How Very Hard Water Affects Your Body
While perfectly safe to drink, very hard water creates daily frustrations. It prevents soap from lathering, leaving a film on your skin that can clog pores and worsen conditions like eczema. Hair often feels dull, brittle, and difficult to manage due to stubborn mineral buildup. For families, the high mineral concentration can also affect the taste and texture when mixing baby formula.
The Right Filtration System for Chicago
At 15.9 GPG, Chicago's water demands a powerful solution. A whole-house, salt-based water softener is the most effective technology to protect your entire home. The financial case is strong: a typical system (~$1,500 installed) pays for itself in just 8.8 years through annual savings of $171 on energy, detergents, and appliance replacement. To get the best-tasting drinking water, pair the softener with an under-sink Reverse Osmosis (RO) system. This combination eliminates scale throughout the house and provides purified water from the tap, ending the expense of bottled water.