With more than 30 years’ experience in the residential and commercial water treatment space, 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.
If the considerable effects of hard water are starting to grind you down, it’s natural to think about ways to fix the problem. When you remove the hardness from water, it’s easier to use and kinder to your appliances and plumbing system. But, when you’ve decided to make the switch to soft water, you encounter your first challenge. Should you buy or rent your water softener system? In this article, we will explore this question in more detail to help you make an informed decision.
Living with Hard Water
For people sitting on the fence, it’s natural to believe that you can continue to live with hard water and the effects are not too bad. But, the elevated concentrations of minerals, including calcium, magnesium, and iron, can cause you a lot of hassle and money. The primary source of concern should be the accumulation of scale inside your plumbing pipes, fixtures, and water using appliances. This scale can narrow the diameter of pipes leading to a drop in water pressure, and eventually, it will cause pipe breaks. In your appliances, the scale will coat the heating elements causing them to work longer and harder to heat water. When equipment is overworked in this way, it’s more prone to failure, and the useful lifespan is shortened significantly. Hard water also inhibits the formation of soap suds which reduces the effective cleaning power of soaps, detergents, shampoos, and other cleaning products. Many people attempt to compensate by adding more soap, but this is a waste of money. So, sticking with hard water is a bad option for your home, and ultimately it will be more expensive.
Switching to Soft Water
If you’re ready to make the switch to soft water, there are four key questions that you need to ask yourself:
- Do You Have the Cash?
Your financial situation will probably be the primary factor when it comes to a decision on whether to buy or rent your water softener. The cost of a whole home water softener will depend on the capacity of the system you will need to meet your needs. If you live in a smaller home with a couple of occupants, you can buy a water softener for around $500. But, if you have a larger home with several family members, you will need a higher capacity system, and you can expect to pay up to $2,000. If you decide to rent your water softener, you can expect to pay $25 up to $35 per month, depending on the capacity and features that you need.
- Do You Own or Rent Your Home?
If you’re a homeowner and you can afford to invest in a water softener, it’s a good move. This is especially true if you’re thinking of selling your home in the future because a water softener will add value to the property. But, if you’re renting your home and the landlord approves, it’s a far better idea to rent a water softener.
- How Long Are You Planning on Staying?
Unless you want to simply add value to your home and you’re not planning to stay in place for long, there isn’t much point in buying your water softener. If you’re a homeowner and you’re planning a move in the next couple of years, you may want to consider renting. This is less of a concern for renters, but you need to make sure you’re not locked into a contract that extends beyond your lease. If you are planning to sell your home, it’s worth noting that a water softener can protect your water using appliances from scale problems. This may be important if you’re planning on including any of those items in the sale of your home.
- Is Renting More Practical?
For anyone without the finances to purchase a water softener, the only real solution is to rent the system from your local water treatment specialist. This is a practical short-term and long-term solution for homeowners and renters alike. In fact, as we will show later in this article, there are some advantages to renting a water softening system.
The Pros and Cons of Water Softener Rental
When it comes to renting a water softener, there are some pros and cons that you need to consider carefully; they are:
Pros:
- You don’t need a lot of cash upfront to get a water softener.
- As a renter, you don’t need to make a big commitment.
- If you don’t like the system or your needs change, you can change it.
- The maintenance and repair costs will be covered in your rental contract.
Cons:
- Your choices may be limited to what the company has in stock.
- The rental system may not be the latest technology with the up-to-date features.
- You don’t know where it was last installed.
- As a rental, it may need more repairs, but these are covered by the contract.
- You will never own the system, and you may even pay more over an extended period of years.
- As a renter, you will need the landlord’s permission to get the water softener installed.
The Pros and Cons of Water Softener Purchase
Investing in a water softener has its own set of pros and cons to consider:
Pros:
- If you install a water softener system, it will add value to your home.
- You can install a water softener system that’s designed to meet the specific needs of your home.
- Over the useful lifespan of water softener ownership, your costs will be lower than renting.
- You can add extra features and invest in up-to-date technology.
Cons:
- If you need a short-term solution, it makes more sense to rent a water softener.
- The initial cash outlay is higher, but you will recoup the costs over time.
- The maintenance and repair costs are your sole responsibility.
In Conclusion
A water softener will prevent the problems caused by hard water in your home. If you take some time to decide, the choice between renting and buying your water softener should be obvious. Whatever your decision, it makes good sense to contact your local water treatment specialist for expert help and advice today.