Choosing Better Plumbing Fixtures

If you live in an area with hard water, you may be considering the installation of a water softener to service your home. Since the purchase and installation of a water softener represents a significant financial commitment, you could find yourself wondering if the expense is worthwhile. Spending money on a water softener can actually help you save money in the future by reducing your family's energy consumption.

Here are three unique ways that installing a water softener can lower your energy use in the future.

1. Increased efficiency for your gas water heater.

If your home features a gas water heater, hard water could be costing you a significant amount of money each month. Experts estimate that for every 5 grains of hardness per 100 gallons of water cycled through a gas-powered water heater, there is a loss in efficiency of about 8%.

This means that if your family uses 100 gallons of hot water in a single day, your energy costs could go up by 8% just because your water is hard. Installing a water softener will help you eliminate the grains of hardness that contribute to inefficient gas water heater performance, saving you money in the future.

2. Reduction in the amount of water used each day.

Showering can be a significant source of water loss for families who have hard water. According to a research study conducted by the Water Quality Research Foundation, hard water can contribute to a loss of efficiency when it comes to the flow rate of your showerhead. Their study showed that showerheads consistently running hard water lost 75% of their flow rate in just 18 months.

A reduction in flow rate means an increase in the amount of time your family members must spend in the shower. This could lead to increased water use, and increased energy costs, in the future. Installing a water softener will help you keep your showerhead's flow rate at maximum capacity.

3. Reduced reliance on hot water.

Many homeowners think that using hot water will help remove stains from their clothing. When you install a water softener, you can reduce the water temperature required to get tough stains out of your laundry.

Instead of relying on water that is heated to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, soft water can be heated to just 60 degrees Fahrenheit to achieve the same results. Lower water temperatures in your laundry mean less demand for hot water, reducing the amount of energy consumed by your hot water heater and lowering your monthly utility costs.

Investing in a water softener can be a simple way to help your family conserve energy and lower your utility costs in the future. Contact a business that offers home water filtration equipment for more information.