Effects of Hard Water on Skin and Hair
Though perfectly safe to drink, very hard water can be harsh on your body. The dissolved minerals interfere with the rinsing process, leaving behind a film of soap residue on skin and hair. This can contribute to chronically dry or itchy skin, exacerbate conditions like eczema, and leave hair feeling brittle, limp, and difficult to manage.
The Right Water Filtration for Pickerington's 18.7 GPG Water
Given the severity of the hardness, a whole-home solution is required to prevent costly damage.
- Best Solution: A whole-house ion exchange water softener is the industry standard for tackling very hard water. It physically removes calcium and magnesium. For the best tasting water for drinking and cooking, complement the softener with an under-sink Reverse Osmosis (RO) system.
- Salt-Free Alternative: If you wish to avoid salt, a salt-free water conditioner can prevent scale from sticking to pipes and appliances, but it does not actually remove the minerals from the water.
The financial case is compelling. A professionally installed water softener costs about $1,500, but it saves an estimated $198 annually in energy and cleaning supply costs. This means the system has a payback period of just 7.6 years, after which it provides pure savings while protecting your multi-thousand dollar appliances from early failure.