Water Treatment You Can Depend On.

Your local Kinetico water expert can provide a water analysis for hardness, iron, pH and total dissolved solids, typically at no cost to you.  Depending on the testing equipment they use, they may be able to perform other tests. They can also direct your water sample to a specialized water testing organization that can provide a more detailed analysis of your water for you. Your local Kinetico water expert will help you interpret the results and determine if any treatment is necessary.

Soap and detergent usage can be dramatically lowered with soft water. Since the water is already soft, cleaning agents have no hard minerals to react with and overcome. This allows cleaning agents to lather more readily and work more effectively. In fact, a large proportion of the ingredients in most soaps and detergents consist of chemical “water softeners” added to prevent the reaction between the detergent and the hard minerals present in most water (the reaction that forms a sticky residue or soap curd). Since, such chemicals are not necessary for cleaning with soft water, less soap is required. Soft water households experience considerable savings on laundry soap, dish-washing detergent, hand soap and many other cleaning products.

Given that soft water contains no scale forming minerals, it leaves the inside of plumbing and water-using appliances free of solidified rock. Appliances operate more efficiently and last longer when using soft water. Leading appliance manufacturers, including Maytag, have recognized the problems caused by hard water and recommend the use of home water softeners to help their own products operate more efficiently.

In addition, calcium and magnesium, the two minerals that make water hard, might actually have some adverse effects on the foods you eat and the beverages you drink.

First, hardness minerals can detract from the taste of the water, as well as any beverage or food made with water, such as coffee, concentrated juice, soup or even gelatin. Other water contaminants can affect foods by imparting bad tastes or unhealthy compounds.

Second, some foods, especially fresh vegetables, don’t cook or taste as good when prepared with hard water because the calcium combines with a protein in vegetable skins, making them tough and sometimes shriveled.

A whole home water treatment system will pay for itself in many ways. Treated water helps your water heater run more efficiently, reducing energy bills.

Treated water is easier on your pipes, plumbing fixtures and your water-related appliances resulting in fewer repairs and related costs.

Additionally, treated water requires less detergent to wash clothes and dishes. It also saves on the amount of shampoo and conditioners you use.

Also, a drinking water system is much more economical than purchasing bottled water for your home.

Did you know that your hot water tank is the second largest energy user in your home? That's right! Only your heating and air-conditioning system uses more. Hard water scale can coat the inside of a water heater and drastically reduce its heating efficiency. Greater fuel consumption and higher utility bills are a result when the appliance has to heat water through a layer of rock. According to a study commissioned by the Water Quality Research Council and conducted at New Mexico State University, water heaters work 22-30 percent less efficiently with hard water, driving up utility bills unnecessarily. With soft water, you'll not only protect your hot water tank and make it last longer, but you'll also save money on your energy bill.

Water very commonly contains hardness elements such as magnesium and calcium, dissolved rock, hence the description of hard water. Soft water is when these minerals are removed through a process known as ion exchange. If you have hard water, you may see staining or scaling build up on your sinks, tubs, showers and clothing; scaling deposits on your glassware; and damage due to scale in your pipes and appliances. You will also notice less lather from your shampoos/soaps and a filmy dryness feeling on your skin. Often, types of skin irritations are tied to hard water. All of these are symptoms of the need for softened water. 

Hard water can also produce a rock-like scale that builds up in pipes, water heaters, plumbing fixtures, dishwashers and other water-related appliances. This scale will reduce water flow, clog valves and vents and create maintenance problems reducing the life of your appliances.

All water softeners work on a principle known as "ion-exchange" where hardness mineral ions (typically calcium and magnesium) are replaced with soft sodium ions. The sodium ions are taken from water softener salt which is held in a reservoir with the softener system. Some consumers have concerns that the softener will add extra and unwanted sodium into their diets. 

The level of sodium added to water during the softening process depends upon how hard the water is which needs treatment, but even in situations where the water is extremely hard the level of sodium added during softening is not significant. For example, the amount of sodium added to a 236ml (8 oz) "serving" of water which was treated to remove 18 grains-per-gallon of hardness would be around 30 milligrams. In comparison, the same serving size of low-fat milk would contain 120 mg of sodium. 

However, those who have been prescribed with ultra-low sodium diets should always consult with their physician. More information and studies showing that softened water does not significantly contribute to the average persons daily sodium intake can be found on the Water Quality Association's website.

If your water comes from a public or municipal water system, it is regularly tested for contaminants regulated by federal standards, such as microbial pathogens, radioactive elements and organic and inorganic toxic chemicals. However, it is important to note that these tests are conducted at the source. Therefore, the quality of water that utilities create is not necessarily a measure of the quality that reaches your home. Over time pipes age and erode, and often water treatment or distribution systems are breached by unforeseen occurrences that result in boil water alerts.  

Most municipalities address the issue of delivery to the home by treating water with chlorine to kill bacteria. However, their goal is to meet minimum federal requirements. Chlorine is commonly used to kill organic material in water thereby protecting the public from diseases such as typhoid, cholera and dysentery. It is also great for neutralizing color and odor. Unfortunately, it has come to light that the byproducts of chlorine can cause serious health problems. These by-products have made headlines and research to establish your own comfort level with each is important.  

Taking charge of your own water with a Kinetico municipal water solution eliminates your risk of dependence on third party providers and allows you to specifically remove the health risks that concern you.