Effects on Skin, Hair, and Comfort
While safe to drink, Altadena's hard water is tough on your body. The dissolved minerals reduce soap's ability to lather and rinse clean, leaving behind a film that can cause noticeable issues.
- Leaves skin feeling dry, tight, and potentially itchy, especially for those with sensitive skin or eczema.
- Contributes to dull, lifeless hair and a dry, flaky scalp.
- Makes it difficult to achieve a truly clean feeling after showering.
Choosing the Right Water Filter for Altadena
With water hardness at 12.0 GPG, taking action to protect your home is a smart financial decision. The focus should be on preventing scale buildup throughout your entire plumbing system.
- Recommended: For most Altadena homes, a salt-free water conditioner is the ideal choice. It prevents scale from forming in pipes and appliances without the need for salt refills. Combine this with an under-sink reverse osmosis (RO) system for pure, great-tasting drinking water.
- Alternative: For the complete elimination of hardness minerals, a traditional salt-based water softener is the most powerful solution available.
The Financial Breakdown: A whole-house system (~$1,500 installed) provides an annual savings of $126 through lower energy use and reduced detergent costs, leading to a payback period of just under 12 years. It also eliminates the need to spend $600-$900 annually on bottled water.