Understanding Hard And Soft Water

At some point in your life you’ve probably heard the terms hard water and soft water. But do you know what they mean? How are these terms different? You might be surprised to know that each of these has pros and cons when used in your home.

The softness or hardness of your water is measured in grains per gallon or parts per million. Hard water contains amounts of dissolved minerals, such as magnesium or calcium. The presence of such minerals in the water gives it a distinctive taste and may actually have several health benefits. In contrast, soft water has very few of these minerals. It can sometimes taste salty and isn’t always good for drinking.

However, there are disadvantages to hard water. When using hard water to clean, you will need larger amounts of detergent, soap or shampoo. Additionally, hard water can cause the buildup of scales in your pipes that block water flow. This type of buildup impacts the performance of your water heater and other water-based appliances. This is why hard water may actually cause your energy costs to rise.

Soft water, on the other hand, is more cost effective for a lot of reasons. It cleans things better and helps you save on shampoos, soaps and detergents. Clothes last longer and retain their colors longer if they are washed in soft water. In summary, hard water is preferable if used in watering the lawn or irrigating crops. But if you want the best water for bathing, washing dishes and clothes or shaving, soft water is the perfect choice.

To remove minerals and soften water you have options. You can treat it with an ion exchange resin or lime. When water flows through this resin, sodium is dissolved. Magnesium and calcium then precipitate onto the resin. As a result, hard water will seem saltier than water with only few dissolved minerals. Always pay close attention to the quality of water in your home.

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