a lesser extent for dishwashers, washing machines, and other appliances that use water.

Many people do not like the taste of hard water or itchy feeling from the mineral deposits on their skin following a shower.  A water softener solves both of these problems.  In addition, soap is less effective when used with hard water due to the minerals in hard water.  You will use much less soap with soft water to clean dishes, clothes, cars and bathing.  Clothes washed in hard water often feel a little rough due to soap and mineral residue left in the clothing.  Clothes washed in soft water get a little cleaner and feel softer than clothes washed in hard water.

If this sounds good to you, talk to your plumber about choosing a water softener that fits your needs.  Water softeners come in different capacities and styles and your plumber can recommend the right size and type of water softener for you.

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Disadvantages of Water Softeners

May 22nd, 2012 Posted in Water Softener
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Many homeowners install a water softener to reduce the amount of minerals in their household water supply.  Water softeners eliminate problems caused by hard water such as water spots, lime and scale build-up in plumbing fixtures, and other issues.  Soft water is more effective for bathing and for cleaning cars, dishes, and clothing and reduces soap scum build up in showers, sinks, and tubs making them easier to keep clean.

However, there are some disadvantages of water softeners to consider before you purchase one. The first thing to consider is the expense of installing a new water softener.  Water softeners can cost anywhere from $400 to $2,000 plus the cost of the installation.  In addition, a water softener needs salt added on a regular basis.  Some homeowners add the salt themselves while others use a service.

A water softener will also increase your water bills.  In the process of removing the unwanted minerals, a water softener uses up to 25 gallons of water a day which adds up to nearly 10,000 gallons of water per year.

In addition to the cost of buying, installing, and operating a water softener, some people do not like the feel of soft water.  It can have a slimy feeling that feels like all of the soap is not quite rinsed off after bathing or even just washing your hands.  Further, soft water has a high sodium content which can corrode water heaters or cause problems for people on a sodium restricted diet.

Water softeners can resolve hard water issues, but be sure to consider all of the alternatives and disadvantages before you take the plunge and invest in a new water softener.

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Water Softeners

March 2nd, 2012 Posted in Water Softener
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Do you live in a “hard water area”? To some, this may seem an unusual term, but it is actually a straightforward concept that relates to the water quality in your area. The ground water in certain areas can pick up large amounts of minerals such as calcium and magnesium, and will carry them in a soluble state into water pipes. A hard water area, therefore, is one in which the natural ground water is very rich in minerals.

The mineral content in water is measured in grains per gallon, or GPG, and a hard water reading is anything above 7 GPG. In terms of drinking water, hard water is not a huge problem; in fact, the minerals can be beneficial to a degree. The problem comes when these minerals precipitate out of the water and attach to the inside of pipes or heater elements, forming a crusty layer known as scale.

This scale can cause a number of problems including blocked pipes, impaired heating efficiency and damage to water-using appliances. Hard water can also cause soap not to lather, hampering the washing of clothes and dishes, and hindering the effects of washing for personal hygiene. Because of the problems that hard water can cause many people take the prudent step of fitting a water softener.

Water softeners filter the household’s water by switching ions of magnesium and calcium with less problematic sodium ions. These sodium ions do not precipitate, so they do not collect inside pipes or heating elements and have no effect on the way soap lathers. A water softener is a good way to improve the quality of water coming into your home and to protect both pipes and appliances.  .  Your plumber can help choose a good water softener for your home and take care of the water softener installation. Talk to your plumber about a new water softener for your home

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