Most homes in North America have hard water—89.3 percent in the U.S. and 85 percent in Canada.
It’s safe to drink hard water, but it can cause issues in your Albany home:
- Mineral collection in plumbing and appliances
- Reddish discoloration in toilets
- Worn-looking clothing and coarse towels
- Dull skin and hair
- Stains on dishes, flatware and glasses
- Low flow rate during showers
Water softening solutions from Roland J. Down Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning can address your home water trouble and bring you purer drinking water.
Whether you’re starting to look into water softeners or you need water softener repair, our team of Experts are here to help.
Want to get a new water conditioning system for one reasonable monthly payment? Check with us for more information about our Advantage Program™.1
Benefits of Using a Water Softener
It’s low-cost to use a water softener. It needs less than $3 in electricity per year.2
A water softener only needs about 2.5 pounds of salt. That’s 80 percent less salt than dial-style softeners.
Soft water can make cleaning take less time, help your appliances last longer and help you avoid plumbing clogs.
Clog-Free Plumbing and Fixtures
Soft water helps water flow freely in plumbing. Hard water causes mineral coatings to accumulate in your pipes and fixtures. This can cause clogs and decreased water pressure.
Showerheads in homes with hard water can lose 75 percent of their flow rate in less than 18 months. Soft water keeps the luster and full flow for faucets and showerheads, nearly as well as the day they were put in.
Soft water is low in minerals. It doesn’t cause deposits in pipes or constrict water flow in fixtures.
Longer-Lasting Appliances
Over time, hard water can cause minerals to accumulate in your washing machine and dishwasher.
The mineral deposits in hard water form limescale when they get hot. This can spread over the heating elements in your appliances, decreasing life span and efficiency.
As a result, your appliances may need regular repairs or need to be swapped out earlier.
Efficient Water Heaters
Soft water preserves the efficiency of water heaters.
Gas storage and tankless water heaters operating on soft water maintain the factory efficiency rating over a 15-year lifetime. In comparison, using hard water for a gas water heater can reduce efficiency by up to 48 percent.
If you have an electric water heater, up to 30 pounds of rock-like scale can pile up in the tank from hard water. The scale is a bad heat conductor. It can reduce the life of your heating element, because it has to work harder to heat water.
Soft Skin, Brighter Laundry and Cleaner Dishes
Hard water minerals accumulate on your skin and in your hair, causing it to look dull. It can also contribute to painful razor burn.
Soft water is better at washing away soap residue, so you’ll have smoother skin and sleeker hair. Plus, your clothes will look brighter and your dishes will look more flawless.
Less Soap and Cleaning Time
When you have hard water, you have to use more soap for a decent lather. The minerals in hard water react with soap. This forms a scum on sinks.
With soft water, you won’t need to waste as much time cleaning to eliminate soap scum. You’ll also use less detergent.
What You Need to Know About Hard Water and Water Softener Systems
What is Hard Water?
Hard water has more minerals than ordinary water.
What is a Water Softener System?
It’s an appliance that eliminates additional minerals like calcium and magnesium. It also reduces chlorine, iron and volatile organic compounds.
How Long Does a Water Softener Last?
A water softener that’s the correct size for your home will last for many years. Its age depends on the manufacturer and how much you use it.
How Much Does a Water Softener Cost?
Some water softeners are more efficient than others. As a result, the fee may differ.
Costs can also vary based on how hard your water is and how much water you consume. If your water is very hard and is used excessively, softening expenses will go up.
Is Softened Water Safe to Drink?
Softened water includes all the natural minerals we need. While some sodium is put in during the softening process, softened water is absolutely safe to drink.
What’s the Quality of My Drinking Water?
Water quality varies by geography and processing levels. It can also be affected by construction, mining, agriculture and mineral deposits your groundwater goes through.
You can find out if there are chemicals in your home’s drinking water.
The Environmental Working Group maintains a free database of more than 30 million state records of tap water tests. About 81 percent of community water sources checked in the U.S. contain chemicals connected to cancer, according to the group’s research.
Can Brine from Softeners Damage my Septic Tank?
A study by the Water Quality Association discovered a septic tank can’t be hurt by brine released by a water softener. The tanks that were monitored were correctly placed and working normally.
Softened water may help decrease detergents being let into your septic tank.
Softer Water, Guaranteed
Hard water problems? Call us at 518-417-2938 or request an appointment online.
One of our professionals can figure out if you need a water softener.
We support our work with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee3 for a year. That means we’ll get the job done right the first time, whether you need us to repair your water softener or install a new one.
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1Some exclusions apply.
2Based on manufacturer’s information and assumptions. Savings may vary based on the type of system you use.
3Not applicable to the Advantage Program. See your signed Advantage Program Agreement for full details and exclusions. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee is subject to certain restrictions and limitations as set forth in the applicable terms and conditions.