Hard Water and Soft Water: Which One Works for Your Home

Hard water or soft water? Which is better?

We often hear people referring to water as either soft or hard. Our minds instantly shift to health outcomes and benefits when the hard or soft water question comes onto the table. We hardly think of which is better for our homes.

Today’s article will address this. We’ll examine the benefits and cons of the softness or hardness of water and gauge which is better for your home.

Well, let’s get started.

Benefits and Disadvantages of Hard and Soft Water

It is good to know the benefits and risks of using either hard or soft water to gauge which is better for our homes. Let’s start with hard water.

Pros of Hard Water

1- More minerals

Hard water contains more minerals than soft water. It contains minerals like magnesium, calcium, manganese, and iron. The minerals play vital roles in our bodies. Hence, it is a healthier option.

2- Naturally Occurring

You don’t need any chemicals to make your water hard. One can easily find hard water from natural water sources. Hard water results from the hydrologic cycle.

3- Less Sodium

Hard water contains less sodium compared to soft water. Less sodium content makes hard water the better drinking option for people with restricted sodium intake.

4- It’s Yummy

The minerals add flavour to hard water. They make hard water taste better than soft water, which is usually the reason why more people prefer it.

Cons of Hard water

1- It Doesn’t Lather Well

It sucks to use hard water to clean. The magnesium and calcium in hard water react with the potassium or sodium and fatty acids present in soaps resulting in curdy insoluble salts known as scum. Therefore, the hard water suppresses the soap’s cleaning ability. It further damages fabrics, stains toilet bowls, leads to spotty bathtubs, causes dry skin, leaves build-up in hair, and causes skin irritation.

Therefore, hard water is not the best option for laundry, laboratory purposes, or bathing. You’ll use more soap to achieve the lather effect.

2- Spotty and Filmy Dishes

Hard water also leaves spots and filmy discharge on your dishes. As you run them, the heat from the dishwasher will react with the minerals, causing the minerals to cling to your plates, cups, and glasses.

3- Limescale build-up

You’ll notice your kitchen appliances and plumbing system will have limescale build-up if you constantly use hard water. Over time the build-up will reduce the appliances’ efficiency causing high energy consumption. It also causes corrosion and shortens your appliance’s lifespan.

As time passes, the build-up in the pipes may interfere with the water flow. The build-up can block your pipes if you don’t repair or soften your water. Consider working with a drain line cleaning company in Austin if you use hard water at home. Regular inspections will prevent constant repairs and possible damage to your plumbing system.

Pros of Soft Water

Here is why people spend the extra bucks to get water softeners.

1- No Build-Up

Your appliances and plumbing system will have a longer lifespan because they won’t have to deal with build-up. The harsh minerals flowing through hard water often take a toll on your pipes and home appliances. It also means you get to save money because you’ll spend less on energy and repairs.

2- Lathers Well

Soft water cleans efficiently compared to hard water. It lathers well because of the absence of calcium and magnesium. You won’t see scum as you do laundry using soft water. Also, more lather means you’ll use less soap and energy to clean.

3- Health Skin and Hair

Hard water dries out our skin and hair because of calcium and magnesium. You’ll notice softer and more vibrant hair after using soft water on the skin and hair for a while.

Cons of Soft water

Soft water has a high sodium level. So, regular intake of soft water increases the body’s sodium level. Water softeners are also expensive to install and maintain.

The process of softening water leads to water wastage. Water-softening tools need frequent regeneration cycles. They may strain your drains.

If you have a water softener at home, it’s crucial to get regular drain inspections because of the regeneration. For example, a drain line company will help you inspect and maintain healthy drains.

Summary

Hard water strains your pocket, cleaning appliances, cooking appliances, and plumbing system. However, hard water is better for consumption because of its health benefits when put side to side with soft water. Soft water may cause an increased sodium level if consumed regularly and may strain your drains during regeneration.

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