While very hard water is not considered a direct health hazard, it creates daily frustrations. The high mineral content prevents soap and shampoo from lathering properly, leaving a residue on your skin and hair. This can lead to increased skin dryness, itchy scalp, and brittle hair. For families, preparing baby formula with excessively hard water can introduce a higher-than-necessary mineral load.
For water hardness at the 11.7 GPG level, a salt-free water conditioner is a highly effective, low-maintenance solution to prevent scale buildup without adding sodium to your water. If you prefer the 'slippery' feel and complete scale removal, a traditional whole-house water softener is the most comprehensive solution. Based on potential annual savings of $126 from reduced energy and detergent use, a typical softener system (~$1,500 installed) pays for itself in about 11.9 years. For pristine drinking water, supplement either system with an under-sink reverse osmosis (RO) filter, which also eliminates the average family's $600-$900 annual spend on bottled water.