How Very Hard Water Affects Your Family
While not a direct health hazard, very hard water's effects are felt daily. The minerals prevent soaps and shampoos from rinsing completely, leaving behind a residue that can lead to:
- Dry, itchy skin and aggravated eczema or psoriasis.
- Dull, brittle hair and an itchy scalp.
- A constant feeling of a film on your skin after showering.
For families, this also impacts simple tasks like preparing baby formula, where the high mineral content can be undesirable.
The Right Water Filtration System for Evanston
With a hardness level of 15.9 GPG, targeted filtration is essential to protect your home. A simple pitcher filter is not sufficient.
- Recommended Solution: A whole-house water softener combined with an under-sink reverse osmosis (RO) system for drinking water. The softener removes the hardness minerals entirely, protecting your entire plumbing system, while the RO system provides purified water for cooking and drinking.
- Alternative: A salt-free water conditioner is an option if you want to prevent scale buildup without using salt, but it will not provide the other benefits of soft water (like better lathering).
The Payback Calculation: A whole-house softener (~$1,500 installed) pays for itself in approximately 8.8 years through savings of $171 per year on energy, detergent, and avoided appliance replacements. Furthermore, an under-sink RO system eliminates the need for bottled water, saving the average family $600-900 annually.