hard water

Signs you need a new water softener We highlight the 3 different telltale signs you need a new water softener for your home. It’s easy to forget about your water softener and get stuck in the bi-monthly regiment of filling it with more salt without wondering how old or how long the system will last. Water softeners start to decline and become less effective after 10 years. Here are 3 signs that you need a new water softener. Sign No. 1: Dirty Dishes and Itchy Skin Your dishes are spotty after you clean them, your skin is itchy and soap scum is collecting quicker than usual in sinks. These are all signs that you have hard water. And if you have hard water, your water softener isn’t working as it should. The problem is your system isn’t regenerating softer water like it used to because it’s old and worn down over years of reliable use. Sign No. 2: Your Water Softener Is Old You have a timer-based water softener. These systems regenerate on a schedule you set over a decade ago. Newer systems regenerate soft water based on when you need it — this is called “demand initiated” regeneration. This is ideal because it works on an “as needed” basis. Sign No. 3: Your System Is Bulky Your system is bulky and taking up too much space. If you have a twin tank system, your softener is taking up too much room. A single cabinet-system is Demand Initiated and takes up less space, making it an efficient option for your home. Newer systems also include low salt indicators, enhanced iron removal and water use monitoring, making maintenance and management a breeze. If these signs are apparent for your water softener and you want to test your water, use a simple test tool so you can find your hard water number. If you know your number and want a new system, you can browse a selection of water softeners by going to EcoPureHome.
Busted: Hard Water Myths For all the benefits that softer water offers your home, there are still false beliefs about what it does to your water. In this video, we bust those myths. Myth No. 1: Water softeners make your water salty and add sodium to your diet. This is false. There are only about 20 milligrams (mg) of salt found in an 8-ounce glass of water. That’s equal to a few grains of table salt. There are approximately 2,300 mg of salt in a teaspoon, 59 mg of salt in an egg and 120 mg in a glass of milk. Water softeners do not alter the taste of your water or impact your daily diet. Myth No. 2: Water softeners remove important minerals from your drinking water. This is false. Water softeners only get rid of minerals your body cannot absorb such as magnesium and calcium. After water is softened, no nutrients are lost that will benefit your health. Myth No. 3: Water softeners are expensive to operate in your home. This is false. Your water softener will cost you $10/year on your electric bill — that’s the same as it takes to run your alarm clock. Water softeners can actually save you up to $800/year by extending the life of your fabrics, reducing the amount of soaps and cleaning product you use and improve the performance of appliances such as your dishwasher and washing machine. To learn more about where it will save you, check out our “The Impact of Hard Water on Your Wallet” video. The new water softening systems that you can find on EcoPureHome only use 6-8 bags of salt per year — that’s nearly half of the salt it used to take on older systems. If you’re having troubles finding the right water softener solution for your home, use our water test tool and find what you need.
Easy Ways to Test for Hard Water There are 3 easy and cost-effective ways you can test for hard water in your home. We explain the methods so you know if you have hard water. 1. Check Your City's Website The first method is to go online and check with your city. They provide an annual Water Quality Report that is available for anybody to read. They tell you where your water comes from and what’s in it. They also include your area’s hard water number so you know what water softening solution you need. 2. In-Home Water Test You can test for hard water in your home by taking a clean and clear bottle. Fill one-third of the bottle with tap water. Then, pour a few drops of pure Castile liquid soap into the bottle and shake. Make sure you use pure liquid soap because it doesn’t contain additives that will create suds in hard water. If you have soft water, your bottle should still be filled a third of the way with water and two-thirds filled with bubbles from the soap. If you have hard water, the water in the bottle will be cloudy and there will be a thin layer of bubbles. 3. Free Hard Water Test Kit To find how hard your water is, you’ll need a test kit. You can get a free hard water test kit here and find the right softener for your home. Fill a glass with cold water and then dip your test strip in the glass for 3-5 seconds before removing. Compare the color on your test strip with the hard water color chart, and that will give you your home’s hard water number in grains per gallon. This chart ranges from 0 to 60. 60 will be a dark red color. Knowing your specific number will help you find the right softener for your home. You can shop for water softeners by going to EcoPureHome and find the solution that’s best for you.
The Impact of Hard Water on Your Wallet Hard water problems can lead to a number of issues around your home. But the biggest impact hard water can make is on your wallet. There are 4 ways hard water is sneakily costing you money. Cleaning and personal care Energy bills Clothing and fabric Plumbing and appliances Shampoo, lotion and detergent are all used to clean. Whether it’s for your body or clothes, softened water activates these cleaning products so they lather better. In turn, you use less soap during every cleaning cycle with softer water. Hard water causes scale buildup in your home’s plumbing. This scale makes it hard for water to move causing you to lose more heat. This will affect your electricity bill because you’re using more energy to maintain temperature. Hardness minerals in hard water make your clothes and towels rough and scratchy. This hurts the material making clothes less durable. The lifecycle of towels is also shortened. Hard water scale also builds up in your appliances. This makes them break sooner than they should. Over time, hard water will cut the lifespan of your water heater, dishwasher and washing machine. Adding these 4 issues together, hard water is costing you about $800/year. Buying a water softener will solve all of these issues in your home. If you suspect hard water is already leaving its mark in your home, watch our “How to Test Hard Water in Your Home” video to find where it’s lingering. If you’re sick of hard water costing you, visit EcoPureHome and shop for your home’s solution.