How Hard Water Affects Your Skin and Hair
While hard water is not a direct health hazard, its mineral content does affect your daily life. The high concentration of calcium and magnesium prevents soap from lathering effectively, creating a residue on your skin and hair. This can lead to:
- Dry, itchy skin and exacerbated eczema symptoms.
- Dull, brittle hair that is difficult to manage.
- A feeling of film or residue on your skin after showering.
- When preparing baby formula, the high mineral content can contribute to the total mineral load, which is something for parents to be aware of.
Choosing the Right Filtration System for Welby
With water hardness at 14 GPG, taking action is a financially sound decision. Here’s a breakdown of the best solutions:
- Best Overall: Salt-Free Water Conditioner. For most Welby homes, a salt-free conditioner is the ideal solution. It crystallizes the hardness minerals, preventing them from forming scale on pipes and appliance heating elements, without adding sodium to your water. Pairing this with an under-sink Reverse Osmosis (RO) system for pure drinking water provides a complete home solution.
- Traditional Option: Water Softener. A traditional salt-based softener will remove the hardness minerals entirely. A system costing around $1,500 to install will pay for itself in approximately 10.1 years through annual savings of $148 on energy, detergents, and extended appliance life.
Considering the average family spends $600-$900 per year on bottled water, installing an under-sink RO system for drinking water often pays for itself in less than a year while providing superior quality water on demand.