Improving water quality within the home is something we’d certainly recommend. In addition to using a water filtration system to enhance the taste and healthiness of your drinking water, water softeners can be utilised to boost water quality throughout your home.

Here we take a closer look at the wonders of water softening – from how water softeners work, to the plus points that can be gained for health and home.

How do water softeners work?

In short, a water softener is a device that reduces the hardness of the water. This softened water is created through ion exchange, with sodium or potassium used to eliminate hard minerals such as calcium and magnesium.

Whilst there are no health concerns connected to the drinking of hard water – small quantities of the minerals found in hard water are great for your health – using hard water within the home can cause several issues as The Spruce reveals:

“At high levels the minerals can build up in pipes, plumbing fixtures, and appliances, gradually interfering with their function. For example, mineral scale buildup in faucets or water heaters may shorten their lifespan. 

Some people report feeling itchy after bathing or showering in water that is very high in mineral content.”

What are the benefits of using a water softener?

As well as many people believing that softer water tastes better than hard water thanks to its more neutral flavour, using a water softener unlocks many more advantages.

Hard water makes limescale build-ups more common within the home – you’ll see limescale on taps and showerheads, and even find it lurking in your washing machine, kettle, and dishwasher without regular cleaning.

Using a water softener is a great way to prevent these build-ups and extend the life of your appliances. Limescale can also cause appliances to become less efficient and effective, in fact, you’ll save a fortune on detergents and cleaning products.

Limescale ridden appliances tend to consume more energy due to their lack of efficiency, meaning your energy bills are likely to be higher.

By using a water softener, you can keep these often expensive appliances in good working order and avoid costly repairs or replacement. Some water softener enthusiasts report that their baths and showers become ‘self-cleaning’ courtesy of the softer water serving their homes.

Those prone to eczema and other dry skin conditions can enjoy the benefits of softer water too. The minerals found in hard water can increase the sensitivity of skin making it more prone to irritation.

There’s even been a study, aptly named the SOFTER trial, to investigate whether water softeners can help pregnant women reduce the risk of eczema in their unborn babies.

Are water softeners right for me?

Water softeners unlock a long list of benefits, particularly for those 15 million homes being serviced by hard water in the UK.

Water softeners are more affordable than ever and can be installed easily and cheaply by a professional.

Due to the salt that is added to the water supply however, water softeners are not suitable for use in households with babies and individuals with heart problems who are currently on a low salt diet. They are also not recommended for use by people with diabetes or kidney disease.

If you’re looking to enjoy the benefits of softer water in your home, you’re in the right place. Shop our range of water softeners today.

Image: VVVproduct / Shutterstock.com