Anyone who cares about the environment wants to do everything they can to go green and save energy. So it seems paradoxical to use another electric equipment, such as a water softener. However, it is critical to examine the facts.
To begin with, water softeners do not consume a significant amount of electricity. Running water softeners for a year takes about the same amount of energy as a regular alarm clock for the same amount of time (about 70 kWh, or less than $10 at current energy costs). Because contemporary softeners often regenerate only when necessary, both energy and water usage are properly optimized. Water softeners only need to operate about 5 times each month in the case of normal families. Clearly, this will not consume a lot of electricity in your home.
Is it true that a water softener saves energy?
Just because you install another energy-consuming appliance to your home doesn’t guarantee it will be a waste of energy. In truth, a water softener consumes far less electricity than you may think. A water softener uses about the same amount of energy as an alarm clock over the course of a year, which is about 70 kWh, or less than $10 per year based on US average energy costs (and without that annoying beep). Most contemporary softeners renew only when necessary, reducing water and energy use. The water softener is used less than five times per month by an average family of four.
A water softener is well worth the initial expenditure because it immediately improves water quality and saves you money in various areas of your home. A water softener boosts the longevity and operational efficiency of your home’s pipes, key appliances, and faucets by preventing scale accumulation. In fact, using soft water can extend the life of appliances by 30 to 50 percent. Excess scale building causes heat loss, making it twice as difficult to get your water hot and piped to where it needs to be. Your water heater won’t have to work as hard with soft water, saving you up to 27% on energy costs in a single year.1
Soft water not only saves energy but also protects the plumbing in the home. Pipes are the home’s veins and arteries, and appliances are the key organs, if you think about it. Organs will fail if the arteries get congested and unclean. Hard water minerals build up inside pipes over time, eventually cutting off the water flow. If your home’s plumbing system is severely damaged, the only option is to repair it entirely, which could cost thousands of dollars. As a result of the buildup inside your appliances and the clogging of the valves, hard water can cause leaks, costly repairs, and premature replacement expenses. The expense of replacing equipment that have been corroded by hard water ranges from $400 to $1,500 for a washer and $300 to $800 for a water heater. A water softener installed in your home can help you prevent these pricey issues.
A water softener is a perfect solution to have in the home, with only a small increase in energy use and the potential to save thousands of dollars over the length of its existence. You’ll see savings throughout your home after purchasing a softener, and the system will pay for itself in approximately a year.
Don’t know where to start? Request a free hard water test strip to determine the hardness of your water, and then follow this simple step-by-step procedure to get a suggestion for the best water softener for you, or contact our chosen merchant, EcoPureHome, for all of your water softening requirements.
Is it true that water softeners are powered by electricity?
While one kind uses water flow past gears instead of energy to operate, almost all water softeners run on electricity. Specifically, to control timers and motors. The amount needed will be modest, about the size of a clock.
What are the ways in which a water softener can help you save money?
To do the same amount of laundry, soft water uses 50 percent less detergent. Because detergents don’t mix well with hard water, utilizing soft water instead allows your detergent to last longer. This means you won’t have to buy detergent as frequently, but you’ll get even better results. Additionally, because softer water produces softer garments, you won’t need as much fabric softener for your washing loads (versus the complaints we hear about stiff or coarse clothing caused by hard water). Hard water can also cause clothing to lose its vibrancy and wear out more quickly. You won’t be rushing out to buy new garments every time your old ones wear out if you use softened water.
What is the monthly cost of a water softener?
The average cost of running a water softener is $10 to $20 per month, including monthly salt replenishment and annual maintenance and cleaning. Salt refills are the most expensive item, while additional wastewater for regeneration and electrical costs are minor.
Water Softener Salt Prices
The normal sodium chloride costs $5 to $10 per 40-pound bag, while potassium chloride costs $25 to $35 per 40-pound bag. Depending on the water hardness, home size, tank capacity, and salt type, most households use 1 to 2 bags each month.
- Obtainable more easily
- The best water softening outcomes
- Low-sodium diets are not recommended.
- Some localities have banned it.
- Has the potential to pollute the environment
- Sodium-free substitute
- Better for the environment
- To achieve the same results as salt, it takes 10% to 30% more.
Is it OK to consume water that has been softened?
While most softened water is totally safe to drink, the amount of sodium in the treated water is determined by the original water’s hardness. If the hardness of the water before softening is less than 400 ppm calcium, it is safe to drink. If the hardness of your water surpasses 400 parts per million, you’ll need to purify it even further to minimize the sodium content.
What are some of the drawbacks of soft water?
To properly comprehend the benefits and drawbacks of water softeners, you must first comprehend the benefits and drawbacks of hard and soft water. After you’ve established those distinctions, you’ll need to decide which is best for you.
What is Hard Water?
Hard water is natural and as near to rainwater as you can get. It still has all of the minerals it gathered all the way to your faucet. It becomes “hard” as a result of the mineral deposits it obtains. Water can have varying degrees of hardness or mineral content.
Pros of Hard Water
- Hard water is beneficial to your health since it contains critical minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and iron. These three minerals, in particular, are important in keeping your heart and cardiovascular system healthy, according to several research.
- While it is subjective, many people believe that these minerals improve the flavor of the water.
Cons of Hard Water
- Scale will form inside your plumbing system as a result of hard water. While it will accumulate over time, it is usually too late once you become aware of it. The majority of the time, a plumbing specialist is required to remove the scale accumulation.
- Scale accumulation affects not just your pipes, but also your household appliances, reducing their efficiency.
- Discoloration can occur in your bathtubs, sinks, dishwasher, and washing machine due to certain minerals.
- If the mineral levels in your water are high enough, it is typical for your water to emit unpleasant odors ranging from earthy to sulfurous.
- Hard water causes buildup on your hair and skin, causing it to become dry and brittle.
What is Soft Water?
When all of the minerals in water have been eliminated, usually through ionization, it is referred to as soft water. The details are explained in our blog on the Basics of Water Softeners.
Cons of Soft Water
- Most experts believe that drinking soft water on a regular basis is unhealthy.
- Drinking soft water on a regular basis raises sodium levels, which can cause a variety of health concerns, including high blood pressure.
- The process of softening the water also makes it more volatile, allowing it to pick up more contaminants from your pipes. Lead is one of these components, making it potentially more harmful.
- For every 1,000 gallons of water, a water softener wastes up to 120 gallons. If you are charged based on how much water you use, your water bill may go up.
Pros of Soft Water
- Your skin and hair will be less damaged if you use soft water.
- Because soap is more effective, you won’t need as much of it, and your clothes will feel cleaner.
- Scaling and lime build-up in sinks, dishwashers, tubs, and other appliances will be reduced or eliminated with soft water.
- Because there is less scaling in your pipes, your water heater doesn’t have to work as hard, saving you money on your energy cost.
- Scaling does not form in your pipes when you use soft water.
- You can bring some hard water into your house for drinking and cooking that hasn’t been softened by your water softener.
At the end of the day, installing a water softener and having a separate drinking line in your home can frequently provide you the best of all worlds. If you want to learn more, call a competent plumbing and heating company in your area.
FACT
Our 12 volt electronics maintain track of the time, tally the litres consumed, and monitor the salt levels for you. In April 2022, this will cost around 24p each month. All of this was accomplished without the use of cogs, gears, or wear. Water is softened without the usage of electricity.
Is a water softener need to have an outlet?
Installing a water softener yourself allows you to complete the project at your own pace and save money by not hiring a plumber. This can be completed in under an hour if you’re only replacing an old water softener. A new installation does necessitate some more plumbing expertise, but it can be completed in a matter of hours. Before you begin, double-check that you have all of the necessary supplies and tools, as you may need to cut pipes to align your water softener and water supply lines. Before you begin, make a detailed checklist to ensure you don’t skip any stages.
Whirlpool Water Softeners come with everything you need to set up and connect to a single NPT (National Pipe Thread). If you have a plumbing system that is smaller or larger than one…
Before you begin, make sure you have the following information.
- Two 1 NPT female connectors as well as adequate tubing to connect the water softener to your existing plumbing are required. Copper, PVC, CPVC, steel, or PEX plumbing are all options. For installation, each of these plumbing styles may require distinct materials and tools.
- The regeneration or recharge procedure necessitates the use of a drain. Although 12 feet of drain tubing is included, if your drain is more than 5 feet away, you will need to acquire more 1/2 tubing. The drain pipe should not be elevated more than 8 feet above the floor and should be no more than 30 feet away from the softener.
- A 110V continuous live outlet is required for the power cord (transformer). A 10-foot power cord is included with the item.
Where to Install a Water Softener
If you’re wondering “where does a water softener go?” it’s time to do some digging around your house. If you have a general understanding of how to plumb a water softener, on the other hand, you may easily determine the most effective placement.
If you’re establishing a whole-house system, you’ll want to put the softener as near to the water entry point as possible. As a general rule, a water softener should be installed as soon as feasible in your house plumbing system. That implies you should put your water softener upstream from your water heater, rather than downstream. You will not only avoid your softener from being damaged by hot water, but you will also extend the life of your water heater by providing it with softer water.
Although each installation circumstance is unique, the following are some common plumbing needs for installation:
- At the inflow, 3 gallons per minute
- Maximum water pressure is 125 PSI.
Your water softener will require electricity to operate, and the following are the standard electrical requirements for water softeners:
- A grounded 120V, 60 Hz outlet with circuit breaker protection
- Make sure you’re using a #20AWG appliance replacement cord if you’re utilizing an extension cord.
Do you have any questions about how to install a water softener with a well? The installation methods are comparable as long as the water source enters your property in the same manner as a municipal water supply.
Is it necessary for a water softener to have its own circuit?
- A dedicated circuit is not required for a water softener to perform correctly.
- A water softener is essentially a salt storage tank that, when mixed with hard water, aids in the removal of dissolved calcium and magnesium ions that cause water hardness.
- An intake valve will normally allow new tap water to enter the tank, as well as an outlet pipe to drain the softened water and a rinsing/cleaning cycle mechanism.
Does having a water softener boost the value of your home?
A water softener not only saves you money in your daily activities, but it can also help you earn more money. Installing a water softener or reverse osmosis system in your home can boost the value of your home when you decide to sell it.
Many homebuyers look for these qualities in their search, knowing that the house has been secured against the aforementioned factors and more. After the house is sold, they will have one less item to worry about: purchasing a water treatment system. Additionally, potential buyers are glad that they will not have to deal with the additional tasks of cleaning hard water stains from sinks, showers, dishes, appliances, and so on.