Why You Need a Water Softener in Pennsylvania

If you’ve ever felt a film of residue left on your skin after taking a shower or emptied the dishwasher to find spots on your glassware, you have encountered hard water.

Hard water refers to how much dissolved calcium and magnesium are in your water. The higher the level of these minerals, the harder your water; the harder your water, the more it affects everyday life around your home. While some are easy to spot — mineral buildup on your shower door — others are more hidden, like clogged pipes or an inefficient water heater.

Let’s look at how hard water affects Eastern Pennsylvania residents and what you can do about it.

Is Water in Pennsylvania Considered Hard?

The short answer is yes. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) oversees the water supply in Pennsylvania and monitors mineral levels. It has found that water hardness levels can reach as high as 500 PPM within the state. For reference, the DEP classifies hard water as 121–180 PPM.

As one of the country’s major food manufacturers, you can imagine hard water’s effects on Pennsylvania’s processing plants and production costs. The severe concentration can quickly deteriorate manufacturing equipment and lower efficiency.

Of course, most homes don’t have this level of hard water, but it’s still within the higher range. The average water hardness for a Pennsylvania homeowner is around 151 PPM, with Allentown around 176 PPM and Philadelphia at 149 PPM.

How To Get Rid of Hard Water in Your Home

So, what can you do about it? The first step is to test your water to know what level of hardness you’re dealing with. You can use DIY kits, or you can contact a professional for an assessment. This can be especially useful for business owners who want to assure their customers of their water quality.

The recommendation will likely be to install a water softener, depending on the result. Water softeners filter out the minerals that make water hard. This leaves you with soft water, which is much easier on the skin and household items.

Benefits of Water Softeners

In addition to cleaner drinking water, a water softener makes your water gentler on your skin and hair. It also requires less soap for everyday cleaning, like dishwashers and washing machines, because soap lathers better in soft water.

Water softeners help prevent scale buildup inside your pipes and water heater. This saves you an expensive fix in the long run!

Other benefits include:

• Reduces overall water usage
• Less scale buildup to clean off appliances
• Safer for sensitive skin, especially on children and pets
• Cleaner, spot-free dishes
• Improves efficiency of water-using appliances

Water Softener Installation With Andreas Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning

If you’re tired of re-washing dishes, paying unnecessarily high water bills, or spending all your time scrubbing off lime scale buildup, it’s time to address your hard water problem.

Eastern Pennsylvania residents know to turn to the trained plumbing experts at Andreas. As a family-owned, hometown business, we pride ourselves on providing a standard of service that’s second to none.

With Andreas, you can count on receiving:

• Honest, hard-working professional service
• Fair, upfront pricing
• 24/7 emergency service
• Flexible financing options

Call (610) 377-5261 or contact Andreas online to learn how our water softener services can make your Eastern Pennsylvania home healthier and more comfortable.