Hard water is a very common problem for many homes. The excess calcium and magnesium in it can leave your clothes feeling stiff after you wash them and make your skin rough and itchy after you shower. Fortunately, there are several unique ways to address hard water and other quality problems, ranging from salt-based water softeners to reverse osmosis systems. Keep reading to learn more.
Salt-Based Water Softeners
Salt-based ion-exchange water softeners are the go-to option for reducing hard water. These types physically remove the calcium and magnesium ions from the incoming water supply. Even better, they replace these minerals with trace amounts of sodium to soften the water. Showers will leave your skin feeling soft and smooth instead of dry and irritated. Salt-based water softeners also do a wonderful job at lowering the risk of scale buildup in your pipes, helping them to last longer and perform better with fewer leaks.
Scale Reduction Systems
Scale reduction systems are different from salt-based treatments. Instead of stripping the minerals from the water, they alter the physical structure of the calcium and magnesium to prevent the minerals from sticking to the inside of your pipes and water-using appliances. These types can improve water pressure throughout the entire home since mineral deposits are less likely to restrict water flow inside the pipes and fixtures. Plus, the chemical-free conditioning process means the water retains its natural mineral content without adding sodium to your drinking supply, which is a huge win for people monitoring their sodium intake.
Reverse Osmosis Systems
When the goal is to achieve the highest possible standard of drinking water, you’ll want a reverse osmosis system in the kitchen. This type makes use of a high-pressure pump that gets installed directly under the sink, meaning it stays out of view and out of the way. The pump forces the tap water through a microscopic, semi-permeable membrane. Its multi-stage filtering process can strip up to 99% of the total dissolved solids in the water supply, including heavy metals like lead and arsenic, as well as other contaminants. The result is cleaner, better-tasting water for anyone using the kitchen sink.
Carbon Filtration Systems
Water treatment systems that use carbon filtration excel at absorbing harmful particles by trapping them within a highly porous surface area. And since these setups connect directly to the main water supply line, they treat all of the incoming water before it branches off to the individual fixtures. This gives your entire plumbing system and all of your water-using appliances better protection against chlorine exposure, unpleasant odors and certain organic contaminants (benzene, pesticides/herbicides, industrial solvents).
The best way to pick the right water treatment system for your home is to speak with a trained water quality specialist. You’ll learn how each treatment option works, how much they cost and the benefits they can provide. The professional will also explain the maintenance requirements, which vary greatly from one system to the next. If you live in Muncie, IN or a surrounding area and need water filtration services, make your first call to Aqua Gold Water Treatment.