Jacksonville’s water supply is 2 to 3 times what’s considered very hard water at 14 to 28 grains per gallon. This means it has an overly high concentration of minerals, and a whole-home water softener is a necessity for your home.

While minerals are beneficial to the body, too much is not only hard on your hair and skin, but it can be difficult for your plumbing pipes and appliances to handle, ultimately shortening their lifespan.

What Causes Hard Water?

Hard water is caused by excess calcium and magnesium. Water hardness is classified based on the amount of dissolved mineral solids in the water. A classification of very hard means it has mineral levels ranging from 275 to 375 parts per million of dissolved mineral solids.

How Is Hard Water Measured?

Grains per gallon and parts per million are the way hard water is measured. But what do these classifications mean?

Grains per gallon is a unit of water hardness defined as one grain (64.8 milligrams) of calcium carbonate per gallon of water. Parts per million is a unit of measurement that describes the concentration of a substance in water.

An individual area’s water level is classified anywhere from soft to very hard on the scale:

• Soft water: Less than 1 GPG
• Slightly hard water: 1 to 3.5 GPG
• Moderately hard water: 5 to 7 GPG
• Very hard water: Over 10.5 GPG

Effects of Hard Water

Hard water can affect everything from the cleanliness of your home to your personal health. Often, having hard water costs you more money in the long run. The effects of hard water include:

• Dry hair, skin, and nails
• Hard water stains on your plumbing fixtures
• Shorter appliance lifespan for your water heater, washing machine, and dishwasher
• Watermarks on your dishes and clothing

How Do Water Softeners Work?

Water softeners work by removing excess minerals in the water, such as calcium and magnesium. The most common method is ion exchange.

The water softening system contains a tank filled with resin beads coated in sodium or potassium ions. When water passes through the tank, the calcium and magnesium ions are attracted to the resin and exchanged for sodium or potassium, leaving you with softer water.

Benefits of Installing a Water Softener

By installing a water treatment system like a whole-house water softener, you can expect benefits such as:

• Softer hair and skin
• Longer plumbing appliance lifespan
• Cleaner dishes and laundry
• Fewer plumbing issues
• Better tasting water

Why Choose UAT for Water Softener Installation?

At United Air Temp, we want the water in your home to be the best it can be for your health and the longevity of your plumbing systems.

We’re committed to excellent service. We aim to make lifelong customers and are willing to go the extra mile to ensure the job is done right. Our highly trained plumbers complete over 40 hours of UAT Academy and factory training annually to ensure we deliver the best results.

Reap the benefits of a whole-home water softener. Call UAT to request a water softener installation today.