Why Your Appliances Would Appreciate a Water Softener

If you notice a white residue on your shower walls or your dishes, you may have hard water deposits.  However, you only see a small part of the problem of hard water.  What you don’t see can be even more costly.  Hard water contains calcium, magnesium, and other minerals that harden and can cause many problems on your appliances.

Water Heater

Hard water leaves a build-up on the heating element in your hot water heater as well as along the walls inside the water heater.  This will cause the element to burn out sooner and need to be replaced.  When it builds up too much, you will need to replace your water heater.  It also takes longer for the water to heat due to the build up of minerals inside the water heater.

Washing Machine

Deposits also build up on the inside of a washing machine, causing the hot water to run slower until it doesn’t run at all.  Hard water also prevents clothing from getting as clean as they should because the deposits interact with the soil on the clothes and prevent it from dissolving.  The clothes will also feel scratchy and stiff and may be uncomfortable to wear.

Appliances lose their efficiency with hard water deposits and can consume more energy to do the same amount of work.  They will also wear out sooner than normal and need replacement.  Having hard water in your home can be an expensive mistake.

If you have hard water, installing a water softener can improve the efficiency and life of your appliances.  Your local plumber can help you choose one and install it in your home.