Benefits Of Installing Water Softeners In La Crosse Homes
When it comes to water softeners, there's a lot of great information out there about the benefits they offer for our La Crosse area clients. There are also a few myths that we like to bust when making recommendations for customized water conditioning systems. Today we'd like to share with you some reliable information from a trusted purification professional to explain what hard water is and how water softeners can improve your home's water quality.
What Is Hard Water?
Hard water is expressed as the sum of calcium and magnesium concentrations expressed as milligrams per liter of water, or grains per gallon (gpg.) Water is considered "hard" if the tested unit contains more than 7.5 grains per gallon.
Here in La Crosse - and throughout the Coulee Region - our groundwater is considered "very hard" due to the thick bed of limestone bedrock beneath our soil, and typically runs between 10 gpg and 18 gpg depending on where you live. While the hardness of the water can vary from city to city, home to home, and well to well, most of the homes in our area experience issues with hard water.
Why Is Hard Water Bad?
Now that you know that most of your La Crosse neighbors deal with hard water issues, let's talk about those for a minute. Hard water doesn't just affect the way your water tastes and smells, it affects your entire home and your family. Hard water or unconditioned water in general can cause problems with soap scum buildup and staining, making what should be simple household cleaning chores more difficult. It also decreases the efficiency and useful life of your appliances, like dishwashers, clothes washers, water heaters, coffee makers, and Keurig machines to name a few. In fact, appliance manufacturers often reference water hardness in their instruction manuals.
Mineral-rich water problems can result in spending more money on service, maintenance, or early replacement of your plumbing system, as well. And don't forget the scratchy, itchy, and dry skin, frizzy hair, and excessive use of soap and detergents that refuse to lather. Hard water is more than just a nuisance, it can take a real toll on your family and your wallet.
How Do Water Softeners Work?
Water softeners - or if you care to get scientific, "ion exchange units" - remove minerals to soften hard water using an ion exchange process. Opposites attract, and the positive charge of the mineral ions is attracted to the negative charge of resin beads in the water softener's mineral tank, which causes them to stick together. As the water loses mineral ions, it collects positively charged sodium ions from the beads, which causes the ion exchange. Water softeners also go through a regeneration process to flush out minerals and replenish sodium - which is why you may hear your neighbors talk about their salt delivery.
The Payoff
Many of our La Crosse area clients are stunned by the difference that installing a water softener makes in their daily lives. A few of the many benefits that water softeners offer include:
- Better tasting water
- Cleaner dishes and brighter laundry
- Soft, smooth, and silky hair and skin
- Soap, shampoo, and detergent products last longer
- Appliances operate better and last longer
- Saves money and reduces plastic waste - no more bottled water!
How hard is your La Crosse home's water? Professional water quality analysis can provide you with the answers you're looking for. Call Maxwell-White Water Conditioning, LLC today at 608-781-8088 to request more information about water testing and water softeners for your home in La Crosse or the neighboring Coulee Region communities.
Choosing the Right Water Conditioning System for Your La Crosse Home! Contact Maxwell-White Water Conditioning, LLC Today!