Hard vs. Soft Water

What is Hard water?

“Hard” water contains large amounts of dissolved calcium and magnesium. On the other hand, “Soft” water is water that contains small amounts of calcium and magnesium. One of the primary disadvantages to hard water and the reason it is described as, “hard,“ is more soap, detergent, shampoo, and/or cleanser, is required to get whatever you are washing clean. It is literally, harder to get anything clean with hard water. Hard water builds up scale on the inside of water pipes eventually reducing the flow. Hard water coats your water heater element greatly increasing the cost of heating water. 

Hardness is measured in parts per million (p.p.m.) or grains per gallon (g.p.m.). 21 parts per million or 3 grains per gallon, is considered “hard” water and with each increasing grain, hard water challenges are increased 10 fold.

Water Analysis

My water is “Hard.” Why should I care?

For watering your lawn, cleaning our streets, irrigating crops, and many other uses, hard water rarely a challenge. However, for bathing, washing dishes and clothes, shaving, washing your car and many other uses “soft” water is far more efficient, effective and convenient than “hard” water.

Soft water:

Saves you money in several ways;

·       By improving cleaning efficiency up to 250%.

·       It saves on shampoo, cleansers, soaps, and detergents.

·       Your clothes colors stay brighter and last much longer.

1. Soft water and your favorite soap create gentle suds that help give your skin and complexion the smooth, fresh look of health and beauty. When you shower in soft water that temporary “oily” feeling is caused by your natural body oils. This is how your body feels when it is truly clean. The “squeaky clean” feeling we get from showering in hard water is caused by a layer of calcium and magnesium that remains on your skin, even after rinsing. In reality, we are “squeaky dirty.” Hard water minerals clog your pores and coat every hair on your body. This “crud” can serve as a home for bacteria, cause diaper rash, minor skin irritation and itchy skin. Does your scalp itch. . .

2.  Soft water leaves your skin (your largest organ) free to breathe and your hair bright, soft and easier to manage. Razor blades cut closer and stay sharper without the hardness to dull them.

3. When hard water is heated, the minerals create a scale that can eventually plug your hot water pipes and water heater, causing premature failure, necessitating costly replacement. With soft water your water heaters will use 21 to 29% less energy to heat the water. Tip: Draining/flushing your water heater once a year helps reduce the build up of hard water minerals.

4. For many commercial and industrial uses, the hard water minerals interfere with various processes, causing inferior product production. Example: Starbucks Coffee shops in North Idaho and North Washington States use EcoWater water treatment systems to insure they have highest quality water for making great tasting coffee.

You may want to Test Your Water for Hardness

If you are connected to a municipal or private water system, call the Water Department or Private System Operator and ask them if your water is hard. If it is hard, ask how “hard” is it?

If you have a private well, you can find a professional testing lab in the Yellow Pages.  Anatek Labs Inc. in Moscow, Idaho is who we use (208.883.2839). At this writing, Anatek Labs is charging $125 for a private well water analysis and $45 for a Coliform bacteria analysis.

A free service; EcoWater Systems of Moscow (208.669.0908) will analyze your water sample for hardness, iron, pH, nitrates, chlorine, total dissolved solids and temperature. There is no charge or obligation for this service. Within our service area, we will come to your home or business personally, but for those of you out of the service area, simply send your sample to us via US Mail. See “How to take a water sample.”

If you are on a private well, YOU, AND YOU ALONE are responsible for the safety of the water you and your family drink. You should test your water supply for bacteria at least once per year and test for other contaminants, at least every two years and more often under certain conditions. To be on the safe side, we recommend Ultra Violet sterilization for all well water. We consider this part of being, “Well-protected.”

You have “Hard” Water:

If your water is “hard,” you should consider “conditioning/softening” it. With “soft” water, you will save enough to pay for the cost and maintenance of a water conditioner. The most economical way to soften water is with an ion exchange water conditioner.

What Should I look for in a Water Conditioner?

Choosing the correct size water conditioner, you will need to roughly estimate the amount of water your family uses on a daily basis. The average amount of water used inside the house is 75 to 85 gallons, per person (including children). Simply multiply the number of people in your home times the number of gallons you believe each person uses. Then multiply that number by the number of grains per gallon “hardness”. The resulting number is the approximate total number of grains of hardness choose a water conditioner sized to remove at least that number of grains per day.

For example: A family of four x 75 gallons x 8 grains per gallon hardness = 2,400 grains to be removed per day. Double this and you are looking for a water conditioner that will remove 4,800 grains or more per day.

For comparison: The smallest sized EcoWater Conditioner can remove up to 5,040 grains of hardness per day.

Tip: EcoWater Conditioners initiate recharge by electronic sensing. By electronically checking the resin, these units can determine when the resin needs to be recharged automatically — this is a great help when your water hardness changes, when you have extra company or when you are gone for a few days. These 'sensor' units can reduce salt use and the volume of recharge water by 42% as well as keep you in soft water when you most need it most.  By the way, EcoWater Conditioners are an estimated 60% more efficient than other manufactures softeners.

EcoWater Systems has been solving water problems with innovative products and solutions since 1925. Today, they are the world's largest manufacturer of residential water treatment systems. You can count on EcoWater Systems to improve the quality of your water.

Lowest prices and best value for your dollar – EcoWater Systems of Moscow provides water treatment products at prices lower than you’ll find in most of North America. For Example: When you compare our Water Conditioner prices with similar products in many areas, even when you factor in shipping and installation by a licensed plumber in your area, you can still save a great deal of money.

Important – Being in integrity at all times is important to me. If you aren’t a “muscle tester” there is no way you can know that I am completely honest and will treat you right. All I can offer is my promise to provide you with high quality products at a fair price.

For more information on the benefits of an EcoWater Treatment System contact Michael Robison at EcoWater Systems of Moscow, 316 North Main Street, Moscow, Idaho 83843, by telephone at 208.669.0908 or by email @ michaelr@turbonet.com.

Water Analysis

© 2007 by Michael L. Robison

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