Water Softeners
If you’re sick of itchy clothes, dry skin, spotted dishes, and gunked-up appliances, call Sewer Squad Plumbing & Drain Services and ask about a whole house water softener.
Here in the greater Toronto area, many homeowners suffer from the effects of hard water. While not dangerous to your health, hard water is a nuisance to deal with every day. However, you can get better water out of the tap with a water softener. Call Sewer Squad Plumbing & Drain Services for a consultation to find out how one can benefit you.
What Is Hard Water?
When we talk about hard water, we mean water that has high mineral content. When water passes over deposits of limestone, chalk, or gypsum, it picks up calcium and magnesium along with other minerals. These minerals are thought to have moderate health benefits; however, they pose problems that many people find annoying, which we detail below.
Problems of Hard Water
As mentioned above, hard water doesn’t pose health risks, but many annoyances come with high mineral content.
funny taste or smell
If your water smells strange or has a metallic taste, too much iron could be the culprit.
stains
Have you seen brown or red stains streaking over your porcelain toilet? If so, hard water is to blame, specifically water with too high an iron content.
Soap scum
Soap scum is unsightly, but it’s the result of calcium left behind when water evaporates. Soap doesn’t dissolve well in hard water, which is why you get soap scum after bathing.
ruined appliances
The build-up of minerals like calcium reduces the lifespan of appliances like coffee makers, washing machines, and dishwashers.
stiff clothing
Because soap doesn’t fully dissolve in hard water, clothes often come out stiff and scratchy.
clogged pipes
Much like appliances, mineral deposits build up in your plumbing, which leads to clogs.
irritated skin
Soap residue from washing leaves skin dry, itchy, and irritated.
Having a water softener reduces or eliminates the problems mentioned above and makes home living more enjoyable. Call us today to find out more!
How Do Water Softeners Work?
Water softeners work via what’s called ion exchange, which is a process that eliminates calcium and magnesium from the water. Hard water flows into a mineral tank in the system and over a group of resin beads, which are charged with a sodium ion. The beads have a negative charge, and the calcium and magnesium have a positive charge. When the hard water flows over the beads, its ions get pulled out. The water, now ‘soft,’ flows into your home.
