Do I Need a Water Softener for City Water?

Do I Need a Water Softener for City Water?

AI Summary

 

  • City water may meet EPA standards, but hard water issues are often unaddressed, affecting home plumbing and appliances.
  • Hard water contains high levels of minerals like calcium and magnesium, leading to problems such as decreased water pressure and soap scum.
  • Water softeners, especially salt-based ones, effectively combat hard water by using ion exchange to remove minerals.
  • Salt-free softeners offer an alternative by conditioning water to prevent scale buildup without traditional softening.

It’s easy for a homeowner to assume that relying on city water means you don’t need to take any other steps to ensure you have high-quality water. After all, municipalities follow EPA standards when treating water. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean your water is problem-free. Hard water is a common issue for both well and city water recipients; because hard water doesn’t pose health risks, municipalities don’t address it in their treatment. Though hard water doesn’t pose a concern for your health, it can be a concern for your home. You may want to consider purchasing a water softener approved for city water supplies if you notice signs of hard water in your home. 

What Is Hard Water?

Water with high concentrations of minerals, especially calcium and magnesium, is considered hard water. These minerals are naturally found in the ground as well as in rocks like limestone and dolomite. As water flows over or through rocks and other geological formations, it dissolves minerals and becomes “hard.” Since both limestone and dolomite are common across much of the United States, the majority of the country experiences hard water to some degree, spanning from slight to extreme. 85% of the country’s water supply falls within this hardness range. 

How Do I Know If I Need a Water Softener?

Is a water softener necessary? That depends on whether or not you’ve noticed signs of hard water and if they have impacted your plumbing. Some common signs include: 

    • Decrease in water pressure. Hard water causes scale buildup, which can reduce water flow by clogging pipes and appliances that use water. This may shorten the lifespan of your fixtures and appliances as parts wear down prematurely. 
    • Soap scum. The minerals in hard water prevent it from lathering properly, leaving behind a chalky white residue on dishes, glassware, and surfaces. 
  • Discolored whites. Hard water can cause white and light colored laundry to appear dingy or discolored over time. 
  • Dry, coarse hair and skin. Hard water is tough on skin and hair, as it strips them of natural, moisture-retaining oils. 

Whole House Salt-Free Water Softener and Filter Combo

How Does a Water Softener Work?

Salt-based water softeners are one of the most effective ways to combat hard water. These water treatment systems use ion exchange to soften water. Hard water passes through a tank filled with resin beads coated with sodium ions. When the water flows through these beads, calcium and magnesium ions are exchanged for sodium ions, effectively “softening” the water.   

Learn more about how water softeners work.  

Using a water softener helps prevent issues like scale buildup since the minerals that cause this issue are no longer present. Advanced water softeners like Kind Water’s are rated for use with municipal water and can be paired with additional filtration technology to reduce other impurities from city water, such as chlorine, chloramines, iron, manganese, sulfur, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and some pesticides.   

Shop Kind Water’s City Water Salt-Based Water Softener and Filter Combo  

Additional Softening Options

Salt-based water softening isn’t your only option against hard water. Salt-free softeners are a popular alternative. These are a good choice for homeowners who don’t want to routinely purchase salt to add to their resin tank or for those that have moderately hard water around 75 GPG. However, it’s important to note that salt-free systems don’t soften water in the traditional sense.

Instead, they condition the water to limit scale buildup through Template Assisted Crystallization (TAC). A TAC cartridge converts calcium and magnesium minerals into crystals. By altering minerals into a crystal structure, they are unable to accumulate on pipes or inside fixtures.   

Shop Kind Water’s Whole House Salt-Free Water Softener and Filter Combo  

Keep Reading:

   

Back to blog