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 vs. Soft Water… What’s the BIG DEAL?

No matter what the economic times, homeowners are always looking for ways to cut their household expenses. While you may have considered cutting corners on your grocery bills or trying to implement energy saving measures, you may have overlooked one of the simplest ways to save money: switching to soft water.

Many consumers are unsure of the differences between hard and soft water, and whether their water supply is one or the other. Simply put, hard water contains high levels of dissolved calcium and magnesium particles. The degree of water hardness is determined by the level of particles in your water supply. The main difficulty with determining whether you are affected by hard water is that it has no noticeable taste difference. A basic water test from a Water Treatment Professional will determine the level of water hardness, based on the parts per million.

The Hidden Savings From Soft Water

While changing to soft water may seem to offer at first negligible savings to your household expenses, there are actually at least 5 major areas of savings to be had in the medium to long term. The first of these unseen savings is related to saving money on your detergents. From dishwashing soaps to shower gels, laundry detergents to body soap, you may not have realized how the cost of your detergents has been stealthily creeping up due to the hardness of your water.

Hard water affects the performance of detergents, leaving laundry appearing dingy/ grimy looking, with skin feeling dry and dishes looking spotty. This underperformance in cleaning is typically (and erroneously) attributable to the detergent.  In fact, you may have found yourself using more and more of it or switching to more costly products.

Switching to soft water will have an immediate effect on how effectively your detergents clean. This means that you will find yourself spending less on detergents throughout the home.

The second saving to be had is on your energy bills. When your detergent is working efficiently, there is no need to use 100 F degree washing cycles in an effort to get your clothing or dishes truly clean. By decreasing the water temperature, you will immediately save money on your energy bills while achieving great cleaning results.

The third area of saving is a more long-term, depreciated expense. Softened water can help improve the lifespan of your appliances. Hard water encourages the build-up of scale in your water using appliances including water heaters, dishwashers and washing machines. This scale can severely damage vital components of the water-using appliance, leading to breakdowns and the need for premature replacement.

The fourth cost saving is related to the efficiency of your water heater. While your water heater may have an excellent efficiency rating, hard water compromises its performance.  Soft water, on the other hand, can help maintain the original rating. This means that if you have taken the time to install the most efficient model, you can support and optimize its performance by using soft water.

The fifth saving relates to a lower risk of plumbing issues. Hard water slows down drains, clogging pipes and constricting water flow like cholesterol plaque in human arteries. This means that you may find that you are spending more with plumbers to come and restore proper water flow in your kitchen or bathroom. Switching to soft water helps keep plumbing lines clear, reducing the need for unexpected plumbing related emergency bills.

While many may consider the purchase of a water-softening device to be a luxury, there are a great number of reasons to consider installation.  This type of system is an investment in your home, and you may be pleasantly surprised at the savings that can be achieved over a relatively short period of time.