Hard Water VS Soft Water
Understanding the difference between hard water vs soft water is essential for improving water quality and protecting your appliances. Read on to learn more about how these water types affect your home and why water softeners can help.
Understanding Hard vs Soft Water
Water is something we use every single day, from drinking and cooking to showering and cleaning. But have you ever stopped to think about the type of water that flows through your taps? All water contains naturally occurring minerals, and the amount of those minerals determines whether your supply is classed as hard water or soft water. The difference may seem small, but it can have a real impact on your home and daily life.
What’s the Difference Between Hard Water and Soft Water?
Hard water has higher levels of calcium and magnesium. While safe to drink, it can dry out skin and hair and leave behind limescale. Water is classed as hard if it measures 100ppm or more. Soft water, with fewer minerals, is gentler on you and your home, thus helping soaps lather, keeping hair and skin smooth, and protecting appliances. If you’re dealing with hard water, a water softener can remove the excess minerals and give you all the benefits of softened water.
Hard vs Soft Water: Causes
What Causes Hard and Soft Water
The difference between hard water vs soft water comes down to the ground it flows through. As rainwater travels underground, it dissolves minerals from the rocks it passes. In areas rich in limestone or chalk, the water collects more calcium and magnesium, making it hard water. These minerals stay in the supply as the water is stored in reservoirs and piped into homes.
Where water passes through different rock types with fewer minerals, it remains much softer.
Across the UK, some of the hardest water is found in the southeast, London, Doncaster, York, and Hull.
Hard Water: Issues
Hard water isn’t harmful to health and can even provide a small boost of calcium and magnesium to your diet. However, the extra minerals can create challenges around the home and for your skin and hair. Here are some of the main cons of hard water:
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More cleaning required
Hard water makes surfaces harder to keep sparkling.
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Higher product use
You may need more soap, shampoo, and cleaning products to get a good lather.
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Appliance wear
Limescale can reduce the efficiency and lifespan of kettles, boilers, and washing machines.
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Limescale Buildup
Leaves deposits on taps, shower screens, appliances, and pipes
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Dry hair
Frequent washing can make hair feel dull and less manageable.
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Dry / irritated skin
Can weaken the skin barrier and cause itchiness.
Soft vs Hard Water: Why Switch to Soft Water?
Switching to soft water is one of the easiest ways to cut down on the hassles caused by hard water. By removing the minerals that cause limescale, a water softener helps protect your home and makes everyday life easier. With soft water, you’ll enjoy:
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Less limescale on showers, kettles, and appliances
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Fewer water marks, so you’ll spend less on cleaning products
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More lathering power, meaning you use less shampoo, shower gel, and soap
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Softer hair and skin, for a gentler daily routine
How do I Switch to Soft Water?
Tired of scrubbing limescale or dealing with dry hair and skin? It could be time to consider a water softener. The most common options include:
These products make daily life easier, from cutting cleaning time and lowering bills to giving you softer skin and bigger bubble baths. And if you’re wondering, softened water is perfectly safe to drink. The taste may differ, so many people choose a dual hard water drinking tap for the best of both worlds.
Hard vs Soft Water: What Type do I have?
Knowing what type of water you have is the first step to solving any water-related issues. But, how do you know what water type you have?
The tell-tale signs of hard water include limescale on appliances and taps, water stains on glassware, hair and skin dryness, and appliances that don’t last long.
You can use our water hardness checker to check whether you have hard or soft water in your home. If you have more than 100ppm in your water, you could benefit from softer water.
Soft Water vs Hard Water: Which Is Right for Your Home?
How confident are you that your water supply is really working for you? When it comes to soft water vs hard water, the choice can make a big difference to daily life. While some people don’t mind hard water, it often brings limescale, dry skin, and dull-looking surfaces. Soft water, on the other hand, is gentler on you, your home, and your appliances.
If you’re ready to enjoy the benefits of soft water; from shinier taps to smoother showers, it could be time to make the switch. Request a quote today for a Harvey Water Softener and start saying goodbye to limescale for good.