Living in Oakville, few homeowners would stop to think that they need a water softener for their homes. Typically, having a water softener has been associated with living in more rural areas, but there are homes in the city that do require a water softener. As a homeowner, you may not have considered having a water softener installed in your home, but there could be a good reason for doing so. Here's what you need to know.
What, exactly, is a water softener?
Naturally, water contains minerals like magnesium and calcium. The amount of these minerals found in water will determine if the water is “hard” or “soft.” Generally speaking, the more magnesium or calcium in the water, the harder the water will be.
A water softener is an appliance in your home that will take the water coming into your home and remove these minerals from it before delivering it to the various faucets and other appliances in your home. At the bottom of the appliance, there are resin beads that essentially trap the magnesium and calcium and exchange it for sodium or potassium. Once these beads are full, there is a highly concentrated solution to remove the calcium and magnesium from the beads and wash it away down the drain.
Do you need a water softener?
The reality is that there isn’t a definitive line on whether a home needs a water softener; it’s usually up to the personal preference of the homeowner.
In terms of measurement, though, if the hardness of the water in your home is greater than 7 grains per gallon, you may want to look into getting a water softener. Doing so can help improve the efficiency of the appliances in your home, and it can also help with the taste of the water coming out of your taps.
A water softener may also eliminate cloudy drinking water.
How do I know the hardness of the water?
If you aren’t completely sure of the exact measurement of the water in your home, that’s ok. You can get a test kit to examine the water on your own, or you can get your water tested with the help of a plumber.
What are the benefits of having a water softener in your home?
For homes in Oakville that have hard water, they may notice there is a kind of build-up on their faucets or their dishes after going through the dishwasher. Having hard water can cause a build-up in areas you can’t easily see, as well, like the inside of pipes and even your hot water tank.
Knowing this, having a water softener can help prevent that from happening, which, in turn, can help extend the life of some of your appliances too.
Are there any disadvantages to having a water softener in your Oakville home?
Having hard water can be tough on your appliances and even leave your skin feeling a little dry but installing a water softener also has some drawbacks.
For example, the water that goes through a water softener has extra sodium in it. If you, or someone in your home, have a sensitivity to sodium, then it could be very noticeable with this appliance in your home.
Additionally, there is regular water testing and maintenance required on a water softener to make sure it’s working properly.
Contact McKenna Plumbing today.
If you suspect (or know) you have hard water and are considering a water softener, we can advise you and install a water softener for you. Contact us today.