How Hard Water Affects Your Family's Skin and Hair
While the minerals in Irvington's water are safe to drink, they can be harsh on your body. The high concentration of calcium and magnesium interferes with the performance of soaps and shampoos, resulting in:
- Skin that feels dry and itchy due to leftover soap film
- Hair that is dull, frizzy, and difficult to manage
- A persistent soap scum ring around your tub and shower
This can be particularly trying for those with sensitive skin conditions like eczema, and it's a factor to consider for families when preparing baby formula.
Choosing the Right Filter for 8.3 GPG Water
With a hardness of 8.3 GPG, treating your water is a smart investment to prevent long-term damage. These are the most practical solutions for Irvington homes:
- Salt-Free Water Conditioner: This is the recommended choice for this hardness level. It uses a process to crystallize minerals, preventing them from forming scale in your plumbing and on heating elements. It's a low-maintenance, effective solution.
- Water Softener: A traditional salt-based softener will remove the hardness minerals entirely. While effective, the financial return is slow. A system costing roughly $1,500 will take 16.7 years to pay for itself based on the $90 in potential annual savings on energy and detergents.
- Drinking Water Filter: To improve the taste of your water for drinking and cooking, complement any whole-house system with an under-sink reverse osmosis (RO) filter or a high-quality pitcher filter.