How 20 GPG Water Affects Your Family
While safe to consume, very hard water creates noticeable daily frustrations. The high mineral content prevents soap from rinsing cleanly, leaving behind a sticky residue. Common effects include:
- Consistently dry, itchy skin and irritated scalp conditions.
- Brittle, dull hair that is difficult to style.
- A constant film of soap scum on showers, tubs, and sinks.
- An unpleasant, mineral-heavy taste in drinking water, which can be especially noticeable when preparing baby formula.
Filtration Guide: A Water Softener is Essential for Kasson
For water hardness above 15 GPG, a whole-house solution is not a luxury—it's a necessity to protect your home's value and systems.
- Primary Recommendation: A whole-house, salt-based water softener is the most effective solution. It removes the hardness minerals entirely, protecting every pipe, faucet, and appliance in your home.
- Financial Payback: With potential annual savings of $212 on energy, soap, and appliance longevity, a typical water softener installation (around $1,500) pays for itself in just 7.1 years.
- For Drinking Water: To get premium-quality drinking water, pair your softener with an under-sink Reverse Osmosis (RO) system. This combination provides soft water for the house and purified, great-tasting water from the tap, eliminating the need to spend $600-$900 per year on bottled water.
- Alternative: A salt-free water conditioner is a lower-maintenance option that can reduce scale buildup but does not remove the minerals, so you won't get the same soft-water feel or soap savings.