The Impact on Skin and Hair
While safe for consumption, the mineral content in Jonesboro's water makes it difficult to get a clean rinse in the shower. The minerals react with soap to create a film that clogs pores and coats hair follicles. This commonly results in:
- Consistently dry and itchy skin, sometimes aggravating conditions like eczema.
- Dull, frizzy, and unmanageable hair due to mineral buildup.
- A constant battle against soap scum on shower doors, tiles, and sinks.
Choosing the Right Filter for Jonesboro's Water
With a hardness of 5.1 GPG, Jonesboro sits on the cusp where some homes benefit from whole-house treatment. However, a full salt-based water softener is often overkill. An installed softener (~$1,500) would save you $54 annually in energy and detergent costs, taking nearly 28 years to pay for itself.
Here are more practical recommendations:
- Best for Most Homes: Start with high-quality point-of-use filters. An under-sink reverse osmosis (RO) system provides pure water for drinking and cooking, while a good pitcher filter is a budget-friendly alternative.
- For Whole-House Protection: If you're concerned about protecting new appliances and plumbing, a salt-free water conditioner is a strong choice. It doesn't remove minerals but alters their structure to prevent them from forming hard scale, offering protection without the cost and maintenance of a full softener.