The Effect of Hard Water on Skin and Hair
While safe to drink, the high mineral content in Englewood's water creates daily frustrations. Soap and shampoo react with the minerals to form a sticky film instead of a rich lather. This residue remains on your skin and hair after rinsing, which can:
- Lead to dry, irritated skin and a persistently itchy scalp.
- Make hair feel dull, brittle, and look weighed-down.
- Worsen pre-existing skin conditions like eczema.
Finding the Right Water Filter for Englewood's Hardness
For Englewood's very hard 18.6 GPG water, a whole-house strategy is the only effective long-term solution.
- Primary Recommendation: A salt-based whole-house water softener is the gold standard. It physically removes the hardness minerals, protecting every pipe, faucet, and appliance in your home from scale. Pairing it with an under-sink reverse osmosis system will give you bottled-quality drinking water from the tap.
- Salt-Free Alternative: A salt-free water conditioner is an option if you prefer not to use salt. It works by altering the minerals to prevent them from sticking as hard scale, but it does not produce soft water.
Financial Breakdown: Investing in a whole-house softener (around $1,500 installed) is a sound financial decision. With annual savings of $198 on energy, detergents, and appliance longevity, the system pays for itself in 7.6 years, after which the savings go directly to your bottom line.