Effects on Skin, Hair, and Comfort
The most common complaint about moderately hard water relates to personal grooming. The calcium and magnesium ions react with soap to create a sticky film that doesn't rinse away easily. This can lead to:
- Skin feeling dry or sticky after a shower.
- Hair that is dull, lifeless, and difficult to manage.
- Soap scum buildup on shower doors, tiles, and fixtures.
While safe to drink, the mineral content can diminish comfort. Families preparing baby formula may opt for filtered water to avoid introducing these extra minerals.
The Smartest Filtration choices for Weehawken
With water at 5.0 GPG, a full-home water softener is not a practical or economic solution. Based on an estimated annual savings of just $54 from reduced energy and soap usage, it would take a Weehawken homeowner nearly 28 years to recoup the ~$1,500 installation cost. The investment does not provide a reasonable return.
Smarter, Cost-Effective Alternatives:
- Drinking and Cooking: A simple faucet-mount filter or a water filter pitcher will significantly improve taste by removing chlorine and are perfectly adequate for this hardness level.
- Bathing and Cleaning: For those concerned with dry skin and soap scum, an inexpensive filtering showerhead is the most direct and effective solution.
These targeted approaches address the specific problems of moderately hard water without the high cost and maintenance of a whole-house system.