How Very Hard Water Affects Your Family
While municipally treated hard water is safe to drink, its high mineral content has noticeable effects on skin and hair. The minerals prevent soap from lathering and rinsing completely, leaving behind a residue. This can lead to:
- Dry, itchy skin and aggravated eczema
- Dull, brittle hair and an itchy scalp
- Soap scum buildup on shower doors, tubs, and fixtures
For families with infants, preparing formula with very hard water can lead to mineral buildup in bottles and requires extra care.
Filtration Guide for Centerport's 14.2 GPG Water
For hardness levels this high, simple pitcher filters are inadequate as they don't remove the minerals that cause scale. To protect your home, you need a whole-house solution.
- Recommended System: A salt-free water conditioner is an excellent choice to prevent scale buildup without the use of sodium. For pristine drinking water, pair this with an under-sink reverse osmosis (RO) system.
- The Financial Payback: A whole-house water softener (approx. $1,500 installed) pays for itself in about 9.8 years. This comes from the $153 you save annually on reduced energy consumption, less soap and detergent, and not having to replace expensive appliances prematurely. An RO system also eliminates the $600-$900 per year many families spend on bottled water.