Did you know that 71% of U.S. consumers drink tap water?
That’s right!
But here’s something even more surprising. Of these tap water drinkers, 55% feel concerned about water contamination. Still, 42% don’t use any kind of water treatment or filtration system.
Granted, the U.S. has some of the most advanced public water treatment facilities in the world. However, groundwater contamination in the country still occurs. From 2013 to 2014 alone, 14 outbreaks related to groundwater systems took place.
That said, if you don’t have a filtration system in place yet, now’s the time to get one. Better yet, invest in a filter and softener combo system. This way, you can filter out disease-causing contaminants while also enjoying soft water.
The question now is, why exactly would you want soft water too? Why should you even consider getting both water treatment systems at home?
We’ll answer all these questions in this post, so be sure to keep reading!
Why You’d Want “Softer” Water Too
In the U.S., 90% of U.S. homes get supplied with hard water. “Hard” water is water that contains a lot of dissolved minerals, like calcium and magnesium.
That doesn’t sound like a problem, right? True, many of these minerals are essential to human nutrition and health. But when present in high amounts, they can also cause problems with your appliances.
For instance, calcium and magnesium can cause scaling in water-using appliances. These include water heaters, washing machines, coffee makers, and tea kettles. Scaling can reduce the efficiency of these appliances, forcing them to work harder.
As a result, these appliances will have to use more energy to do their job. This added “stress” of extra work can also cut their life short.
Moreover, scaling can occur inside your home’s plumbing pipes. Over time, this sediment build-up can clog your pipes completely. This can then can cause water to back up and out of your toilets, sinks, and drains.
And as if that’s not enough, hard water also reduces soaps’ cleaning effectiveness. The minerals make it harder for these cleaning products to lather up. Instead, the minerals react with the contents of the soap to create a sticky “scum”.
These are only some of the many drawbacks of having hard water. But they should be enough to make you consider getting a water softener installed at home too. And fortunately, with water filter and softener systems, you can get the best of both worlds.
A Primer on Filter and Softener Combo Systems
A water filter and softener combination system is a two-in-one water treatment system. Most of them come with two separate tanks, one for the filtration and the other for the softener. They connect to the main water line, usually sitting side by side.
When you run your faucet, the water passes through both treatment tanks. So, the water that comes out of your faucet is already both filtered and softened.
Most water softeners use a softening medium, such as a crystalline substance or resin. In this case, the softening medium gets suspended in a saline solution (saltwater).
As water flows through this set-up, the minerals “trade” places with the sodium in the saltwater. This process, called “ion exchange”, removes the sediments from the water itself. Yes, it literally demineralizes the water so that they don’t even have a chance to get to your plumbing pipes.
The drawback to this kind of softening system is that it takes away all the important minerals in the water. So, you end up getting no nutrients from the water.
The good news is, there are water softeners that don’t make use of salt to get rid of these minerals. You can get a water filter and salt free softener combo system that softens water without sodium.
Instead, salt-free softeners turn mineral ions into nanocrystals. Once they transform into these microscopic crystals, they get suspended in the water. They don’t disappear, but since they’re suspended, they won’t be “in contact” with anything else.
Since the minerals can’t precipitate out of the water, then they can’t cause scaling. They won’t even touch the insides of your plumbing pipes or settle at the bottom of your appliances. At the same time, since they’re still in the water, you get to ingest these essential mineral nutrients.
The Added Perks of Having a Water Softener at Home
A high-quality water filter, on its own, already removes harmful contaminants like chlorine. It also gets rid of volatile organic compounds, chloramine, pesticides, and herbicides. It can even eliminate other dangerous solvents that can seep into public water.
The problem is, a filter alone can’t help with the funny taste of very hard water. Too much magnesium can impart a bitter taste, while sodium can make it salty. These minerals can also make your other beverages, such as coffee or tea, taste weird.
This is another reason you’d want to use a filter and sodium-free softener system at home. The “nanocrystal” conversion of the mineral ions can help minimize these weird tastes. Once they become tiny crystals, they won’t affect the taste of the water anymore.
Moreover, you’ll be able to enjoy better showers, since your water will no longer react with soap. You’ll feel cleaner, your skin will be smoother, and your hair will be softer. To top it off, your clothes will be much cleaner since soap will lather properly.
With a filter and softener combo, you can drink safe and delish water straight from the tap. You can also rest easy knowing sediments won’t be building-up inside your appliances. That whenever you run faucets, you won’t have minerals clogging up your plumbing pipes.
Enjoy Delicious and Contaminant-Free Water with a Filter/Softener Combo System Now
As you can see, there’s a lot that a water filter and softener combo system has to offer than just convenience. You get to ensure your family’s health and safety and enjoy the extra perk of longer-lasting, better-performing appliances. All these make water filter/softener systems a great investment for your home.
So, what are you waiting for? Get a water filtration and softener combination system now for contaminant-free, delicious-tasting water!
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