If you invest in a product, you will need to know how exactly you’ll gain from it. That’s why you must make sure you understand the water softener vs filter comparison before you invest in it.
A water softener is a perfect addition to any home for many reasons. It is widely used to soften water in Phoenix, Arizona, and the surrounding areas where water hardness is exceptionally high.
Hard water carries high traces of calcium and magnesium ions, which can create limescale and damage your home’s internal heating and plumbing systems and limit the productiveness of soaps and cleaning products. By comparison, soft water doesn’t carry these elements.
That’s why households with water softeners installed can save a substantial sum of money throughout the year for many reasons.
We have thought much about water softener vs filter or why one should install a water softener on top of your water filtration system, so here they are!
Spend less time cleaning
source: thearchitectsdiary.com
One would ask, does a water softener filter water? Of course, it does, and it increases the ease of dirt removal by 50 percent. It’s suitable for rinsing as it doesn’t leave a streaky residue. It is more challenging to produce an effective lather with hard water to eliminate dirt and stains. On smooth surfaces, the mineral deposits can make a spotted appearance.
Save money on soap, washing powder, plus other cleaning products
Hard water harbors magnesium and calcium ions that make it challenging to create an effective foam with soap plus other cleaning products, which affects the whole cleaning process, whether you have a shower, are washing the car, or doing the laundry and dishes.
When soft water is treated to remove these impurities, it is far more effective when washing. For example, a test was done by the Scientific Services Laboratory, New York, showed that you could get the same level of soil removal in soft water by just using lower water temperatures plus a lower amount of detergent than washing with hard water.
You will require fewer cleaning agents to perform a delicate wash.
Improve your hair quality (softness)
source: pinterest.com
Soft water will do wonders for skincare, and that deep clean will also provide a noticeable difference in the vitality of your hair.
When magnified, each strand comprises millions of tiny minor scales. Hard water will make these scales stand out from the shaft, and your hair will be left vulnerable to get tangled and feel rough.
So, do I need a water softener if I have a whole house filter? Yes, you do if you are to have soft hair.
There will be significantly fewer limescale deposits left in the hair with softer water. With less interaction between the minerals plus the hair itself, hair will be left feeling a lot smoother.
Protect your appliances like dishwashers and washing machines
Hard water can create blockages in your plumbing through limescale deposition. On the other hand, Soft water can provide a long-term remedy to these depositions.
If a water softener is added to a property, the more soothing water will gradually dissolve limescale scale deposits and entirely remove the problem.
Improve the efficiency of your heater
source: cloudinary.com
Hard water can create havoc on your heating system thanks to scum and scale deposits that would have led to blockages and caused damage to your boiler. The scale essentially acts as an added insulation layer prohibiting heat transfer into the water.
These deposits are known to reduce the efficiency of your boiler – sometimes as much as 50%. Even a tiny warranty of 1.6mm could be enough to make heat efficiency loss of up to 12%! Slowly, having soft water running through your system will dissolve away scale, remedying the problem thoroughly.
Improve your skin and give relief from skin conditions
Hard water can worsen eczema and other dry skin conditions due to the excessive soap and cleaning products required to bring an effective lather for a thorough clean.
Hard water also leads to soap scum due to the reaction between the soap and the minerals. Soap scum is another potential irritant in direct interaction with a skin condition or when small particles stay on clothing washed in hard water.
In addition, clothing washed in soft water often feels softer, which can lessen the abrasive feel of the starchy dress and prevent skin complaints. Research by the University of Nottingham found out that children living in hard water places are almost 50% more likely to get eczema than those that do not.
Laundry comes out brighter, glasses and dishes recover their shine
Normally, as a result of washing with hard water, clothes get dull and weathered, whites turn to grey, and colors tend to fade. At the same time, dishes and glassware will also lose their sparkle. On the contrary, soft water maintains the appearance of clothing and kitchenware.
It’s all thanks to soft water’s capacity to mix effectively with soap and detergents to provide a more excellent clean. As a result, you’ll find out that soft water will significantly extend the durability of your clothes and kitchen wares.
It’s better for cooking and making drinks
source: mrflush.com
Hard water is usually loved for drinking purposes. Its mineral content supplies water, the closest thing it has to taste! However, soft water is generally superior for making drinks, like tea or cocktails.
Soft water is a more productive solvent, and you can notice this when used with soap, but it also equally applies to cooking and mixed drinks. For example, adding stock to soft water will significantly enhance the flavors and aromas.
Reduce stains and spotting when you wash your car
For car lovers, one of the worst offenses of hard water is the milky residue it can leave on your car when you’re done with washing. This damages the paintwork of the vehicle and reduces the visual impact. As soft water does not carry any impurities, it is the solution to wash your car.
Enjoy showers and baths in the company of silky smooth water
source: waterfilterspot.com
When you leave a hard water bath or shower and start a soft water wash, you will instantly realize the difference in the quality of clean and the sensation it comes with.
It is often considered a luxurious and wonderful experience, a perfect way to loosen up at the end of the day, substituting the stress and fatigue of everyday life.
In Conclusion
So the choice is yours to make, either water softener vs filter? In addition to a filter system, a water softener will improve the quality of your home’s water. This is because the water softener also has a filter that increases the efficiency of your water filtration system. So, do water softeners have filters? Yes, they do.
Read this guide at AHWA to find out how to install a water softener.