All Las Vegas residents deal with the frustrating effects of hard water at some point. Dry skin, spotty dishes, and scale buildup on your faucets are all wreaking havoc on your daily life.
You’ve heard about soft water and people seem to have good results, but how do you get it in your home and what exactly is it?
This article breaks it all down from what soft water is and how it’s different from hard water, and how you can get it in your home with a Las Vegas water softener company.
So, What Exactly Is Soft Water?
Soft water has low levels of calcium and magnesium, which, when present in abundant amounts, make the water “hard.” Homes with soft water don’t have chalky residue left on faucets, and they don’t dry your skin out.
Soft water can also help the efficiency of your home’s plumbing and appliances and extend their lifespan.
Soft water is usually present when ground-level water can travel through soft rock like limestone or sandstone. Unfortunately, in places like Las Vegas, water flows right through mineral-rich terrain, making it hard along its path.
The Impacts of Water Hardness
Calcium and magnesium minerals aren’t typically bad for your health if you have hard water, but they will wreak havoc on your home.
Hard water leaves behind a residue as it flows through pipes and appliances. Over time, the buildup clogs plumbing and reduces water pressure, and shortens your appliance’s lifespan.
You’ll also notice everyday annoyances like your soap not lathering well, or your clothes feeling stiff after washing. Your skin may even feel itchy and dry because of the hard minerals in the water.
How Hard Is Las Vegas Water?
Bluntly put, Las Vegas has some of the hardest water in the country. According to one geological survey, Las Vegas water hardness measured between 270-290 ppm, above the national average of 180 ppm.
Las Vegas beats cities around the same state, too. Reno has a ppm of 85-125, making it hard but far less extreme.
Cities around the U.S. have much less minerality in their water, and places like Seattle or Boston measure around 60 ppm.
How To Tell if Hard Water Is a Problem in Your Home
If you can’t quite tell if you have hard water or not, there are three major signs that will highlight if you have a problem.
- Residue buildup: Watch the inside of your toilet bowl over the period of a week. If you flush and there is a ring of discoloration where the water level rested, that means you have extra minerals in your water.
- Itchy skin: Hard water will drain the hydration from your skin and won’t allow the water to hydrate as it’s meant to do. Your skin will feel itchy and tight after a shower.
- Cloudy spots on dishes: After dishwashing, see if there are cloudy spots or film that won’t seem to rinse off. These are clear signs you have a hard water issue.
Don’t just take these problems as small annoyances. Over time, these will lead to the destruction of your pipes and appliances.
Get Soft Water at Home
Hard water isn’t something you have to accept and live with. You can actually change the composition of your water so it doesn’t ruin your home or make your life harder.
The most effective way is to install a professional water softening system. It removes the minerals for you to change it into soft water.
Rain Water Conditioning of Las Vegas specializes in helping homeowners across the Valley achieve soft water. With decades of local experience, our team knows how to assess your home water needs, and recommend the right solution.
Contact our team today!
The Benefits of Having Soft Water
You’ll notice an immediate change to your daily life when you switch to soft water.
In the shower, you won’t use as much soap or shampoo, and soap will lather better and rinse away easily. Your hair will feel smoother and your skin more refreshed.
Behind the scenes, your plumbing system will stay in tip-top shape. Appliances like the washing machine or dishwasher will run more efficiently, and last longer with fewer repairs.
Can You Drink Soft Water?
Soft water is safe to drink but there are a few considerations to make. Softening removes the calcium and magnesium, but uses a small amount of sodium to do so.
The taste of your water may be slightly different than what you’re used to. This can be noteworthy if you’re on a low-sodium diet and worth mentioning to your physician.
Some homeowners install a separate filtered tap with a reverse osmosis system for drinking water to keep the taste and composition balanced.
Check out our reverse osmosis system.
How Water Softeners Work
Water softeners use a process called ion exchange using a reverse osmosis system, which removes the minerals that make water hard like calcium and magnesium.
Inside a water tank are tiny resin beads charged with sodium ions. As hard water enters the tank, the calcium and magnesium ions are attracted to the resin and cling to it, swapping places with the sodium.
The exchange removes the hard minerals and softens the water. When the resin beads are saturated with calcium and magnesium, they need to be regenerated.
Let Rain Water Help You Get the Soft Water You Deserve
Rain Water Conditioning of Las Vegas specializes in making hard water problems disappear for good. From our initial water test to our affordable water softener systems, we provide long-term solutions so your home stays in great shape.
Our team is here to guide you every step of the way. Our high-performance water softeners are built to handle the extreme mineral levels found in the Las Vegas Valley, and our team will consult with you to find the best one for your home.
Stop letting hard water wear down your home, and call Rain Water Conditioning of Las Vegas today for a free consultation.