Hard water, sometimes called lime scale, causes the death of many appliances and pipes. Cleaning off limescale is a difficult task, and you need to work on it early, before it’s impossible to be rid of. A water softener installation will give your home a fighting chance for its pipes and appliances to recover.

Be sure you plan ahead for the time when you will install your water softener. Observe any bylaws for water in your area. Make sure you are installing the water softener at your main water supply point, and be sure you have room for the unit, and access to it, for repairs or to add salt, if you purchase a salt-based unit. Check your water pressure and locate the stop cock for the water supply.

You may opt to have a professional handle your water softener installation, and there is nothing wrong with this, if you don’t feel qualified to install the system yourself. Whomever is doing the installation, make sure to test the water pressure first. High or low water pressure can damage a softener, or cause it to fail. Each water softener is pressure tested, but if you have very high or low pressure, you should fit a pressure limiter when the softener is installed.

Be sure to select a site close to your main water supply point. Allow take off points for hard water, if you want hard water left in an outside faucet, for example, to water the lawn. You can also leave the kitchen cold tap unconnected to a water softener, if you want non-softened water in that location. Be sure that the softener unit is located close to your drain, when you plan your water softener installation. If you seat your softener within a cupboard, be sure to support the base.

Soft water helps in reducing the buildup of scale, and this makes sinks, showers and tubs easier to clean. Your clothes will also feel and look softer and cleaner. The higher quality water softeners include special technology that will allow the softener to learn the patterns of water usage of your family, and supply soft water just when you need it. You can get non-softened water to water your lawn or wash your car, by the use of a bypass valve. Soft water will take care of scale build-up in your pipes, and your water heater can use up to 25% less energy if it is not affected by hard water scale.

When you are working with your professional on your water softener installation, you can plan on using this top quality softener to use less salt than traditional water softeners. In addition, you may opt to install a salt-free water softener, if you don’t want the hassle of buying, carrying and adding salt.

There are many advantages to treating hard water. Your glassware and silverware will be shinier and without spots, and your skin and hair will feel cleaner, softer and smoother. You will be able to use a lot less soap and detergent for showers and clothes washing. You can also use chemical-free detergents and soaps, if you have an efficient water softener. Of course, your appliances will last much longer without hard water issues. In fact, a water softener installation in your home will reduce your greenhouse gases to the same level as removing an SUV or truck from highways for a year.

Some people believe that you cannot drink water from a water softener, but this is not true. Water from a salt-based softener has less salt in one glass than is found in one slice of bread. If you don’t like the slightly salty taste, you can use a salt-free softener, a reverse osmosis unit or a potassium based unit.

You may have heard that people find it harder to rinse off soap in the shower with soft water. In fact, although you may feel the sensation of not having rinsed fully, in actuality this comes from the water being able to thoroughly clean your hair and skin, and allow your natural oils to work.

Do water softeners waste water and salt? The technology of today’s water softeners, with specialized mesh resins and flow screens, are much more efficient than older models. And although they may use electricity (some models don’t), they will save you on the electricity needed to run all of your appliances.

Discharged water from your water softener is also not damaging to the ground around your home, or your septic system. The salty brine discharge doesn’t cause problems with treatment plants in the soil. It can even allow your soil to percolate more effectively, which will save you money on septic maintenance and repair.