HomeWater 101 -
  • Hard Water Basics
    • A Look at Hard Water Across the US
    • Water Softener Terminology Explained
    • Understanding the soft water process
  • Home & Health
    • Hard water’s impact on grooming
    • Your home on hard water
    • How (And Where) Hard Water Impacts Your Home
    • Interactive Water Quality Map
  • Solutions
    • Why Is Water Pressure in the House Getting Lower and Lower? How a Water Softener Can Help
    • What Size Water Softener and Grain Capacity Do I Need? A Homeowner’s Guide
    • How to choose a water softener for your home
    • How Water Softeners Work
    • Water softener buyer’s guide
    • Easy ways to test your water
    • Your personalized softening solution
    • Free Water Test
  • Install & Maintain
    • How Do I Know If My Water Softener Is Broken?
    • Water softener installation made easy
  • More Facts & Fixes
3 Ways to Get Your Lather Back A person washing their hands in a sink with a purple bar of soap

Did you know that your water may be preventing your products from working to their full potential?

Where does your water come from? A metal water tower surrounded by pine trees

Most homeowners get their water from a municipal source (versus a private well), but did you know that even water from a city supply could be partially sourced from a well?

A Tale of Two Systems A blue sewage waste truck driving down a road

For homes that have a septic system and use a water softener, it’s been shown that efficiently operated water softeners pose no problems to septic tank performance.

Three household problems you can solve in 2018 A diagram showing the problems hard water can create around your home

With a new year comes a long list of the same old resolutions. For 2015, why not resolve to improve several problems around your home in one easy step?

Myth: I’m losing “good” minerals from my water A diagram showing elements from the periodic table that can be in your home’s water

You know that water softeners eliminate several headaches around the home, but a common question is whether it removes important minerals from your water.

3 Surprising Reasons to Use Filtered Water A person mixing baking ingredients in a red bowl

When preparing food for the holidays, you want to impress family and friends with the best-tasting dishes possible. But did you know that your water might be preventing you from serving the perfect meal?

Stress-free cleaning this holiday season A person’s gloved hand cleaning the bathroom tiles because of hard water stains

The key to easier cleaning with fewer chemicals this holiday season? A water softener.

Tips for removing scale buildup before the holidays A woman in a sweater waving her hand by an open door to a house

From quick spot treatments to more permanent fixes, these tips will give you one less thing to stress about when entertaining family and friends this holiday season.

How often should I add salt to my water softener? A diagram showing a bag of salt needs to be added to a water softener

The type of water softener, size of the brine tank, water hardness and household water usage all determine how much salt you need and how often you’ll need to replenish your softener’s salt supply.

What’s wrong with my hair? Woman holding out her hair and looking at it with a concerned expression

Did you know that hard water’s effects go far beyond chalky buildup, pipe damage and higher energy bills? That same water may also be doing a number on your hair.

Installing your water softener Tools displayed on top of an instruction manual

Whether you’re using a dealer, a plumber or your own DIY skills, there are advantages and disadvantages to each installation method.

Top tips for the DIYer A diagram showing a computer, a glass of water, water softener and water pipes

When it comes to water softeners, the selection and installation process can be a bit overwhelming. But with a few easy tips, savvy DIYers can solve their hard water problems easily and affordably.

Myth: Water softeners make your water salty A diagram of salt and water with the words “myth: water softeners make your water salty”

While sodium is used to soften water, one of the biggest misconceptions is that it makes your water noticeably salty. Luckily, that’s not the case.

What happened to my laundry? Clothes sitting in a closed washing machine

If you’ve noticed stiff, harsh fabrics, graying or yellowing of clothing, soil build-up and/or weakening of fabrics, hard water is most likely the culprit.

Making room for your water softener Water softener with checkmarks next to text saying “near a drain, 10 feet from water heater, near an outlet”

Depending on the style of your house and where you live, finding the perfect place for your water softener may be a breeze or it may require a little extra investigation.

Hard water by the numbers A graphic of a drop of water with numbers inside

If you’re new to the numbers associated with hard water, here’s a breakdown of what you can expect to see in your water softener research.

Hard water’s impact on pipes and appliances A diagram of how hard water increases your energy bill by 29 percent

The pipes and valves within major water-using appliances can also become clogged with scale, reducing water flow or causing leaks, resulting in potentially expensive part replacements.

Water softener terms for new shoppers A diagram explaining what resin is

Whether you’re in the aisles or scrolling online, water softeners have a language all their own.

Myth: Water softeners waste energy and money A diagram showing how a water softener and an alarm clock use the same amount of energy

Just because you add another electricity-using appliance to the home doesn’t mean it’s going to be an energy drain.

Suspect hard water? There’s a test for that. A diagram showing how you can perform an in-home water test

Are you in a new city or home, and your water just isn’t “right”? The best place to start is by testing your water.

A look at hard water across the US A diagram of a water drop with the number 85% inside

Only 15% of the United States has naturally occurring soft water. The remaining 85% of us get to fight the daily battles of hard water with spotty dishes, limescale buildup and appliance inefficiency.

Myth: It costs more than it’s worth to soften water A black wallet with two 100-dollar and two 20-dollar bills hanging out

Many believe that a water softening system costs much more than it’s worth. In fact, the opposite is true.

Take the next step:

  • Check your water test results
  • Find more facts and fixes

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