Many homeowners throughout Sherman and the neighboring communities in Texas have hard water. Calcium, magnesium, and other minerals in your water are the cause. While you need those minerals for good health, too much can cause a variety of plumbing problems.

One way the industry measures water hardness is parts per million (ppm). Soft water has less than 75 ppm. Moderately hard water ranges from 76 to 150 ppm. Hard water ranges from 151 to 300 ppm, and above 300 ppm is very hard. The average water hardness in this region is over 95 ppm with many homes having water with 200 ppm or more. 

Reaching out to Benjamin Franklin® of Sherman for a water softener installation can help!

Water Softeners Prevent Limescale Buildup

Limescale is a hard deposit made up of mostly calcium carbonate. When water is still, gets hot, or evaporates, it can leave behind calcium deposits. Those deposits can be substantial when you have water that's moderately hard or harder. The material adheres to surfaces, and over time, it crystalizes and becomes limescale. That scale can be difficult to remove. A whole-home water softener functions between your main water line and your home's plumbing. Most residential systems function by exchanging minerals in the water with either sodium chloride or potassium chloride. That way, all the water that enters your home will have about 75 ppm or less. Limescale formation doesn't occur when water is soft. In fact, soft water will actually absorb any limescale that's already formed.

Preserve Optimal Water Pressure

Water isn't moving through your pipes all the time. When it's still, calcium can leech out of the water and build up as a layer on the pipe walls. Those layers are microscopically thin, but as they accumulate over time, they shrink the circumference of the pipe. As the area within the pipe narrows, less water can flow through. You won't notice this effect in weeks or even months, but it will become very noticeable over the years.

Avoid Clogging

Limescale builds up in drains too, and that can affect a variety of fixtures throughout your home.

  • Kitchen sinks
  • Garage drains
  • Bathroom sinks
  • Garbage disposals
  • Shower and bath drains

Drains are much wider than typical water pipes. Scale accumulation won't usually be thick enough to cause a clog on its own. What typically happens is that the limescale chemically reacts with soap and detergents to create soap scum. That scum hardness too and can make you more prone to clogs from grease and food particles.

The Department of Energy Recommends It

The U.S. DOE recommended water softening as a "great addition to any home for many reasons." The DOE estimates that water hardness costs the average American household $800 a year. Your costs can be remarkably higher if your water is moderately hard or harder. Consider that the average national installation cost is $1,500. Water softeners cost about $15 a month to run, and they last about 15 years. Using these estimates, the average household will save almost $8,000 over the life of the equipment.

Plumbing System Maintenance and Repairs

Depending on the material, a home's pipes can last 50 to 100 years. Limescale can shorten that lifespan by as much as half just by narrowing the pipes. Scale can also accelerate the corrosion of metal pipes, and it does this in several ways. Limescale can harbor bacteria beneath its surface that undermines the metal. It can also act as an anode. That causes electrons to flow between the scale and metal, which causes corrosion. The lower velocity of the water due to the narrow diameter of the pipe may also lead to erosion and corrosion.

Appliance Efficiency

Limescale can dramatically affect the efficiency of water-using appliances. It does this by disrupting water pressure and temperature. Scale can also coat components. This is notable for heating elements and exchangers because it acts as an insulator and makes the heat exchanger less efficient. These effects can increase your operating costs associated with:

  • Dishwashers
  • Washing machines
  • Coffee makers and kettles
  • Hot water and steam boilers
  • Tank and tankless water heaters

Fixture and Appliance Longevity

Scale also reduces the lifespan of appliances and fixtures and increases your total cost of ownership. The Water Quality Association performed one of the most notable and extensive studies on this topic. It found that life expectancy for both gas and electric water heaters fell by 50% with hard water. It shortens the life expectancy of dishwashers and washing machines by about three years. It reduces faucet life by almost four years and toilet life by nearly five.

Better Showers and Baths

There are many showerheads on the market with integrated water hardness filters. This is because the minerals in hard water coat your skin and make you feel less clean. The minerals interfere with the soap and affect how much lather you get. A water softener will also help you avoid hard water stains, soap scum, and limescale on your tiles and fixtures.

Protect Your Skin and Hair

The minerals coat your hair, which can lead to bad hair days. It serves as a barrier to shampoos and moisturizers. Hard water also makes the hairs more prone to splitting and breaking. The minerals that coat your skin and make you feel less clean can clog your pores. The skin can't breathe as well with clogged pores, which can lead to dermatitis and other skin conditions. In people who already have conditions like eczema, it can exacerbate the symptoms.

Cleaner and More Vibrant Laundry

One of the big costs the DOE cites regarding hard water is laundry detergent. The abundance of minerals in the water makes the detergent less effective. Many people compensate by using more detergent than they otherwise would. The extra amount ranges from 10% to 30%, which really adds up over hundreds of loads. Softer water also helps clothes feel softer and smoother and maintain their colors longer.

Cleaner Dishware and Glassware

Households with hard water experience similar problems with their dishwashers. They spend more money on dishwasher detergent. Dishes are more difficult to clean, and the minerals cause spots, which are hard water stains. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® serves homes throughout Sherman, TX, and the surrounding areas. Our licensed plumbers install and service all types of whole-house water softeners! Call today or contact us online with any questions or to schedule a consultation or service appointment.