High 5 Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric is a family-owned company that offers professional plumbing services to residential and commercial customers. We are experts in water softening, drain cleaning, sewer repair, garbage disposal repair/installation, leak detection prevention and more! Give us a call today for all your water softener repair and replacement needs!
What a Water Softener Does
‘Hard water’ is when your water has a lot of dissolved minerals (calcium, magnesium, etc.). Denver’s pretty well known for this: on average, the water here comes in at 40 to 115 mg/L (milligrams per liter) or roughly 2.3 to 6.7 GPG (grains per gallon). For some context, the U.S. Geological Survey considers anything under 60mg soft and anything above 120mg hard.
A water softener helps you deal with the problem right at the source. It uses what’s called ‘ion exchange,’ it removes the magnesium and calcium before the water ever even reaches your faucets. When you remove the minerals, you totally rid yourself of the problems that come with hard water.
Benefits of a Whole-Home Water Softener
Installing a brand new water softener in Denver, CO, gives you a ton of benefits right from the jump:
- Longer-lasting appliances: appliances aren’t getting pummeled with minerals all of the time, which means they can live up to their full potential. Dishwashers, washing machines, water heaters; they all last longer.
- Protecting your plumbing: Your pipes are on the front line when it comes to continuous hard water in your home. Pipes won’t have to struggle with constant mineral scale buildup.
- Cleaner dishes and glassware: No more unsightly spots on your dishes; water softeners get rid of the minerals, so you won’t be scrubbing extra hard to rid your glasses of nasty-looking grime.
- Softer skin and hair: Softer water rinses soap away all the way. You won’t be left with a layer of soap/shampoo in your air post-showers and baths.
- Brighter, softer laundry: Clothes that you wash in softer water better retain their colors, come out cleaner and softer, too.
- Better energy efficiency: Softer water means that your appliances won’t have to work as hard to combat mineral buildup. That’ll translate to lower Xcel Energy bills month after month.
Signs You Need a Water Softener
Not exactly sure if there’s a hard water issue in your home? Here’s what to look for:
- Any white, chalky buildup
- Spots on your dishes and glassware
- Dry, itchy skin, and dull hair
- Soap that doesn’t seem to lather
- Stiff, dingy laundry
- Reduced water pressure
- Frequent appliance issues
If you’re recognizing any of these, be sure to give High 5 a call. It’s not something you need to live with! We’re the crew to call about water softening in Denver!
Our Water Softener Installation Process
So how does High 5’s water softener installation process work?
- You call us: Give us a call, we’ll be here waiting to answer your questions about water softeners and talk about next steps.
- Scheduling: We put you on the schedule, and we make our way out to you.
- Water softener installation: You pick the type of water softener you want/need, and our talented techs begin the installation.
- Quality work: We install water softeners in Denver, CO, and do it right. We’ll show you how it works afterwards and make sure everything’s in tip top shape.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Denver’s water hard?
Yes, it’s considered soft to moderately hard. It varies year by year and season to season though. But if you’re connected to the Northern System, you’ll usually get the softer water. Here’s where you might expect that:
- Downtown / LoDo / RiNo
- The Highlands / Berkeley
- Capitol Hill / Cheesman Park
- Five Points / Whittier
But some neighborhoods get water from the Southern system from the Platter River Basin. Here’s where there’s harder water in Denver:
- Cherry Creek
- Wash Park
- Platt Park / University
- Green Valley Ranch (eastern expansion zones)
But it changes all the time, so get in touch with High 5. We can test your water, hook up a water softener in Denver and throw all your hard water troubles to the wayside in no time.
Salt-based vs. salt-free water softeners, which is better?
One’s not universally better than the other, necessarily; the primary difference is that salt-based systems actually remove minerals from water, whereas salt-free systems condition your water to prevent the plumbing damage that comes with years of mineral scale buildup in your pipes (and on your dishes).
Choose a salt-based system if: you have very hard water, you want to nix soap scum and dish spots, and you want softer hair/skin. Opt for salt-free systems if you don’t have hard water, you want a maintenance-free system, you’re on a low-sodium diet, and you want a more eco-friendly option. Whatever you choose, High 5’s here to help you make the decision, and install it for you.
How much does a water softener cost in Denver, CO?
In the Denver metro, water softeners usually cost around $1,500 to $3,000, but it depends on the type of system, how extensive it is, and your home’s layout. For example, a single tank-tank ion exchange will be much cheaper than Premium or Smart Dealer System (e.g. Culligan, EcoWater, etc.). But High 5 will walk you through everything upfront: prices, installation, function, and more.
