Soft vs Hard Water...What's the difference?

Hard water is usually what comes through your tap normally. Water will flow through different types of rock and soils, absorbing minerals such as calcium and magnesium. The higher the mineral content, the harder the water will be. Usually, it is safe to drink hard water, and can even be beneficial to your health.

BUT…
It can harm your hair, dry your skin out, and even thin your nails. It can strip natural oils that coat your skin and hair. Your hair may become more dry and limp. Nails can have stunted growth or discoloration too.

It will leave spots and residue when the water dries up. You may see after you take a shower there is a white coating that will dry on the glass or around the spout. This is limescale buildup, and if you do not clean it regularly, it will get worse and will be harder to remove.

It can even damage pipes and appliances long term. Over time it can clog the pipes with mineral buildup. Eventually, you may need to repair/replace the pipes in your home. It can also shorten the lifespan of your dish washer, laundry washer, refrigerator, or any appliance that uses water.


Soft water, on the other hand, removes the high mineral content. To achieve this, you need to have a water softening system in your home. The system will trap and remove the minerals from your tap water using tiny resin beads.

This will help with…
Preventing limescale buildup. Because it removes the minerals, you will no longer notice the white limescale buildup anymore on surfaces. It also will prolong the life of your pipes and appliances from mineral buildup.

It also will help with your soap. The soap will become more effective and will make more suds. It won’t dry out your hair or skin as much either. When you are washing your body, you may feel that the water is silky or slippery. That is a definite sign that you have soft water.


Having hard water or soft water in your home will depend on your preference. If you are wanting to convert to soft water I would recommend getting a smart water softener, which allows you to sync and use your smart device to control it. We’ve even installed water softening systems in houses to only certain pipes so not all the water is soft. Our technician, Craig, will come to you and recommend the right softener for your home and get it installed fairly quickly.