Most people trust that the water that comes into their home from public water systems is generally safe for consumption, and while that is true on the whole, there are some things that in your water that do not necessarily rise to the level of being considered harmful, but are less-than-desirable for your health and the health of your water system inside the home. To filter out these items, a plumbing contractor often recommends a water softener system. Here are some of the common contaminants you might find in your water that could be filtered through these softeners.
Hard Water Minerals
Water softeners are best known for fixing “hard” water, which is a term that is used to describe water that has a high mineral content. Water is a solvent, so as it moves through rock and soil it often picks up small deposits of minerals such as calcium and magnesium. As the concentration of these minerals increase, the water is said to be “harder” and as they decrease it becomes “softer.” While studies have shown that these minerals are not necessarily harmful to your health, they can be a nuisance because they often lead to problem such as:
- Dingy or faded clothing after laundering
- Minimal lather from soaps and detergents, requiring that you use more
- Itchy or dry skin
- Film or residue on dishes and glasses
- Hard water spots and stains on shower doors, walls, bathtubs, sinks, and more
- Dull or lifeless hair
- Deposits in pipes and appliances, leading to less efficient operation
Other Contaminants
Your local water treatment facility uses chemicals such as chlorine and other things to ensure that your water is safe to drink, but in some cases they may not get every contaminant out of the water, and even the things used to clean water can be potentially harmful to your health. Water softeners and home filtration systems help to filter out these harmful items so you know you are drinking clean, pure water every time you turn on the tap.
Testing for Water Hardness
If you are not sure whether you have hard water, you can have it tested to identify the presence of calcium and magnesium; for households that find they have hard water, a water softener is the best way to address the problem. Most softeners pass water through a filter to exchange the minerals in your water with salt.
Call a plumbing contractor in Utah today to find out more about testing your water and finding the water softener that might work best for your home.
