While not a health risk, 11 GPG water significantly impacts daily life. The high mineral content prevents soap and shampoo from lathering effectively, leaving behind a sticky residue on your skin and hair. This soap scum can clog pores, leading to dry, itchy skin and a flaky scalp, and it leaves hair feeling dull and brittle. Families may also notice a filmy residue when preparing baby formula or boiling water.
With a hardness level of 11.0 GPG, taking action is financially prudent. For this level of hardness, a salt-free water conditioner is an effective solution to prevent scale buildup without the maintenance of a traditional salt-based softener. For superior drinking water, this can be paired with an under-sink reverse osmosis (RO) system or a high-quality pitcher filter.
A whole-house system is a sound investment. A softener costing around $1,500 installed pays for itself in approximately 12.8 years through annual savings of $117 on energy from your NYSEG bill, reduced detergent use, and avoiding premature appliance replacement.