Effects on Skin, Hair, and Fabrics
The 'very hard' water in Great Falls makes it difficult for soaps to rinse clean, leaving a residue on everything it touches. This results in noticeably dry and itchy skin, as soap scum can clog pores and strip natural oils. Hair often feels limp, dull, and brittle due to mineral deposits. Even your clothes and linens can feel stiff and scratchy after washing, as mineral deposits get trapped in the fabric.
The Right Filtration System for Great Falls
With water hardness over 10 GPG, taking action is a smart financial move. Protecting your home from scale is critical.
- Recommendation: Whole-House Water Softener. At 11.1 GPG, a traditional salt-based water softener is a strong investment. It completely removes the hardness minerals, protecting your entire plumbing system and providing benefits you can feel, like softer skin and brighter laundry.
- Financial Payback: With an estimated annual savings of $117 on energy and detergents, a professionally installed water softener (approx. $1,500) pays for itself in just 12.8 years—a solid return for a major home improvement.
- Drinking Water: While a softener makes water better for your house, many people prefer the taste of water treated by a reverse osmosis (RO) system. An under-sink RO system removes nearly all dissolved solids and eliminates the need for bottled water, which costs the average family $600-900 per year.