The Unseen Effects on Skin and Hair
Hard water poses no serious health risks, but its cosmetic and comfort effects are undeniable. The minerals in the water react with soaps to form a sticky film known as soap scum. This residue can lead to:
- Chronically dry skin and a feeling of tightness after showering.
- Dull, limp hair that is difficult to style.
- Aggravation of skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis.
This film also creates the stubborn soap scum rings in bathtubs and on shower doors, requiring more frequent and aggressive cleaning.
Choosing the Right Water Treatment System for New Brighton
With water hardness at 7.3 GPG, tackling scale is the primary goal. Your home falls into a category where you have flexible and affordable options.
- Smart Choice: A salt-free water conditioner is often the best fit. It actively prevents scale buildup in your water heater and pipes, protecting your investment without adding salt to your water. Combine this with an under-sink filter for pristine drinking water.
- Traditional Choice: A salt-based water softener will also solve the problem and give you the 'slick' feel of soft water. At a potential savings of $76/year, a typical $1,500 system would have a payback period of 19.7 years.
Before spending another dollar on bottled water, consider that a simple reverse osmosis (RO) system installed under your sink provides better-than-bottled quality water for pennies per gallon.