How Very Hard Water Affects Your Skin and Hair
At 22 GPG, the effects of hard water on your body are impossible to ignore. The high concentration of calcium and magnesium reacts with soap to form a sticky, insoluble scum that isn't easily rinsed away. This leads to chronic issues like:
- Persistently dry, irritated skin and worsened conditions like eczema or psoriasis.
- Dull, straw-like hair that is difficult to manage.
- A constant film of soap scum on shower glass, faucets, and tile that requires harsh chemicals to remove.
The Essential Filtration System for Mankato
With water hardness at 22 GPG, piecemeal solutions like pitcher filters are ineffective against the core problem. A whole-house system is not a luxury; it's a necessity to prevent costly damage.
- Required: A high-capacity, salt-based water softener is the most effective solution. It physically removes the damaging minerals, protecting your entire plumbing system and every water-using appliance. A softener, which costs around $1,500 installed, provides a strong return on investment. It pays for itself in just 6.4 years thanks to annual savings of $234 on energy, detergents, and appliance repair and replacement.
- Recommended for Drinking: Pair the whole-house softener with an under-sink Reverse Osmosis (RO) system. The softener protects your house, and the RO unit provides ultra-pure, great-tasting water for drinking and cooking, eliminating the need to spend $600-$900 per year on bottled water.