hard water

Top 4 Benefits of Water Softeners in Belleville, Illinois

April 12, 2021 by Dan Horsch

Not all homes require a water softener to ensure the safety of your water. However, there are so many personal and environmental benefits to having a water softener that may make you change your mind. Water softeners are designed to filter out excess magnesium and calcium that might make their way into your water system. Not only do they improve the quality of your drinking water, but it can even help improve the lifespan of your water heater. Here are 4 benefits of water softeners that will enhance your daily life.

It Can Improve Your Hair and Skin

Believe it or not, water softeners can be extremely beneficial for your skin and hair. “Hard water” or water that has high mineral content, is not entirely compatible with soap, making it harder to efficiently clean your skin when showing.

Water softeners get rid of the harsh minerals in your water, making it easier to lather your skin and hair properly. You will never have to worry about the natural oils being stripped from your skin and it can even help to eliminate fading and frizzy hair.

It Can Help You Save Money

You may be thinking that investing in a water softener is going to cost you more money than it could ever save you. That is not always the case. Over time the hard water traveling through your pipes allows harmful minerals to build up, causing the lifespan of your plumbing system to deteriorate.

A water softener allows your pipes to run at the proper energy levels required for your home. Buildup over time from hard water can force your appliances to work harder and longer than needed to effectively do their job, resulting in a shorter lifespan and expensive repairs.

If you feel like your home appliances are not running properly, contact your local plumber to schedule an appointment immediately.

It Will Keep Your Clothes from Fading

Have you ever realized that after washing your favorite new pair of jeans a few times, their already looking old and faded? This could mean that you have an excess of hard water being used to wash your clothes. Water softeners remove harmful minerals, making your clothes look and feel brand new.

It Can Make Your Dishes Cleaner

There is nothing more frustrating than putting a load of dishes in the dishwasher and having them come out dirty. All that time and water wasted due to hard water grime and faulty water pressure. Water softeners allow your dishes to stay clean with proper water filtration.

You will no longer have to worry about bacteria or persistent white film living on the surface of – what are supposed to be – clean dishes. Water softeners allow your soaps and detergents to clean your dishes thoroughly the first time.

For questions about water softeners, call Morrison Plumbing, Heating & Air at (618) 408-1446 today!

How hard water buildup at your Edwardsville, IL home can affect hair

May 18, 2018 by Dan Horsch

You might think that the water in which you wash your hair makes little difference to its silky shine; surely your choice of shampoo is more important? The truth is that hard water buildup may cause your hair to begin to lose its luster. If you live in Edwardsville, IL and can’t work out why your hair is looking flat and dull, hard water could be to blame. Here’s how to tell and what to do when this happens!

What is hard water buildup?

The term “hard water” doesn’t mean water that is literally hard like a brick. Instead, it refers to water that contains high levels of minerals, such as magnesium and calcium. Water that contains few minerals is called soft water. Unfortunately, these excess mineral produce hard water buildup on pipes and plumbing fixtures that could wreak havoc on your hair.

Hard water & washing

Hard water is notoriously bad at forming a lather when mixed with soap, which can make it difficult to wash your hair. If your home in Edwardsville, IL has a hard water supply, you may have trouble washing your hair. Additionally, the excess minerals may build up on your hair follicles, leaving hair that’s dry, flat or even brittle.

Hard water & hair

Every shaft of your hair is covered in tiny scales, which coat the surface of the hair like shingles covers a roof. When these scales lie flat, your hair will feel silky and smooth, and you will probably find that it is easy to style. However, washing your hair in hard water can lead to the scales standing up, which means that your hair will feel rough. It might also form tangles that are difficult to brush or comb out.

Hard water & soap

There is another way in which hard water hampers your ability to have smooth, shiny hair. When you mix soap products with hard water, the minerals in the water react with the soap to form a film of calcium or magnesium salts. This film remains on your hair when you rinse away the lather, causing it to lack volume.

How to have beautiful hair in a hard water area

If you live in an area where the water quality is low, do not despair. You are not doomed to a lifetime of bad-hair days. Many households in Edwardsville, IL use water softeners, which are water filtration systems that remove minerals from water to make it softer. To find out how this kind of water purification system could solve your hard water problems, get in touch with Morrison Plumbing today!

Can hard water damage the water heater at my Swansea, IL home?

May 4, 2018 by Dan Horsch

Beware the dangers of hard water!

Water quality is different everywhere you go. Some cities have heavily treated water that has most of its minerals removed, and some cities have mineral-filled water—otherwise known as hard water. The main difference between hard water and soft water is how they affect appliances, fixtures and other parts of your home. Build-up caused by hard water can actually damage some of the appliances in your home, which is why some people opt to install a water softener. Here’s what hard water does to your water heater and what you can do to minimize the damage.

Efficiency

The minerals in hard water are notorious for building up on surfaces the water touches. As the minerals from your water build up in your water heater, they reduce its efficiency by making it more difficult for your water heater to heat the water. This isn’t an emergency problem, but it will cost you on your energy bill if you wait to fix it.

Flushing

Your water heater should be flushed about once a year. This helps remove anything that might have built up in your water heater over the past year. When hard water causes increased mineral build-up, however, you may have to flush your tank as often as once every three months.

Shortened Life

Properly maintaining your water heater ensures it will last for a long time. However, hard water can greatly reduce the lifespan of your water heater due to the mineral build-up inside the tank. You’ll also have to pay for more frequent repairs.

What You Can Do

Water softeners can help reduce the effects of hard water on your water heater. Water filtration systems like this remove minerals from water as you use it, preventing mineral build-up and giving you cleaner water. You can buy a water softener that softens the water in one fixture, or a whole-house water softener that softens all the water you use in your home.

For even better water quality, consider investing in some form of water purification, such as a reverse osmosis (RO) filter.

Ask the Experts

If you’re not sure about the water quality in your area, give Morrison Plumbing a call. We have the expertise to determine whether you need a water softener and install it if necessary. You can even schedule service online with our easy to use website.

The High Cost of Hard Water in Fairview Heights, IL

December 15, 2017 by Dan Horsch

Know the Drawbacks of Hard Water at Your Fairview Heights Home or Business

Do you have a hard time getting dishes totally clean? Notice weird flavor in your morning coffee? Hard water could be the cause of multiple problems in your home or business. While hard water won’t necessarily hurt you, it can have some adverse effects on some things inside your home. Water softeners, purifiers, and other appliances remove minerals from the water, but they can cost a pretty penny to have it installed. So what does it actually cost to continue with hard water?

Plumbing Repairs

The minerals in hard water, many times, build up on the inside of pipes and other plumbing fixtures. This can block water flow and even cause a full-on clog and busted pipes. You’ll have to call a professional plumber to fix this, and it could end up costing you big.

Energy Costs

That hard water that’s circulating through your home could also cause your energy bills to rise to unacceptable levels. The buildup of minerals inside your water heater makes the water heater work harder, and use more energy, to heat the water for your bath, dishes, etc. The more buildup, the more you pay in energy costs.

Fabulous Hair & Skin

Another thing you’ll put in jeopardy with hard water is the lusciousness of your hair and skin. The excess minerals can leave hair looking flat and undesirable and leaves skin dry and cracking. This means you’ll be spending more on conditioner and lotion.

Clean Dishes

Keeping hard water also affects the cleanliness of your dishes. While you’re not in danger because of the hard water, it will coat your clean dishes with white spots and a filmy coating due to mineral buildup.

Clean Clothing

You shouldn’t actually be making your clothing dirtier when you throw it in the washer. However, that may be just what you’re doing with a hard water supply – mineral buildup can fade colors and make whites dingy.

Delicious Beverages

Does your morning coffee taste funny? Is your afternoon tea party tainted? Minerals in your water could be hurting the flavor of your morning cup a’ joe. Installing a water softener could restore the flavor for a more pleasant morning!

Hard water problems? Call Morrison Plumbing to hear about all your options. With 24-hour emergency service and knowledgeable technicians, make the right call for all your plumbing needs!