Not only can a water softener system give you cleaner silverware, healthier skin, safer drinking water, and improve your plumbing fixtures, but it can also extend the lifespan of your appliances. If your home doesn’t currently feature a soft water system, you may want to book a consultation to get one installed — here’s why.
The Negative Impacts of Hard Water on Your Appliances
Hard water is caused by bicarbonate minerals in your water supply, such as magnesium and calcium. Water-dependant appliances, such as your washing machine, refrigerator, and your dishwasher, can all be negatively impacted by the effects of hard water. Hard water contains large amounts of minerals that can accumulate in your appliances over time.
These mineral deposits can clog pipes on your dishwasher, for example, and prevent it from draining properly. Limescale is specifically problematic for your appliances and has the potential to accumulate on heating elements, in addition to and causing permanent damage that may lead to the replacement of an appliance.
The Benefits of a Water Softening System
Many homeowners have eliminated problems with their home’s most-used machines by installing a water softener system. As hard water passes through your water softener, harsh mineral ions are replaced by sodium and potassium ions, which are harmless to your water supply and appliances.
Installing a water softener can benefit your home in many ways, including:
Prolonging the life of your dishwasher, without minerals to clog its pipes.
The elimination of limescale, making your dishwasher, cutlery, and dishes cleaner.
Providing you with the cleanest drinking water for your refrigerator.
Making your clothes cleaner, and softer, without soap scum buildup in your washing machine.
The Water Quality Research Foundation found that with softened water, washing machines could run with a water temperature of 60 degrees instead of 100 degrees and still remove tough stains. Depending on the stain, eliminating the hardness in water could improve removal by 100%.
Even a small amount of hard water can significantly reduce the efficiency of your appliances. Hard water causes them to use more energy and, as a result, ends up costing you more money.
Soft water is energy efficient, reducing your water heating and appliance repair costs. Plus, you’ll enjoy the added benefits of using less laundry and dish detergent, soap, shampoo, etc.
Cleaning Your Appliances
If your home is experiencing the damaging effects of hard water, it may be time to add a water softener system. Before you introduce a new unit to your home, you should take steps to clean your appliances.
Your home may need to be professionally cleaned to successfully remove any limescale buildup. If you want to clean your appliances yourself, you can use white distilled vinegar and run a cycle on dishwashers, washing machines, and even coffee makers, to prevent the accumulation of hard water deposits until your home is serviced.
Schedule a Free Water Consultation
At Essig Plumbing & Heating, we use Master Water ultraviolet disinfection units to purify your home’s water without the need for harsh chemicals, keeping your home clean and healthy. These units destroy viruses and bacteria by bombarding them with UV energy. As a result, the taste of your water will not change while its quality will increase.
Since 1938, Essig Plumbing & Heating has been the service team Berks County counts on for quality plumbing services, including water treatment system installations and repairs. No matter what particular issue you have with the quality of your water, our professional plumbers will thoroughly analyze this and present you with all your options before commencing. We are also here for you 7 days a week for all your emergency plumbing needs.
To learn more about the cutting-edge and energy-efficient water softener systems that we offer by Master Water at Essig Plumbing & Heating, call us today at (610) 557-3302