Water Softener Pros and Cons (Benefits): Do I Need One?

If you have hard water, you won’t find a better solution than installing a water softener system. This is the most effective method for removing the minerals that cause water hardness and many related problems.

Still, like all appliances, water softeners have some downsides, too. We’ve created this guide to walk you through their pros and cons, so you have a better idea if you need one for your home. By the end, we’re sure you’ll agree that the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages, so let’s get started.

Why Do I Need a Water Softener?

The decision to use a water softener is a personal choice that ultimately depends on your water hardness level. If the water is moderate to very hard (61 – >180 mg/L), then you might need a water softener to remove the hard water minerals. Otherwise, if the water is soft (0 – 60 mg/L), it’s really not necessary.

So, how do you tell if your water is hard enough to require a water softener? Well, the easiest way is to buy an EPA-certified test kit and send your water sample to a lab for testing. This means you’ll receive a detailed analysis of your water hardness.

Or, you could use an at-home DIY test kit. These are very easy to use and usually provide results within minutes. The only issue is that these tests don’t tend to be very accurate, so you’ll probably have to carry out multiple tests.

Besides conducting tests, there are other common ways to tell if you have hard water:

• Mineral buildup and corrosion in faucets and pipes
• Limescale formation or staining on kitchen appliances
• Laundry that looks worn out and dull
• Soap not lathering well when you’re washing your hands
• Drinking water that tastes rather salty
• Itchiness on the skin and dull and flat-looking hair after a bath

If you notice any of these telltale signs of water hardness, it’s almost certainly worth investing in a water softener system for your home.

The Advantages of Water Softener (Pros)

Here are the top 5 benefits of using a water softener:

• Most people find that soft water tastes better than hard water
• It makes cleaning easy, leaving surfaces spotless and shiny
• It helps the skin look bright and healthy by reducing dryness and irritation
• You’ll have softer and longer-lasting clothes because soft water is gentler on fabrics
• Soft water prevents limescale buildup, which reduces the risk of plumbing issues and increases the lifespan of appliances

Let’s take a look at each of these benefits in more detail.

1. Soft Water Tastes Better

One of the benefits of using a softener is better-tasting water. Typically, water softeners work by removing hard water minerals and replacing them with sodium and potassium in a process called ion exchange. This process adds a trace amount of sodium to the water that most people won’t taste or notice, resulting in water that tastes crisp and clean.

On the other hand, hard water contains high levels of calcium and magnesium, which can leave a slightly bitter, chalky taste in your mouth. Generally, people prefer the taste of soft water over hard water, but this isn’t the case for everyone.

2. Soft Water Makes Cleaning Easier

Hard water leaves limescale residue on sinks, tubs, and toilets, which requires considerable time, cleaning products, and elbow grease to remove.

As it contains ferric iron, hard water also leaves behind red stains and residue. This staining can be difficult to remove and requires frequent cleaning to prevent buildup.

One of the most significant benefits of using a water softener is that it makes cleaning easier because the water won’t contain minerals that leave residue behind. So, by using a softener, you can wave goodbye to stained clothes and tubs.

3. Soft Water Makes The Skin Look Bright & Healthy

Shampoos and soaps don’t lather well in hard water because calcium and magnesium molecules interfere with the sodium salts in soaps. The same is true for dish and laundry detergents, especially the powdered ones.

Hard water also doesn’t rinse soap and shampoo away as thoroughly as soft water. The residues left behind can cause a dry scalp, brittle hair, and a dull appearance.

Mineral residue dries your skin and can affect its pH balance, leading to acne or irritations, especially if you have sensitive skin. By using a water softener, you can eliminate all of these issues.

4. Soft Water Makes Clothes Look Bright and Last Longer

Hard water dries out clothing fibers and prevents laundry detergent from properly mixing with water. If your clothes feel dry or stiff after laundering, it’s probably due to limescale residue left behind by hard water. Additionally, mineral buildup in clothes makes them stiff and, therefore, more susceptible to wear and tear.

Soft water doesn’t cause any of these issues, and using it can lead to cleaner clothes that last longer.

5. Soft Water Prevents Limescale Build-up in Appliances

One of the biggest downsides of hard water is that minerals like calcium create limescale buildups in your pipes and appliances. Over time, this can reduce the efficiency of appliances like water heaters, washing machines, and dishwashers.

Eventually, it may cause serious damage to your plumbing system and appliances, meaning you’ll have to pay for costly repairs and replacements.

Water softeners remove the minerals responsible for limescale buildups, which, in turn, improves the efficiency of your appliances and reduces the need for costly repairs.

The Disadvantages of Water Softener (Cons)

Of course, soft water and water-softening devices also have their downsides. The main disadvantages of water softeners that you need to consider include the following:

• Reduced dietary mineral intake: Although there are other methods of mineral intake, water remains a vital source of key nutrients like calcium and magnesium. This is especially the case for infants. Reduced mineral intake can adversely affect bone growth, immunity, and blood sugar levels. So, if you use a water softener, ensure you and your kids find other sources of minerals, like calcium and magnesium.
• Soft water isn’t good for plants and soil: Plants depend on minerals like calcium, iron, and manganese to grow and carry out vital tasks such as photosynthesis. Therefore, watering them with soft water isn’t recommended. Moreover, in the ion exchange process, minerals are replaced with sodium, and sodium can cause soil degradation. On a small scale, soil degradation can decrease soil quality, and on a large scale, it may lead to issues like soil erosion.
• Water softener systems are quite expensive: A good water softener system costs upwards of $1,000. This doesn’t include installation and maintenance costs, which can easily add hundreds of dollars to the overall price.
• They’re not great for the environment: Unfortunately, water softeners can have some negative effects on the environment. For example, brine solution is used to flush the system when water softeners regenerate. This brine solution is then flushed out, resulting in salty wastewater that’s discharged into the drain. As a result, the solution can leak into local freshwater supplies and harm aquatic life.

Are Water Softeners Really Worth It? 

Yes, a water softener is absolutely worth it if you have hard water. The pros far outweigh the cons, and there are very few hard water treatment alternatives that are as effective as a water softener.

Head over to our water softener guides category to learn more about water softeners.

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