Water Riddle: Is Softened Water Always Better?

Water in different parts of the United States and countries can often feel and taste different. This is often due to the concentration of minerals like magnesium and calcium in the water. The main difference between hard water and soft water is based on the concentration level of these same minerals.

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There can be significant benefits to softening water with a water softener system, as well as some minor downsides that you will want to know about before you take the plunge and install a water softening system.

What Is Hard Water?

Hard water contains a high concentration of minerals like calcium and magnesium. The vast majority of the water available in the United States is hard water, but some places contain a higher or lower amount. Water hardness is measured by the ion concentration levels of magnesium and calcium in the water. These minerals are often picked up as water traverses through the ground and encounters rocks like limestone and gypsum.

There are several ways to tell if your water has a high water hardness. If your hands feel sticky or slimy after washing them or your skin or hair feels extra dry after a shower, it can often be due to the minerals in the water.

If you see white stains on your shower or near the sink, this can be the result of magnesium and calcium combining with your soap to create soap scum. Glassware can also look cloudy after you pour water into it. Laundry issues like stiff clothes or a dull or grayish appearance in clothes can also be signs of high water hardness.

What Does Softening Do to Water?

The process of softening water involves removing the calcium and magnesium ions from the water and replacing them with ions like sodium and potassium instead. Homeowners typically buy a water softener system that does this, install it in the basement, and attach it to the water line.

As the hard water passes through the unit, the unit contains a resin bed that attracts magnesium and calcium ions and releases sodium and potassium ions in their place. Since potassium and sodium ions produce different chemical reactions than the other minerals, they don’t cause the same hard water issues.

Benefits of a Water Softener System

One of the main benefits of softening water is that it reduces the scale buildup in your home’s plumbing system and appliances. As water with calcium and magnesium makes its way through your plumbing and into appliances like kitchen sinks and washing machines, mineral deposits known as limescale are left behind.

These mineral deposits can cause issues like blockage, requiring your appliances to work harder and use up more energy, and also lowering water flow around the home. Since softened water contains less of these minerals, it helps keep all your plumbing and appliances, like water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines working effectively. Apart from increasing their longevity, it can also reduce your monthly bills.

When calcium and magnesium interact with soap, the chemical reaction produces soap scum and reduces the amount of laundry detergent. This means that when you do the laundry, it might not result in the cleanest clothes. In worse cases, it can also damage the fabric and cause it to become discolored. Mineral deposits may also leave the clothes feeling stiff. Softened water can maximize the effectiveness of soap and ensure better results without needing to worry about stains on clothes.

Softened water also causes less damage to your skin and hair. It helps your hair feel softer and improves moisture retention in your skin so it doesn’t dry out.

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What Is the Downside of a Water Softener?

Softened water isn’t always the type of water you may want in your household. There are downsides to it that you need to consider based on your situation. Since magnesium and calcium are replaced with sodium or potassium, you can significantly increase the sodium levels in your body when you ingest it.

People with specific health conditions may not want to have these high levels of sodium. Your body also benefits from magnesium and calcium, so removing them from the water can end up removing them from your diet.

Softening water also comes at a cost since you need to buy a water softener system. This isn’t cheap equipment. While some may start at $500 for a basic softener, most tend to cost $1,000 or more. You’ll also need to service it with ongoing maintenance to either add more salt or clean the tanks.

A water softener also uses up gallons of water during its process, which is often a minimum of 25 gallons or more per recharge. While this might add to your water bill costs, it’s also important to keep in mind that softened water makes your plumbing and appliances more efficient, so you’re wasting less water and energy.

It’s also cheaper than having to call a plumber to fix your pipes due to scale buildup or replace appliances that are damaged from it.

While there are some downsides to softening water, the pros tend to outweigh the cons in the majority of situations.