Hard water can be a real nuisance in the home. It causes mineral buildup on fixtures, reduces the effectiveness of soaps and detergents, and can even damage your appliances. At Charles Stone, we offer a range of water softener system services to keep your home’s water soft and manageable.
In 2022, the City of Cookeville released a report on its 12-month average for the finished water quality as it leaves the plant. The total hardness reported is 72.3 milligrams per liter (mg/l). To put it in perspective, 75 to 150 mg/l is considered moderately hard, and over 150 mg/l is considered very hard water. Under 75 mg/l is considered soft water, so our fine city is sitting just on the line between “moderately hard” and “soft” water.
Benefits of Soft Water
Soft water has a lot of benefits, including:
- Reduced Mineral Buildup: Soft water prevents the white, chalky scale that accumulates on faucets, shower doors, and appliances. This makes cleaning easier and keeps your home squeaky clean.
- Improved Cleaning: Soft water allows soap and detergent to lather more effectively, leaving your dishes cleaner and clothes softer. You’ll also use much less soap, which can save you money.
- Longer-Lasting Clothes: Hard water is especially hard on laundry. It can sap colors and work like fine sandpaper on your clothes, wearing them down faster than if they were washed with soft water.
- Longer Appliance Life: Hard water buildup can shorten the lifespan of dishwashers, washing machines, and water heaters. Soft water helps prevent this, saving you money on repairs and replacements.
- Softer Skin & Hair: Hard water can make your skin feel dry and itchy and your hair dull and lifeless. Soft water is gentler and leaves them feeling smoother and more manageable.
Types of Water Softeners
There are three main types of water softeners:
- Ion Exchange: The ion exchange is the most common type of water softener. It uses resin beads to remove calcium and magnesium ions and replace them with sodium ions. Because it replaces them with sodium ions, it is often referred to as a salt-based water softener.
- Potassium-Based Systems: These are a good option for people who are on a sodium-restricted diet. They work similarly to the sodium ion exchange system but use potassium instead of sodium.
- Magnetic Water Softeners: These systems don’t actually remove any of the minerals from the water, but they claim to alter the way the minerals crystalize, preventing them from sticking to surfaces. Their effectiveness is debated.
Each water softener system has different features and models. We’ll guide you through the options that best suit your needs.
Combining Water Softeners with Water Purifiers
Water softeners address hardness, but they don’t remove contaminants like chlorine or bacteria. If you’re concerned about water quality in addition to water hardness, you can combine a water softener with a water purification system. These systems will provide you with soft, clean water for your entire home.
Charles Stone can help you choose the right softener system for your needs. We offer whole-home water softener installation, maintenance, and repair services in Cookeville, Tennessee, to keep your system running smoothly. Contact us today to learn more about how a water softener will benefit you!
