Most homes in North America have hard water—89.3 percent in the U.S. and 85 percent in Canada.
It’s OK to drink hard water, but it can cause trouble in your Austin home:
- Mineral collection in plumbing and appliances
- Reddish discoloration in toilets
- Worn-looking clothing and coarse towels
- Dry skin and hair
- Spots on dishes, flatware and glasses
- Low flow rate during showers
Water softening solutions from Strand Brothers Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning can take care of your home water problems and bring you better-tasting drinking water.
Whether you’re starting to check out water softeners or you need water softener repair, our team of specialists are here to help.
Need a new water conditioning system for one low monthly payment? Check with us for more information about our Advantage Program™.1
Benefits of Using a Water Softener
It’s low-cost to use a water softener. It uses less than $3 in electricity per year.2
A water softener only has to have about 2.5 pounds of salt. That’s 80 percent less salt than dial-style softeners.
Soft water can make cleaning take less time, help your appliances last longer and help you avoid plumbing clogs.
Clog-Free Plumbing and Fixtures
Soft water helps water flow freely in plumbing. Hard water causes mineral sediment to gather in your pipes and fixtures. This can lead to clogs and decreased water pressure.
Showerheads in homes with hard water can lose 75 percent of their flow rate in shorter than 18 months. Soft water preserves the luster and full flow for faucets and showerheads, nearly as well as the day they were installed.
Soft water is doesn’t have a lot of minerals. It doesn’t create deposits in pipes or limit water flow in fixtures.
Longer-Lasting Appliances
Over time, hard water can cause minerals to accumulate in your washing machine and dishwasher.
The mineral deposits in hard water form limescale when they get hot. This can coat the heating elements in your appliances, decreasing life span and efficiency.
As a result, your appliances may need regular service or need to be swapped out earlier.
Efficient Water Heaters
Soft water protects the efficiency of water heaters.
Gas storage and tankless water heaters running on soft water hold on to the factory efficiency rating over a 15-year life span. In comparison, using hard water for a gas water heater can lower efficiency by up to 48 percent.
If you own an electric water heater, up to 30 pounds of rock-like scale can accumulate in the tank from hard water. The scale is a poor heat conductor. It can decrease the life of your heating element, because it has to work longer to heat water.
Soft Skin, Brighter Laundry and Cleaner Dishes
Hard water minerals collect on your skin and in your hair, causing it to become dehydrated. It can also lead to painful razor burn.
Soft water is more efficient at cleaning soap residue, so you’ll have softer skin and glossier hair. Plus, your clothes will look brighter and your dishes will look cleaner.
Less Soap and Cleaning Time
When you have hard water, you have to use more soap for a good lather. The minerals in hard water react with soap. This forms a scum on showers.
With soft water, you won’t need to use as much time cleaning to get rid of soap scum. You’ll also use less soap.
What You Need to Know About Hard Water and Water Softener Systems
What is Hard Water?
Hard water has more minerals than ordinary water.
What is a Water Softener System?
It’s an appliance that takes out extra minerals like calcium and magnesium. It also lowers chlorine, iron and volatile organic compounds.
How Long Does a Water Softener Last?
A water softener that’s the right size for your home will last for many years. Its life span depends on the manufacturer and how much you use it.
How Much Does a Water Softener Cost?
Some water softeners are more efficient than others. As a result, the total may differ.
Costs can also vary based on how hard your water is and how much water you consume. If your water is extremely hard and is used excessively, softening expenses will increase.
Is Softened Water Safe to Drink?
Softened water contains all the natural minerals we need. While some sodium is mixed in during the softening process, softened water is completely safe to drink.
What’s the Quality of My Drinking Water?
Water quality fluctuates by geography and processing levels. It can also be influenced by construction, mining, agriculture and mineral deposits your groundwater travels through.
You can find out if there are chemicals in your home’s drinking water.
The Environmental Working Group maintains a free database of more than 30 million state records of tap water tests. About 81 percent of community utilities tested in the U.S. contain chemicals connected to cancer, according to the group’s analysis.
Can Brine from Softeners Damage my Septic Tank?
A study by the Water Quality Association discovered a septic tank can’t be hurt by brine discharged by a water softener. The tanks that were monitored were correctly placed and working properly.
Softened water may help reduce detergents being let into your septic tank.
Softer Water, Guaranteed
Hard water problems? Call us at 512-596-1257 or request an appointment online.
One of our Experts can figure out if you need a water softener.
We stand behind our work with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee3 for a year. That means we’ll get the job done right the first time, whether you need us to fix your water softener or install a new one.
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1Some exclusions apply.
2Based on manufacturer’s information and assumptions. Savings may vary based on the type of system you use.
3Not applicable to the Advantage Program. See your signed Advantage Program Agreement for full details and exclusions. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee is subject to certain restrictions and limitations as set forth in the applicable terms and conditions.