With more than 30 years’ experience in the residential and commercial water treatment industry, Mark Nelson is a Class 1 Drinking-Water Operator and a CBWA (Canadian Bottled Water Association) Certified Plant Operator. As founder and president of Nelson Water in Ottawa, Mark focuses on dealing with challenging water treatment system designs for problem water. He also heads the largest water bottling plant in the city of Ottawa with a delivery network throughout the Valley.

 

Hard Water May be Making your Life Harder than You Think

In today’s busy and fast moving world, most consumers are continuously looking for ways to make their lives simpler and easier.  Be it home appliances such as dishwashers, or buying creams and lotions to make their skin feel smoother and softer.  We have all purchased one or the other at one point.

What most of us may be unaware of though, is that hard water could actually be making our lives harder and costing money each and every month.

The Impact of Hard Water in a Canadian Home

There are estimates as high as 85% that homes in Canada have hard water to some degree. Hard water is very aptly named as it can make a number of tasks around the house much harder. Chores like cleaning can take much longer using hard water. Glassware often appears spotty, milky or cloudy when it comes out of the dishwasher.  Clothing doesn’t appear completely clean, bright or fresh out of the washing machine. You may even find that having a shower or bath is harder as soaps and hair products do not lather up properly.

Additionally, many homeowners may find that their energy utility bills are getting higher and higher for no apparent reason. The underlying cause for this increased energy consumption is hard water. Hard water can allow scale to accumulate inside appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers and water heaters. This scale means that the appliances work harder and use more energy resulting in a diminished lifespan.

The Impact of Hard Water on the Body

The The World Health Organization has determined that hard water has no adverse health effects, however, this does not mean that hard water has no effect on your body. Since hard water affects how soaps and detergents lather up, you may find that you are using more soap. This in turn can dry your skin surface (due to residue build-up), making it feel dry and itchy. You may also find that your hair feels lifeless, flat and dull. This is typically due also to a heavy residue being left on hair from hair products. This means that you could be wasting money on expensive hair care and beauty purchases to improve the appearance of your skin and hair, when you simply need to consider better water.

A Softer Life With a Water Softener

If hard water is making your life harder than it ought to, using a water softener may be the answer. A water quality test by a water treatment professional can determine the level of your water hardness. You can then choose the appropriate water softener solution for your home.

There are a number of systems, including whole house systems, on the Canadian market, which can remove the dissolved calcium and magnesium creating soft water.  This can immediately improve the performance of soaps, detergents and other cleaning products. You should also notice that glassware, clothing and dishes look and feel cleaner and an improvement in the appearance of your skin and hair.

While purchasing a water softener may seem like a significant investment, you may need to consider how much you are spending on soaps, detergent and extra energy on utility bills now due to your water hardness. Instead of making your life harder, you can soften your water and make your life softer…