Your countertops have residue, your dishes have a film on them, and your shower doesn't seem to stay clean. By now, it is clear that you are facing a hard water issue. Not only is hard water with high mineral content aesthetically unpleasant, but it can also cause blockage in your pipes and significantly impact your washing machines and dishwashers. So, is a water descaler the answer? Or do you really need a water softener?
To help you decide, we will explain precisely what descalers do and which solution is your best option for tackling hard water problems.
What is Hard Water?
Hard water is water that contains a high concentration of minerals. As groundwater flows over rocks and through soil, it picks up tiny mineral particles such as magnesium and calcium. These dissolved minerals are the source of water hardness.
Hard water can:
- Leave a residue on your countertops and dishes.
- Decrease the foam produced by detergents, soaps, and bath and shower products.
- Dry out your skin and hair.
- Cause mineral buildup in your pipes.
- Interfere with heating and cooling systems.
- Significantly shorten the lifespan of your washing machine, dishwasher, and other water-utilizing appliances.
To address such issues, many homeowners may opt for a water softener (a logical conclusion, no doubt). However, a descaler could also help eliminate some of the problems.
Descaling uses a water descaler to mitigate the impact of hard water on any surface that comes into contact with water. The descaler itself has coils that wrap around the cold water intake pipe, which supplies water to your home. It generates a magnetic field or a low-voltage current that charges the mineral particles in the water. This positive charge electrostatically stabilizes the particles in the water, reducing their tendency to deposit onto surfaces, including the insides of pipes, heating elements, countertops, and inside appliances.
However, it's important to note that descaling does not soften the water. A magnetic descaler effectively prevents deposits from adhering to your plumbing, thereby mitigating the long-term effects of scale on your systems.
Therefore, while your plumbing and appliances should fare better, you will still have hard water and experience its characteristic effects, such as soap scum on your dishes, stiffness in laundry, and a "grimy" feel to your hair and skin.
On the other hand, a water softener removes the minerals responsible for water hardness through a process called ion exchange. The water softener uses resin beads to attract and remove the magnesium and calcium ions from the water, replacing them with sodium ions. This results in softened water that doesn't cause the same issues associated with hard water.
With a water softener, the sodium chloride content in the water is insignificant and undetectable by taste or smell. The result? Water that doesn't leave your clothes stiffened with soap scum. You’ll also get to enjoy baths with bubbles again. And of course, your appliances and pipework should perform more efficiently and be less prone to breakdown and clogs.
However, water softening systems are more expensive and harder to install than descalers. Electronic water descalers cost, on average, $200, compared to water softeners, which cost between $800 and $3,000. You'll need to hire a water softener specialist to install these systems for you because they require adding new pipework with valves to direct the water into the softening unit and back out into your home.
“It’s worth noting that not all septic fields are equipped to handle the backwashing cycle of most softening systems and this water may need to discharge outdoors,” warns Joseph Wood Expert Review Board member and Master Plumber at Boston Standard Company. Make sure to ask your water pro about the best system they recommend for your home. Lastly, you may need to have someone perform regular maintenance on your water softener.
In conclusion, a water descaler can help reduce the build-up of scale in pipes and appliances, but it does not remove the minerals responsible for water hardness. If you want to completely eliminate the negative effects of hard water, a water softener is the recommended solution. However, it comes with a higher cost and installation complexity. Consider your specific needs, budget, and preferences when deciding between a descaler and a water softener.
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