Hard water is water with high concentrations of dissolved minerals. Although hard water is generally safe for bathing, cooking, and consumption, untreated hard water could cause multiple plumbing and health issues. Unfortunately, tap water in Fort Worth, TX registers as extremely hard.
In fact, tap water in North Texas is among the hardest water in the nation. Read on to discover how a home water softener can protect your skin and hair, your plumbing-connected appliances, and your plumbing system.
What Is Hard Water and Why Does North Texas Have It?
Fort Worth and the surrounding cities source water from multiple reservoirs. As groundwater travels to these reservoirs, it passes through massive deposits of dolomite and limestone. With its diverse range of geological rock formations, North Texas terrain is rich with minerals. By the time groundwater reaches local reservoirs, it’s rife with dissolved calcium, magnesium, limestone, chalk, and gypsum.
As dissolved minerals pass through plumbing systems, they leave heavy sediment deposits. These buildups inhibit water flow and decrease the lifespans of plumbing components. The effects of untreated water don’t stop in your water supply lines and wastewater pipes. Dissolved minerals can wear down your appliances and leave chalky residues on your plumbing fixtures, shower doors, dishes, skin, and hair.
Signs You Might Need a Water Softener
If you live in North Texas, you likely need a water softener. However, if living in an area with notoriously hard water isn’t enough to convince you, there are several signs that water softener installation is an essential plumbing service.
White or Chalky Buildups on Fixtures and Dishes
Do your dishes or plumbing fixtures always appear chalky, streaky, or spotted, despite thorough washing and rinsing? Investing in clarifying tablets and solutions for your dishwasher is a short-term and often ineffective fix. No matter how much you buff or shine faucet spouts and handles, they’ll always have a dull, discolored finish.
Water softeners treat water before it reaches the tap. Not only will a water softener leave you with better-looking sinks, tubs, and shower glass, but it will also eliminate the need for special cleaning products and additional elbow grease.
Dry Skin and Hair After Showering
Hard water is harsh on your skin and hair. Bathing and showering in hard water could leave you with dry, brittle hair that breaks off easily. If you have itchy, scaly, or perpetually dry skin, poor water quality could be the culprit. With a water softener, you’ll have less skin irritation, healthier and more supple skin, and hair that’s less prone to breakage and loss.
Frequent Plumbing or Appliance Issues
Hard water minerals don’t just build up in pipes and on fixture handles. These same deposits weigh down plumbing connections and diminish the performance of appliances. Just as washing and rinsing your dishes in hard water can lead to spotted or streaked glassware and silverware, washing your clothes in hard water can accelerate the fading and wear of your fabric.
Homes in DFW with untreated hard water have more plumbing problems than homes with water-softening equipment. As hard water minerals accumulate in water supply lines, wastewater pipes, and sewer lines, they create a conducive environment for advanced corrosion.
These buildups also weigh pipes down and decrease their interior diameter. As a result, potable water, wastewater, and solid waste have less room to move through. Suppose you’re tired of paying for clog removal services, emergency drain or sewer line cleaning, or other hard water repairs. In that case, a water softener will provide an effective and long-lasting solution.
Benefits of Installing a Water Softener
Installing a water softener is a convenient and hassle-free solution to hard water concerns. Apart from basic water softener maintenance, you won’t have to worry about the region’s water hardness any longer. You can save money on special cleaning products and recurring plumbing repairs. You can also enjoy fresher-tasting, better-smelling, and all-around healthier tap water.
Protects Your Plumbing and Appliances
A water softener will extend the lifespan of your water heater, dishwasher, and washing machine. With fewer dissolved minerals entering your plumbing system, your water heater’s anode rod, tank, and connections will last longer. Preventing heavy mineral buildups will also limit the risk of appliance leaks and water damage.
With fewer scale buildups on heating elements, you’ll also enjoy efficient water heating and lower home energy bills. By keeping the internal valves and pumps of your plumbing-connected appliances clean, a water softener will significantly reduce ongoing wear and optimize overall performance.
Better for Skin and Hair
You can exit your baths and showers with fewer harmful residues on your skin and hair with home water-softening equipment. Treated hard water has a soft, silky feel that makes standing under the shower nozzle or soaking an indulgent experience. You’ll have fewer dry-skin and dry-hair issues, and you can spend less on self-care products that combat breakage, hair loss, and minor skin irritation.
When dry skin and dry hair are persistent issues, treating hard water can also lead to a tremendous boost in confidence. With softer and more supple skin and shinier, healthier hair, you’ll both look and feel better.
Cleaner Dishes and Laundry
Home water softeners leave dishes sparkling clean and streak-free. You can use standard dishwashing detergents and stop spending extra for special rinses and tablets. Your clothes will look brighter and last longer, too.
Saves Money on Repairs and Energy Costs
Appliances run more efficiently when hard water buildups don’t burden them. By some estimates, treating hard water could reduce annual water heating costs by as much as 29% for both standard and tankless water heaters. When paired with more efficient dishwasher and washing machine performance, you can save a considerable sum overall. You can run fewer wash and rinse cycles and still get superior results.
There are also environmental benefits to improving your home’s water quality with water-softening equipment. You can use less water and energy from day to day while producing far less waste and wastewater via plumbing-connected appliances. Best of all, when you aren’t using special products to ameliorate the effects of hard water, your wastewater will contain fewer chemical contaminants.
Potential Drawbacks to Consider
Home water softeners do come with a few minor drawbacks. In addition to paying the initial cost of a water softener and professional water softener installation, you’ll have to schedule annual maintenance for this appliance and check its salt levels monthly. You’ll also need sufficient indoor space for this installation, including adequate clearance between your water softener and other plumbing-connected appliances, such as your water heater.
Why Choose Airco for Water Softener Installation in North Texas
Airco is the top choice for water softener installation in North Texas. Proudly serving the region since 1975, we have five decades of experience and extensive knowledge of local water conditions. Airco offers and installs high-quality water softeners from trusted brands. We also stand behind our work with solid workmanship warranties.
If you’re tired of battling the effects of hard water in your Fort Worth home, contact Airco for a water quality test and consultation today!
