The Difference a Water Softener Can Make

The decision on whether to install a water softener just on your kitchen sink or throughout your entire house is often made with finances at the front of your mind. The price difference can be substantial, but there are some other things to consider as well. 


Taste
This is the primary reason homeowners are now turning to softeners for their homes. They start with a small jug that is placed in the refrigerator to give a more refreshing taste, but since those have to be continually filled up and allowed to chill the idea of having a softener placed on their kitchen faucet eventually sets in. If this is your only goal in having the softener in your home, then just a kitchen unit will be adequate.

Home Maintenance
Hard water makes maintaining the plumbing as well as your sinks and bathtubs much harder than it really should be. The minerals that are in the water accumulate into lime scale which is harmful to your pipes and a real pain to scrub from between the tile around your shower. This is why so many homeowners now see the value of softer water when it comes to keeping their home lime-free and functioning efficiently.
When you place a water softener in your home its primary job is to take those rough, larger sized minerals and break them down. A high quality system will reduce their size to the point they dissolve back into the water, which creates a "wetter" water consistency which does not create the accumulation of lime scale like hard water.

If you use a softener system which doesn't put salt into the water you will have much less lime scale in your home than if you use a salt based product.

Of course, you cannot get the relief from lime scale unless the softer water is flowing to all areas of your home. You may enjoy the better taste of soft water in your kitchen, but in order to help maintain your plumbing you will need a system that covers your entire house.

Hair & Skin
The minerals in hard water also collect on your hair and skin and fail to rinse out all of your hair product, leaving behind a film which you may not be able to see or feel but which affects the health of your skin and hair regardless. When you use softer water you will wash away this film and allow the natural health of your hair and skin to come out.

Everyone is searching for a way to get vibrant, shiny hair and fresh, youthful looking skin, but few people realize the biggest piece to that puzzle is in the water they use for showers! To get the full benefits for your skin and hair you will need a whole house softener.

Laundry
The minerals in hard water are unable to push out all of the detergent and dirt from your clothing when you put them through the wash! This is why homeowners who install a whole house water softener marvel at how much longer their clothing lasts and how much clearer their fabric colors are!
To get the most benefits from your softener system it is clear that you will need a whole house system. When weighing the cost of a kitchen and whole house water softener also weigh the benefits!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Allen_Taigom 

Water Softeners - Among the Very Best Energy Savers!

Softeners are among the “very best” household energy savers, says a new independent study released by the Battelle Institute, commissioned by the Water Quality Research Foundation.

Released yesterday, the study found that water softeners help preserve the efficiency of water heaters and major appliances and keep showers and faucets unclogged.

Among some of the key findings of the study found that water softeners helped in a number of ways:

1. Gas storage tank household water heaters operated on softened water maintained the original factory efficiency rating over a 15-year lifetime. On the other hand, hard water can lead to as much as a 48 per cent loss of efficiency in water heaters.
2. Up to 30 pounds of calcium carbonate rocklike scale can accumulate in electric water heaters over time. The life of the heating element will be shortened due to scale buildup because of increased operating temperature of the heating element.
3. Tankless water heaters failed to function because of scale plugging in the downstream plumbing after only 1.6 years of equivalent hot water use on 26 grains per gallon (gpg) hard water, and softened water saves 34 per cent of costs compared to operating on 20 gpg and saves 47 per cent compared to operation on 30 gpg hard water.

If you are fed up of hard water stains around your home then installing a water softener will also help in a number of other ways. Here at HardWaterStainsTips we are constantly looking to find the best ways to help people with their hard water stains, and water softeners are simple to install and provide a wealth of other benefits as well.

If you are thinking of buying a water softener make sure you read the blog post about the 3 critical things to consider before buying a water softener. Any questions feel free to email me - I'm happy to help!

Best Way to Remove Hard Water Deposits from Faucets and Dishes

A recent series of tests found that hard water deposits are formed more easily when hard water of varying pH levels mix. This was causing a local town to suffer from bad smelling water as well as large amounts of hard water stains on dishes and faucets.

Public Works Director John Powell expects the interconnect will open around April 26. The city of Burnsville has made a number of other improvements to its Surface Water Treatment Plant over the last few months. Powdered activated carbon is being fed and granular activated carbon has been installed in the filters at the plant to aid in taste and odor concerns that were discovered late last summer due to decaying algae that was producing organic compounds in the surface-water reservoir and inconsistent dosages of chlorine at the treatment plant.

Powell said extensive monitoring and testing will continue to ensure the new treatment is effective. He is requesting the public’s patience is requested during this period as it is expected to take some time to achieve the correct balance.

"Burnsville will be conducting water tests at about a half dozen locations in Savage, Powell said, to stay on top of any water quality issues. A study by a national water consultant has found that differences in pH levels, combined with hard water, are causing water shared between Savage and Burnsville to leave behind a white film and residue. After months of water quality testing and analysis, it was found that the film and residue is calcium carbonate that is produced when hard water of varying pH (acidity) levels mix. Additionally, many dishwashing detergents provide a pH boost which can exacerbate the issue.

The consultant has recommended that polyphosphate be integrated into the treatment process in Burnsville to alleviate this issue. The commonly used approach will keep the calcium carbonate in a solution form, preventing the residue and film from accumulating on dishes."

One of the best ways to eradicate issues like this is to consider a water softener or a reverse osmosis water filter than effectively removes hard water minerals as well as alot of other unwanted contaminants from the water supply.

Have you ever had bad smelling water? Have you ever noticed deposits on your dishes? If you have let us know about your experiences and we'll try to help you overcome it and find the best solution for you.









http://www.savagepacer.com/news/city-news/water-interconnect-open-end-month-104

Remove Hard Water Stains on Car

When hard water stains get on your car, they can make it look really ugly. Those white spots on the windshield and the bodywork just don't look good. 

Fortunately, there are some really easy ways to get rid of them using simple ingredients - check out the video below to see how to remove hard water stains on your car...



I hope that helps you get rid of the stains on your car - the simple techniques are always the best to remove these type of stains. You can use expensive products but simple white vinegar does a great job as well.

If you have any tips to remove hard water stains from cars, please feel free to add your comments below.