Are water softeners worthwhile?
Anyone who has stood fully dressed in the shower, scrubbing away annoying calcium build up, knows Calgary has hard water.
The high concentration of minerals in the water is also responsible for spotty dishes, stiff laundry, icky soap scum and eroded tea kettles, not to mention dry skin and limp hair.
Luckily, hard water isn't unhealthy, but it can be a drain on the pocketbook.
“Calcium builds up in dishwashers and washing machines, choking the portals and hoses — every place water has to squirt through.
Soft water will prolong the life of all plumbing equipment and fixtures,” says Pete Archdiken, known in Calgary as Pete the Plumber.
“The longevity of your appliances will be 10 to 12 years compared to the five or seven years if you don't have soft water.”
Laundering with soft water will help fabrics last longer.
“Your whites will be whiter, your brights brighter. You'll also use a lot less detergent, so that will save money,” he says.
Soap, shampoo and conditioner lathers up better with soft water, and glass shower doors, taps and faucets are easier to clean without calcium build up.
Archdiken says for Calgary's water, a system with 30,000 grains of softness is more than adequate. Homeowners can purchase a water softener and install it themselves for about $500 to $700.
Archdiken says he supplies and installs for $1,400 with a 10-year warranty.
“Water softeners aren't regulated like most other plumbing fixtures. Anyone can manufacture one, so a warranty is so important,” he says.
Water softeners need salt every one or two months and should be replaced every 10 to 12 years as the ion charge that creates the soft water eventually wears out.