You have probably seen your share of a chalky white film on the faucet. Or found yourself in the position of wondering why soap will not lather as it ought to, or what that spotty glassware is all about.
Should any of this be sounding familiar, chances are you have hard water in your home. Not an unusual situation in the Denver metro area. We at High 5 Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric put in plenty of time with Colorado homeowners on the subject of hard water and softeners; we have been in the business since 2012. You can reach us at (720) 599-2783 to discuss what is available to you.
Before we get to that though, we like to put a bit of fun in it. Most do not give water softeners enough credit for being interesting and there are some facts worth knowing if one is to make the right call for the house.
The Truth About “Hard” Water
Do not mistake hard water for something dirty or unsafe. What makes it hard is the level of dissolved minerals, calcium and magnesium being the chief ones. In Colorado the water has a way of collecting these from the rock and soil as it makes its journey from the mountains to your tap. It will not put you under the weather, but then again it is responsible for more than its fair share of minor aggravations in the house, be it in the form of tenacious soap scum or appliances putting in their time too quickly.
Some Things About Softeners That Will Come as a Surprise
- A filter is not how a water softener gets rid of minerals. By means of ion exchange they are replaced with sodium or potassium.
- Every time water runs through, the resin beads in the unit are at work and they can go on for years.
- Detergent and soap will stretch further with softened water so you end up using less of it.
- The efficiency of a water heater is compromised when hard water forces it to put in extra effort.
- If the water feels slippery it is not because of soap. Hard water leaves a mineral residue on the skin; without it you feel the difference.
- More than one homeowner will tell you his or her hair and skin is better for having made the switch.
What Your Appliances Stand to Gain
Now for the practical side. Those minerals are not going to vanish. Left to their own devices they become scale in the pipes and in your water heater, dishwasher or washer. That sort of accumulation will take its toll on the life of an appliance you depend on. A softener goes some way to mitigate the scale and you could consider it a form of behind the scenes protection.
On the Subject of Salt
We are asked often about salt. It is true many of the older style softeners require it to put new charge in the resin beads, yet you will not find a salty taste in your drinking water as the sodium content is minimal. Should that be of concern to you, we can talk about the merits of a potassium system or other alternatives. One size does not fit all.
How to Tell if You Have Hard Water
There are tells:
- Crusty white deposits on the showerhead or faucet
- Spots left on your dishes
- Laundry that is stiff or dingy
- Soap and shampoo that refuses to lather
- Scale in the pipes resulting in diminished pressure
- A water heater running more than of late
Tick off a few of those and you may want to have a look.
The High 5 Difference
We are flattered you would think of us given the options out there. We are a licensed (Colorado #189849) and insured operation with an A+ from the BBB. Over 6,000 reviews on Google from people in the metro attest to our work.
Call us any time of day or night and you will be speaking to someone, not a call center. Our background-checked technicians will present you with an honest price and no surprises before they start. We also offer financing and a Club Membership for priority scheduling and discounts on repairs, as well as routine service on your plumbing, HVAC and electrical. All of it with our 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Hard water has you at a loss? Or perhaps you are just interested in what a softener can do for your Denver home. Let us put you in touch with the proper solution. Give High 5 a ring at (720) 599-2783.