Short answer: in most of the Salt Lake Valley, yes. The water here is hard, and it wears out water heaters and fixtures early. But not every house needs a softener, and you can check yours in about five minutes.
What “hard water” means
As water moves through rock and soil it picks up calcium and magnesium. The more it carries, the harder it is. Hardness is measured in grains per gallon. Water over about 7 grains is called hard. Over about 10.5 is very hard.
Hard water is safe to drink. The problem is that those minerals come back out of the water as scale, mostly wherever the water gets heated.
How to check your own water
Look around the house. You probably have hard water if you see:
- White crust on faucets and shower heads
- Spots on glasses out of the dishwasher
- A cloudy film on the shower door
- Soap that does not lather well
Read your water report. Every city or water district publishes a water quality report each year. Search for your city’s name and “water quality report” and look for hardness. It is the most reliable number you will find, and it is free.
Use a test strip. Hardware stores sell them.
What hard water does to a house
- Water heaters. Scale settles in the bottom of a tank. The burner has to heat through it, so the heater works harder, rumbles, and fails sooner.
- Tankless water heaters. Scale clogs the heat exchanger. Without a softener, a tankless unit needs to be flushed about once a year.
- Fixtures. Faucet cartridges and shower valves get stiff and start to drip.
- Appliances. Dishwashers and washing machines wear out early.
- Cleaning. You use more soap and scrub more.
When a softener is worth it
- Your water report shows hard or very hard water
- You are putting in a new water heater and want it to last
- You have a tankless water heater, or you are getting one
- You are tired of scrubbing scale
When you might skip it
- Your water tests soft or only slightly hard
- You rent and can’t change the plumbing
- You are selling the house soon
What a softener install involves
A softener sits on the main water line, after it enters the house. It needs a drain and a power outlet nearby.
Many Utah homes built since the 1990s have a soft water loop. It is a U-shaped piece of pipe sticking out of the wall in the garage or utility room, left there by the builder. If you have one, the install is quick. If you do not, a plumber cuts into the main line.
A good install leaves your sprinklers and hose bibs on hard water. Soft water is wasted on a lawn.
What size do you need?
Softeners are sized in grains. The right size depends on how many people live in the house and how hard the water is. Too small and it runs all the time. Too big and you paid for more than you need. A plumber should size it to your household, not sell you the largest one.
A way to get one free
We give away a softener with every tankless water heater install, plus up to 20% off the package. If your water heater is more than 10 years old, compare that with buying a softener alone.
Want one sized and installed? See water softener installation or call us.