The Effect on Your Family's Skin and Hair
The high mineral content in San Fernando water prevents soap and shampoos from lathering fully. Instead of rinsing clean, they react with the minerals to form a residue that clings to surfaces.
- Chronic Dryness: This film left on your body can lead to dry, itchy skin and scalp irritation. It flattens hair, leaving it looking dull and feeling unmanageable.
- Residue Buildup: That sticky film is what creates stubborn soap scum rings in bathtubs and showers, requiring harsh chemicals to remove.
- Laundry Issues: The same minerals get trapped in the fibers of your clothes, causing fabrics to feel stiff and colors to fade prematurely.
The Right Filtration System for San Fernando
Given the 12.0 GPG water hardness, treating your water is a prudent investment. Simple faucet filters won't solve the core problem of scale buildup throughout the house.
- Salt-Free Water Conditioner: This is a popular and effective choice for San Fernando. It alters the structure of hardness minerals to prevent them from forming scale, thereby protecting your entire plumbing system and appliances without adding salt to the water. It's a zero-maintenance solution.
- Salt-Based Water Softener: For those who prefer the distinctly slippery feel of soft water and the elimination of all hardness minerals, a traditional softener is the most comprehensive solution. It will require periodic refilling with salt pellets.
Investing in a system makes financial sense. With potential annual savings of $126, a whole-house system (costing around $1,500 installed) achieves payback in about 11.9 years, all while protecting expensive appliances from failure. Adding an under-sink reverse osmosis system for drinking water will also eliminate the $600-$900 annual cost of bottled water for most families.