Hard water in your home or business causes scale build-up within the water pipes, and that reduces the amount of water that is able to flow through pipes.
When scale builds up inside the pipes, it makes the pipes narrower, therefore it restricts water flow into appliances, and also impedes water heating, so you end up using more energy to heat your water. In a hard water area, the internal plumbing system in an average household will gain about 1.5 mm of scale buildup within the pipes, in one year. The limescale transfers the heat of your plumbing system less effectively, reducing your heating efficiency by at least 10% - 12%.
So, when you have hard water :
a) your appliances don’t work very efficiently.
b) Your water heating bills are higher than they should be.
Unlike other household appliances, a water softener actually SAVES you money when you use it. Installing a water softener acts as a long term investment, that will save you greater amounts of money over the years.
When excess hard minerals are removed by a water softener, soft water is able to easily move through pipes and allow your plumbing system to function correctly and most efficiently cost wise.
Softened water is expected to preserve your boiler’s life span by more than 15 years.
Limescale in water pipes and on the heating elements of your appliances can be the source of many costly repairs, since your boiler and your appliances wear out more quickly.
Additionally, scale can lead to staining on showers and sinks, requiring you to buy additional cleaning products to remove it. By stopping scale at the source--hard water--you won’t need to repair or replace your appliances as often.
You will also see a decrease in your water heating bills because you won’t need to heat water to as high of temperatures to remove stains or effectively clean your dishes. Truly, with a water softener you are able to get so much more out of your water, so you won’t need to use as much.
Soft water requires over 50% less detergent to do the same amount of laundry than hard water. Detergents do not mix well with hard water. Hard water makes clothes stiff and coarse. By using soft water instead you will need less detergent every time you do the washing. This means you won’t have to purchase detergent nearly as often, but you’ll be getting even cleaner results. Additionally, you won’t have to spend as much on a fabric softener for your laundry, since softer water creates softer clothes. Hard water can also cause clothes to lose their colour vibrancy and wear out faster. With softened water, you won’t always be rushing out to buy new clothes because your old ones are getting worn out.
A water softener not only saves you money, but it can actually put more money in your pocket. Having a water softener or reverse osmosis water filtration system installed in your home can increase your home’s value. These are desired features that many homebuyers look for in their search, for the above reasons and more. Furthermore, potential buyers feel relieved that they won’t have to deal with hard water stains on sinks, showers, and dishes.
Are you ready to start saving money by installing a high-quality water softening system in your home? If so, call our Friendly Water independent water treatment experts today at 01932 245 200 for a free water test and advice on what model of a water softener and/or a drinking water filter suits best your house and your budget!
How hard is my water? - Use this map to see if you live in a hard water area.
