If you have hard water, your plumbing pipes and appliances may not last as long as they would if you had soft water. Hard water contains a high amount of minerals such as calcium and magnesium. It's undesirable because these minerals form deposits on pipes and appliances that the water comes into contact with. For instance, the scale buildup you see on your glass coffee pot is caused by hard water. This same buildup occurs on all the plumbing in your home. After several years, it can clog pipes and cause clogs. The solution to the problem is to install a water softener. Here are a few things to know about getting softer water.

How A Water Softener Works

A water softener is much more than a filter. Rather than filtering out the minerals, it removes them through ion exchange. The tank of a water softener is filled with salt and the salt and calcium ions exchange in a chemical reaction inside the softener. Hard water goes in and soft water comes out. This reaction uses up the salt, so you have to replace the salt in a water softener on a regular basis.

Installing A Water Softener

You can install a water softener in your home whether you live in a house or apartment, and whether you rent or own your home. The softener is placed inline with your water main so all the outlets in your home deliver soft water. This is different from a typical home water filter that just treats water at the kitchen sink. This way the water used in bathing and doing the laundry is softened too. You can buy a water softener or rent one. Renting might be a good option if you don't plan to live in the same place for very long. Rental agreements may come with a maintenance plan included as well, so you won't have to worry about making repairs or cleaning the unit yourself.

Benefits Of Soft Water

While installing a water softener helps protect your pipes and appliances, it has other nice benefits too. Soft water reacts better with soap. It causes soap to make suds more readily, so you can reduce the amount of soap you use to do laundry and the dishes. It also makes the soap more effective, so your laundry may seem softer and cleaner. You'll notice the difference in your skin and hair too. Your hair will feel silkier and your skin will feel nice and smooth after you shower rather than dry and tight.

A water softener may save you money over the years by prolonging the lives of your appliances and plumbing pipes, but you may think the expense is worth it just for the extra sudsing power and the effect it has on your skin. For more information, contact a company like Anderson Water Systems.