Water is an essential part of our daily lives. Dehydration sets in when we don’t get enough of it, making us more susceptible to kidney stones, heart problems and oral health issues.
We also need it to prepare food, clean ourselves and sanitise our surroundings. Without access to clean water, we jeopardise our health and wellbeing.
Water Quality Australia has set guidelines to ensure that we all have access to clean, non-contaminated water, but water softness and hardness are things only a few people know about.
What is hard water?
Water hardness refers to the number of minerals like calcium and magnesium that water contains. Water is 'soft' when it has less than 60 mg/l of minerals and 'hard' when it contains between 120 to 180 mg/l of dissolved calcium and magnesium. It is 'very hard' when its mineral content goes above 200 mg/l.
While studies have shown that hard water doesn’t have significant adverse effects on one’s health, it can still cause certain issues. For example, too much magnesium in your system can leave your skin and hair dry.
At home, you’ll know your water is hard when you notice excessive limescale buildup in your bathrooms and kitchens. You might also see it in electric kettles and coffee machines.
It’s time to look into water softeners when you start observing these things.
What is a water softener?
A water softener is a filtration system that is plumbed in at the point of entry to your home. Water softeners use an ion exchange process to 'soften' the minerals found in hard water. It exchanges calcium and magnesium with sodium, so you get water that’s better for you overall.
Benefits of using a water softener
Having soft water at home can significantly make your lives more comfortable. Some benefits include:
- It removes toxins - Hard water contains traces of ferrous iron. This mineral causes water to look dark, staining your tubs, sinks and showers. You can avoid these problems with a water softener.
- It’s better for your skin - Rinsing off soap scum can be difficult with hard water. The trace amount of minerals left on our skin can clog up our pores, causing dry, itchy skin or breakouts. Soft water eliminates that issue.
- It results in cleaner, brighter laundry - You’ll have to use more laundry detergent when your water is hard, but instead of a more thorough cleaning, you get clothes and fabric with soap curds (undissolved detergent particles).
- It allows you to become environmentally friendly - Because you lessen the use of soaps and detergents with softened water, you contribute to the environment by reducing your carbon footprint.
- It gives you better tasting water - This one might be subjective. Some people might prefer the taste of hard water, but softened water means you reduce the number of minerals in it, so you get crisper, more refreshing sips.
How do you soften water at home?
There are a few methods you can try to soften water at home:
- Boil your water - By boiling your water, you precipitate the salts in hard water. Once your boiled water has cooled down, you’ll notice the mineral deposits sink to the bottom of the kettle.
- Add vinegar to cleaning water - Vinegar has many uses around the house, apart from its use in cooking. People swear by its stain-removing properties, and adding a little to your water can help soften it.
- Install an ion exchange filter - Our water softener system is the most ideal as it can treat the water for your entire household. It’s easy to install and can be customised to fit your specific needs.
How you soften water at home is a decision you will have to make, but one we guarantee you will not regret. After all, softening water at home is beneficial for your family and your health. It can also help you save financially by extending the life of your appliances.
Find the water softener system you need
At Pure Water Systems, we believe that good health begins with good water. We are a family-owned Gold Coast business fully committed to creating high-quality products for all your water filtration, purification and softening needs.
Get in touch with us, and our friendly team is ready to help you choose the right water softener system for your home.