If your home’s water is excessively hard, it may be time to think about purchasing a water softener. If you are not sure if you have hard water, there are a few easy tests that will help you determine this. First and foremost, you can send a sample to a lab, and this is probably the definitive answer to water hardness questions, but there are other signs that you can watch for.

Hard water is very common in rural homes where the water supply is not treated. However, some cities are notorious for their hard water. Look for calcium deposits in your toilet tank, stains around drains, as well as faucets and other telltale signs. You may also notice that it is impossible to get soap or shampoo to lather, which is another sign that your home has hard water.

Since hard water can do a lot of damage, many homeowners look to a water softener for relief. The first person to introduce the concept of “soft” water was Emmett Culligan, who found that it was beneficial not only for humans, but also for cattle. His early studies found that cattle given soft water were healthier and brought more money at auction.

Typically, salt is used to soften water. The water supply for your house is run through the softener, and the grains of salt help block the minerals that make the water “hard.” This does mean that some sodium does enter the water supply. For those on a sodium restricted diet, this can be troublesome.

There is one alternative to using salt in a water softener that relies on the use of potassium chloride, which is a salt substitute. While this may work for those that are on a sodium restriction, it should be noted that this type of salt substitute is not recommended for those suffering from Addison’s Disease or those that may have elevated levels of potassium in their blood.

Despite these issues, removing minerals from your water can lead to better health and you will begin to see benefits such as clothes getting cleaner, a lack of mineral build up in plumbing fixtures and you will of course have cleaner hair since your shampoo can now lather. If you don’t have any health issues with sodium or potassium chloride, a water softener can be incredibly beneficial.

When you are shopping for your new water softener, you will first need to see just how hard your water is. This is where your lab sample comes in. You can check with your county’s extension office for a free test, or your water treatment company may offer it free. Once you know how hard the water is, you can determine what size of softener you will need. In some extreme situations, a dual tank water softener may be necessary. This is common for large families or for those in rural areas where the water can be especially hard and will need extra treatment before it can be used.

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