Three Reasons Why Softer Water Will Save You Money

Three Reasons Why Softer Water Will Save You Money

Before it reaches our household taps, some water becomes contaminated by lime stone and chalk, developing elevated levels of iron, aluminium, and manganese. This abrasive water, or hard water, currently affects 60% of UK households.

Though there are no known health risks from prolonged exposure to hard water, it’s believed to cause irritation to eczema & psoriasis sufferers, and can affect the general softness of hair and skin.

Installing a water softener to your mains water supply can eliminate the ill-effects of hard water fairly cheaply. And whilst soft water helps to keep hair shiny and skin clear, it can also have a positive impact on your pocket too!

Here’s how…

1.Reduced Cleaning 

Households with increased exposure to hard water will notice build-up of lime scale, soap scum and hard water stains on their kitchen and bathroom surfaces and appliances. These don’t occur with soft water, so shower-heads, sinks, baths and fixtures stay cleaner longer and you’ll have fewer cleaning products to buy.

Soft water also reacts more effectively than hard water, creating a rich lather from lower quantities of soaps and detergent. Clothes and soft furnishings come out of the wash feeling softer, and certain studies have found that softening the water supply helps to increase the life of frequently washed household fabrics by as much as 40%.

2.Heating Bills 

Just a 1mm increase in lime scale thickness can reduce heating efficiency by an average of 6%, and in extreme cases, scale build-up can increase energy bills by up to 25 per cent! So, if the average UK household heating bill is £587, installing a water softener could save around £150 every year.

3. Appliances

Lime scale build-up in water-using home appliances, such as dishwashers and washing machines can create costly problems resulting in pipe replacement.

In addition, since soft water allows appliances to work less hard, it helps to prolong the life of washing machines, dishwaters and water heaters. In fact, soft water is known to:

• Increase the life of toilet flushing units by up to 70%
• Increase the life of water taps by 40%
• Prevent clogging and ruin of water heaters

If you suspect that your house is supplied with hard water, it’s possible to carry out a simple postcode check.  Where hardness levels are in excess of 120 mg/L, you may find that installing a water softening system with minimal maintenance requirements can save you time and money in the long run.

This guest blog is written by Ali Raza on behalf of http://ecowater.co.uk/. Ali is a very keen blogger and writes content to please the audience and to add value to their lives. In his free time, Ali likes to get things ticked off from his bucket list.