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Water Softeners

At Paul Bunyan Plumbing & Drains, we understand that having a quality water softener makes your life easier and more comfortable. Softened water leaves your skin feeling clean and healthy but not dry and itchy. And the unit eliminates many of the worst household chores like scrubbing scale and mineral stains from your sinks, tubs, and toilets.

What Is Soft Water?

All water contains some level of minerals, including calcium and magnesium. The level of these minerals is what determines if the water is considered to be hard or soft. Water with a higher mineral concentration is considered hard.Having hard water might be something that you have gotten used to over the years, or it could be something that you never experienced until moving to the Minneapolis area. It is crucial to understand what hard water is and the costly damage that it can be causing to your home and your body. Regardless of the reason for your interest in water softeners, the one thing that you know for sure is that the team at Paul Bunyan Plumbing & Drains will provide you with the best pricing and highest quality installation and service in the region. What Is Hard Water All water contains some minerals, including calcium and magnesium. And when that content exceeds 7 grains per gallon or 120 mg/L, the water is classified as hard. A water softener system is used to decrease the amount of these minerals in the water and their potential damage to your home’s plumbing and your body. Some of the most common indications of hard water include: Staining - Hard water is loaded with dissolved minerals and metals that can create unsightly stains in your sinks, tubs, and toilets. And equally as annoying is the white, scaly build-up that appears on your faucets and other water fixtures. In addition to the visual issues, the stains can quickly ruin the finish on porcelain bowls. At the same time, the white scale clogs and erodes your water fixtures. Scale Spots - Nothing is worse than taking a glass out of the dishwasher to see it covered in scale spots. And while the dishes are not really dirty when they have scale and lime spots, they don’t look all that clean either. Unfortunately, the issue is not limited to just dishes. It will also form on glass shower enclosures, inside appliances, and in your home’s water lines. Dingy Laundry - Hard water decreases the cleaning ability of detergent and soap. And it creates a residue that leaves your clothing and linens dull, grey, rough, and faded. But worst of all can be the sour smell of laundry that has just been cleaned in hard water. Dry Skin And Hair - If you have noticed your skin is dry, flaky, and itchy, the cause could be due to nothing more than hard water. Long-term contact can also result in a build-up of residue and film on your skin that will cause pimples, a skin rash, blocked pores, blackheads, and even inflammation. And hard water is equally abusive to your hair, making it limp, dull, and brittle. With prolonged washing in hard water, your hair will be coated with mineral film and shampoo residue, leaving it feeling heavy and dirty all the time. If you are experiencing any of these issues and believe that the culprit is your home’s hard water, call 952-209-9329 to schedule an appointment with a pro from Paul Bunyan Plumbing &Drains. We offer free no-obligation price quotes and a complete warranty on our installation and your home’s new water softener system.

How Do Water Softeners Work?

The technical name for a residential water softener is an ion exchange unit. And their job is to remove calcium, magnesium, and other minerals from water. Resin beads inside the water softener the mineral ions while replacing them with sodium or potassium. When the beads become saturated with minerals, they are cleaned in a concentrated salt or potassium solution. After the cleaning process, the solution is flushed down the drain.

The Advantages Of Soft Water

Soft water offers many benefits for you and your home, including:

  • The prevention of mineral scale and build-up inside water lines, fixtures, and your home’s water heater
  • It extends the life expectancy of many appliances that use water and suffer damage from scale build-up
  • It prevents or significantly reduces mineral spots on glassware and dishes
  • It prevents or reduces soap and detergent film and curds found in sinks, tubs, drains, and washing machines
  • It is less damaging or drying to skin and hair

The Types Of Water Softeners You Might Consider

There are three types of water softeners that are common for household use. They include ion exchange units, dual tank water softeners, and salt-free water softeners.

Ion Exchange Units are very common and easy for homeowners to use. The most regular service that they require is replenishment of salt. However, these units are not ideal for someone who is limiting salt intake for medical reasons.

Dual Tank Units also use the ion exchange process. But the dual tanks add a level of reassurance that there will always be a regeneration cycle functioning, ensuring soft water 24/7. These units are more costly, but the larger capacity is appealing to larger households.

Salt-Free Units use a potassium chloride substitute for sodium. It is an excellent option for homeowners who are concerned about sodium consumption due to health concerns.

When You Are Thinking About A Water Softener

When you have questions and concerns about your home’s water, it can be very frustrating, but with a single call to 612-340-1444, you can begin to gather the information you need from a Paul Bunyan Plumbing & Drain professional. Our licensed plumbers have been assisting customers throughout the community for decades. And we are always here to offer expert insight to our neighbors. After a brief meeting, you will have a complete understanding of water softener function, installation, and the cost of any units that will meet your needs.

Paul Bunyan Plumbing & Drains

5720 International Parkway
New Hope, MN 55428

612-340-1444