Are your bright white shirts looking dull and gray? Are your soft and luxurious bath towels feeling stiff and scratchy? Before you blame your laundry detergent or washing machine, you might want to take a look at another likely culprit: your water. Why? Because there’s a good chance you have hard water—an excessive amount of “hardness” minerals including dissolved calcium, magnesium, and in many cases, iron.
Hard water is prevalent in New Hampshire. In fact, most homes and businesses have hard water—whether it’s supplied by a private well or through a public water system.
Hard Water Problems
All too often, homeowners resign themselves to living with the many nuisances of hard water, including:
- Stained or poorly cleaned laundry
- Streaked and spotted dishes
- Soap scum in tubs and showers
- Crusty limescale buildup on faucets and fixtures
- Dry hair and scalp
“Most people don’t realize that these problems are due to hard water, or how much money, time, and energy is spent fighting the hard water battle,” notes RJ Brown, Residential Certified Water Specialist at Secondwind Water Systems.
The good news is you can eliminate your hard water problems with a water softener.
3 Ways Water Softeners Improve Water Quality and Save You Time and Money
Cleaner Dishes and Laundry
Water softeners treat hard water by removing calcium, magnesium, iron, and other hard metals. The resulting soft water is more compatible with soaps and detergents so your dishes and clothes will get clean during the first wash. Hard water is rough on clothes, so investing in a water softener will also extend the life of your wardrobe.
No More Soap Scum or Limescale Buildup
When you install a water softener, you’ll spend a lot less time scrubbing your kitchen and bathroom faucets and fixtures. Who doesn’t like that?
Longer-lasting Appliances and Home Equipment
If your water-using appliances aren’t lasting as long as you think they should, you probably have hard water. “Hard water damage can take years off the life of your dishwasher, washing machine, water heater, and all other water-using appliances and equipment,” Brown notes.
Hard Water Testing and Treatment in New Hampshire
If you’re experiencing any of the hard water problems noted above, don’t throw away your detergents and soaps, or replace your washing machine. Instead, schedule a free water test with Secondwind’s certified water specialists. We’ll help you identify the source of your water quality problems and select a water treatment system that meets your needs and budget.