Have you ever considered how hard water impacts your home? From clogged pipes to dull laundry, hard water can cause more issues than you might realise. Installing a water softener system is the ultimate solution to enjoy softened water throughout your home.
By removing minerals like calcium and magnesium, a water softener not only enhances your drinking water but also protects your household appliances like washing machines, extending their lifespan and improving efficiency.
Say goodbye to limescale buildup on taps and in showers, and hello to softer skin, shinier hair, and spotless surfaces. With a water softener system, you’ll save money on energy bills, reduce your reliance on cleaning products, and spend less time scrubbing stubborn stains.
Let’s get into the key benefits of having a water softener!
Water Softeners and Filtration
Using the latest proven methods, our plumbers will help you soften your water, so that your pipes can serve you for a long time.
10 Benefits of Installing a Water Softener
Here are 10 benefits of having a water softener installed in your home:
1. Softens and improves your water
In hard water the minerals can cloud the purity causing it to taste like chalk or chemicals and appear cloudy. Removing these minerals causes the water to taste cleaner without a bad taste or smell.
2. Save money year on year
Although installing a water softener has an initial cost, having softer water in your home will save you money over time. Hard water can cause damage to your appliances and plumbing by the pipes filling with limescale and causing blockages, resulting in higher energy and maintenance bills.
In fact, The Carbon Trust found that a 1mm layer of limescale causes a 7% increase in energy input to the boiler to get the same heating result as a boiler free from limescale. This could cost the average household an extra £200 per year in energy costs.
3. Longer life span on household appliances
Hard water causes limescale build ups in your appliances, which means they will be prone to breaking or having to work harder resulting in high-cost energy bills.
4. More efficient heating systems
Hard water causes limescale build ups in your appliances, which means they will be prone to breaking or having to work harder, increasing your energy bills.
5. Environmentally friendly
Hard water causes limescale build up in pipes, which results in higher energy consumption. Installing a water softener can reduce this energy consumption. It can also reduce the amount of cleaning products and washing detergents used, meaning less usage of harmful chemicals.
6. Limescale free showers
Limescale not only looks awful but it can feel awful too. Hard water leaves residue of minerals on surfaces in the shower and on tapes, which can then fall onto your skin when washing. Installing a water softener can reduce the limescale meaning you can wash in peace!
7. Improved skin and haircare
Softer water means softer skin and hair. The minerals in hard water remove the skin’s natural oils and leave it feeling dry. A benefit of installing a water softener is it helps balance the pH level, meaning your skin and hair hold more of the essential oils and moisture.
8. Softer, cleaner and whiter laundry
Over time hard water can leave deposits of minerals on your clothes, which can fade colours and stain whites. Having softer water reduces these minerals in the wash and limescale build up in the appliances.
9. Less need for cleaning products
Softer water creates more lather when washing or cleaning. This means overall, when your water if softer, you use less cleaning products for the same tasks. The reduction in limescale also cuts down cleaning time; less time cleaning, more time relaxing!
10. Improves washing your car
Hard water can leave behind a residue on your car when you wash it. This can mean your car never looks completely clean when you have spent ages cleaning it! Softer water creates more soap lather making it easier to clean your car and won’t leave marks caused by excess minerals.
How do you know if you have hard water?
The hard water that comes into your house through your main water supply contains minerals such as lime and chalk which cause scale to form on surfaces.
If you have excessive hard water coming into your home, you may see significant watermarks or chalk build up on household items such as dishes, appliances, sinks and showers. You may also find your skin is itchy or dry and your water tastes or smells wrong. These are all signs that you need a water softener installed in your home.
You Might Like: New House Plumbing Problems? Here’s What To Do…
What is a water softener?
A water softener is a device designed to treat hard water by removing calcium and magnesium ions, which are responsible for limescale buildup. Hard water affects around 60% of homes in the United Kingdom, leading to issues like scale deposits in water heaters, plumbing systems, and appliances
When hard water is heated, it leaves behind mineral deposits—commonly known as limescale—that form on surfaces such as pipes, water heaters, and bathroom fixtures. Over time, these deposits can clog plumbing, reduce water flow, and decrease the efficiency of heating systems. For instance, just 1.66 mm of scale buildup in water heaters can increase energy consumption by up to 12%.
Water softeners use an ion exchange process to replace calcium and magnesium ions with sodium or potassium ions, effectively preventing mineral buildup. By eliminating these hard minerals, water softeners reduce scum and scale deposits, improve the lifespan of appliances, and make cleaning more efficient. They also help dissolve existing limescale, mitigating issues with clogged pipes and inefficient heating
In addition to protecting water heaters and plumbing, softened water improves the effectiveness of soaps and detergents, since hard water minerals interfere with lathering and cause soap scum. Installing a water softener can therefore lead to cleaner laundry, smoother skin, and reduced cleaning time.
Read More: 6 Common Plumbing Problems & Solutions
How do you install a water softener?
At Lazard, our reliable team of plumbers are fully qualified to install your water softening system. There is no hidden pricing, we will quote everything right at the start, and make sure we tidy up once we’ve finished the job.
You can expect a prompt and professional service every time, with the work carried out by our friendly and reliable team. All works completed by us are covered under our 24-month guarantee, so if anything goes wrong within a year, we’ll be back to put it right.
Find Out More: How Much Do Plumbing Services Cost On Average?
Looking for Plumbing and Heating Services in Essex?
For complete peace of mind home plumbing solutions in Hornchurch, Essex and surrounding areas, contact our friendly team.
We’re not just available for small projects, if you’re looking for plumbing for home renovation & refurbishment, we’ve got you covered.
If you’re a fellow building and construction professional on the lookout for a plumbing partner to collaborate with you on building and construction projects, contact Lazard Plumbing today!
Benefits of Water Softener FAQs
How does a water softener improve the cleaning process?
A water softener enhances the whole cleaning process by reducing the minerals that cause soap scum and residue. In hard water, soap reacts with calcium and magnesium ions, reducing lather and increasing the need for soap and cleaning products.
Conversely, soft water maintains soap’s effectiveness, allowing it to lather more easily and making cleaning more efficient. With softened water, you’ll need less elbow grease when scrubbing, and you’ll notice dishes, surfaces, and laundry look cleaner with less effort.
Will a water softener help dissolve existing limescale deposits?
Yes, a water softener can help dissolve limescale scale deposits over time. By removing calcium and magnesium ions from the water, softened water prevents any new scale from forming and can gradually reduce existing buildup in pipes, water heaters, and appliances. This can improve water flow, increase the efficiency of your heating systems, and reduce maintenance costs.
How does soft water benefit laundry and washing machines?
A soft water wash means clothes come out cleaner, softer, and brighter because minerals in hard water no longer interfere with detergents. Hard water can leave behind significantly more limescale deposits in your washing machine and on fabrics, which can cause clothes to feel rough and fade faster. Soft water extends the life of your washing machine by reducing mineral buildup and helps your clothes maintain their quality longer.