The Nuisance of Hard Water on Your Skin and Hair
The minerals in Allentown's hard water react with soap to form a sticky film, often called soap scum. This residue doesn't rinse away cleanly, leaving skin feeling dry and hair looking dull and lifeless. Many residents report that these issues, such as itchy scalp or aggravated eczema, improve significantly after installing a water treatment system.
Filtration Guide for Allentown (7.8 GPG)
For hard water like Allentown's, you have several effective options:
- Best Value: A salt-free water conditioner is often the perfect solution. It doesn't remove the healthy minerals but uses a technology to crystallize them so they can't stick to pipes and heating elements. This protects your appliances without the need for salt bags or a regeneration cycle.
- For Sensitive Skin: If you're primarily concerned with the effects on skin and hair, a traditional salt-based water softener is the most effective choice.
- Drinking Water: For either system, improve taste and remove chlorine by adding a quality carbon-based pitcher filter or an under-sink filter.
The Payback: While a whole-house softener (~$1,500 installed) can save you about $81 annually, its payback period is longer at 18.5 years due to the moderate hardness. This makes a salt-free conditioner a more financially attractive option for many Allentown homeowners.