The Differences Between Hard And Soft Water

When you hear someone refer to water as "hard", they mean water which contains a number of dissolved minerals. When water is soft, it means the water has been treated and any minerals are replaced by sodium. Hard water and soft water differ in several ways, and they both have their own benefits. Continue reading to find out what the differences are between hard water and soft water.

As A Drinking Water

Hard water is the preferred drinking water because of the minerals which add taste and health benefits. The health benefits of hard water include the consumption of necessary minerals such as calcium and magnesium. These minerals are important to our diet and they offer such benefits as increased energy production, healthy bones and healthy teeth.

Soft water does not make for a very good drinking water. The added sodium makes the water taste salty as well as has adverse effects on health. Increased sodium intake can lead to high blood pressure, heart failure, stroke, and osteoporosis among other things. So if soft water tastes bad and can have negative effects on health, why do you want it?

The Effects On Appliances And Plumbing

Hard water is an all-around bad guy for appliances and plumbing. The minerals in hard water don't lather well with detergents and soap, and instead create scum. This scum makes appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines work even harder to get things cleaned. When appliances work harder, more energy is used which increases electric bills. The scum can also affect the life expectancy of appliances. Minerals such as calcium and magnesium create scale when they run through pipes. This scale sticks to the inside of pipes and backs them up and can eventually clog them. When scale is introduced into appliances, they are forced to work harder and may cease to function after a while.

Soft water doesn't contain minerals other than sodium, so scale is not created. Soft water also lathers well with soaps and detergents, meaning appliances will work less hard and be more efficient at cleaning.

The Effects On Skin And Hair

Hard water may be good for the inside of your body, but it doesn't help the outside. The scum created from the soap and hard water sticks to your skin and creates a slimy film all over your body. Hard water also dries out skin and hair.

Soft water lathers well with soap, meaning soap scum is not created and your skin will not feel slimy after a shower. It also leaves hair and skin feeling clean and soft.

Conclusion

Hard water makes for good drinking water, but when it comes to everything else, you are going to want to take advantage of soft water. Soft water is good for appliances, plumbing, skin and hair. If you are looking to turn your home's hard water into soft water, look for water softening systems. One business that offers water softener services is Metro Water Conditioning Inc.