Hard water contains minerals such as calcium and manganese that cause scaling and soap scum. It is important to soften hard water in your home to protect your plumbing and appliances from mineral buildup. Soft water will also reduce the amount of soap used in your home. During the traditional softening process, sodium is released into your home’s water supply, but how much sodium are you really drinking? Take a look at the numbers:

How Much Sodium is Safe to Consume?
According to the American Heart Association, the maximum recommended amount of sodium for adults is no more than 2,300 milligrams (mg) per day, and an ideal limit for most adults is no more than 1,500 mg per day. More than 75 percent of the sodium Americans eat comes from some processed, prepackaged and restaurant foods. On average, Americans eat more than 3,400 milligrams of sodium each day because of this. Check out the example of the possible daily sodium intake of an adult. Now let's take a look at the amount of sodium is actually released into your home's water supply when you use a water softener.

How Much Sodium is in Your Water?
When you soften your water using a water treatment system, this process typically requires sodium to be released into your water. However, the amount of sodium released will vary in each household. The amount of sodium in your water is directly related to your total water hardness. According to the WQA (Water Quality Association), for every grain of hardness there will be 30mg of sodium in a gallon after it has been softened.

To put your intake into perspective, adults drink an average of 1 quart of water per day. According to the most recent water quality report supplied by the City of Osage Beach, the water hardness levels range from around 297-337 mg/L. That is roughly 10-15 grains of hardness per gallon. The sodium levels released in a gallon of water for this level of harness is 298-448 mg per gallon, and 74-112 mg per quart. Now think about the amount of sodium you take in daily that comes from the foods you eat. The sodium released in your drinking water is SIGNIFICANTLY less!

The Benefits are Worth It!
If drinking softened water is not desired, you can always have your kitchen cold water tap taken off of the water softener, or have the sodium removed using a device such as a reverse osmosis or distiller. The bottom line is that using a water softener for your household water supply offers benefits for your appliances and plumbing that far outweigh the very minimal sodium being released.

Now that you're able to see how much sodium is actually added to your diet with a water softener, you can feel more confident in your choice to purchase a Lindyspring System. If you have any other questions pertaining to water treatment at the Lake of the Ozarks or are interested in scheduling a time for us to come out to your home to determine which system would best fit your needs, contact Lindyspring Systems today!

For All Your Household Water Conditioning and Treatment Needs Count on LINDYSPRING!

You use your home's water source every day, but do you know what's in your water? Contaminants such as iron, manganese, hardness minerals, or acidic water can damage your plumbing and appliances. Not only that, but some contaminants can even be harmful to your health! So how can you tell if you have water issues with your home's water supply? Ask yourself these questions:

What Does it Smell Like?

• If your water has an earthy or musty odor, this could be an indication of Iron bacteria.
• If it smells like a fish tank, your water is possibly contaminated with Barium, Cadmium, or Chloramines
• If you've got the wet dog smell, there is likely bacteria or metal in your plumbing pipes.
• Rotten egg smell indicates Hydrogen Sulfide contamination.

What Does it Taste Like?

• If your tap water tastes like a swimming pool, you could have high levels of Chlorine in your water supply.
• Sweet tasting water indicates high Iron or Calcium levels.
• If your water tastes like metal, you probably have an Iron or Manganese problem.
• A medicinal or bitter taste could be caused from Copper.

Does it Look...

• Orange colored water is an indication of corrosion or excess Iron.
• Cloudy water means you have high turbidity or air bubbles in your supply.
• Blue/green water means there could be Copper or Algae in your water.

If You Have Hard Water...
Many people who bathe with hard water notice dry skin and even hard or bumpy patches. The minerals that are present in hard water means that the cleansing products used while showering don’t completely rinse from your body. You could be experiencing soap scum buildup, dry skin and hair, faded laundry and spotty dishes. Hard water also causes scale buildup which causes appliances to wear out faster. Minerals in hard water can also affect the texture and appearance of food. Keep in mind, if you don’t like the flavor or odor of your tap water, it could be making its way into your food, too. When you cook dry food like rice, noodles, and beans, it may be absorbing that same flavor. The same goes for boiling or blanching your vegetables.

Invisible Water Problems:
Some water problems are undetectable by human senses and may be a serious contamination issue. Some of these common and hazardous issues are:

• Lead
• Arsenic
• Nitrates
• Chromium

Water problems can be a real mystery. Let one of our specialists check things out for you with a free, in-home water analysis. Contact us today to have a water treatment professional come out to test your water supply. Whatever your water problem is, we've got a treatment system to solve even the toughest of water problems!

For All Your Household Water Conditioning and Treatment Needs Count on LINDYSPRING!

For anyone who's ever dealt with the annoyances of hard water, you've probably weighed the pros and cons of getting a water softener. But without seeing the science behind what a water softener can actually do to save you money and save your appliances, you may have just opted to "deal with it" rather than buying a softener. But what if you could actually see the real benefits of installing a water softener and how much more efficiently your appliances would work? Seeing sometimes really is believing. So, this week, we're sharing with you a study done on energy and detergent savings when comparing softened and unsoftened water supplies being used. Take a look:

The Energy Savings Study
This study tested devices fed with softened and unsoftened water under controlled laboratory conditions designed to accelerate the waterside scaling in the device and quantify the performance efficiency. The project specifically focused on efficiency improvements in household water heaters from use of softened water, and the subsequent effect on performance of fixtures, such as low-flow showerheads and faucets, and appliances, such as laundry washers and dishwashers. For this study, Battelle tested 30 water heaters supplied by WQA over a 90-day period using a Battelle-developed and WQA-approved test protocol. Battelle simultaneously studied the effect of water hardness on
performance of faucets, low-flow showerheads, dishwashers, and laundry washers. Using the empirical data generated from the water heater testing and the effect on performance of fixtures and appliances, Battelle developed a differential carbon footprint assessment for homes using unsoftened water vs. softened water.

Conclusions
For gas storage and instantaneous water heaters, the use of a water softener to eliminate or minimize the scale forming compounds in water resulted in the efficiency of the water heater remaining constant over the life of the unit. In contrast, gas storage and instantaneous water heaters using unsoftened water had a noticeable decrease in efficiency over the testing period resulting in higher natural gas use. This natural gas savings associated with the use of softened water lead to direct energy and economic savings. In addition, because of the need to have the instantaneous water heater delimed or cleaned periodically, the economic savings lead to recovery of the cost of a water softener and operating supplies in a period as short as a year.

Electric storage water heaters did not record any difference in the electricity consumption between units receiving softened or unsoftened water. However, the life of the heating element on the electric water heater receiving unsoftened water needed to be replaced more often due to a shorter lifespan.

Low flow showerheads and faucets using unsoftened water clogged in less than seven days of accelerated life testing, whereas those units using softened water made it through the test without any problems.

The dishwashers and clothes washers on either soft or unsoftened water made it through 30 days of accelerated scale testing, but the units on unsoftened water had noticeable scale buildup on all surfaces that had contact with unsoftened water.

The Detergent Savings Study
The laundry study investigated stain removal with varying levels of hardness, detergent dose, and temperature. Detergent usage was 50, 75 and 100% of the manufacturer's recommended level. Water hardness ranged from 0 to 513 ppm (30 grains/gallon). Wash temperature was 60, 80 and 100ºF. Statistical analysis was conducted to compare the ability of softening water to mitigate the adverse effects of lower detergent dosage and lower wash temperature in turn decreasing costs and energy usage.

Detergent savings was also evaluated for dishwashers. The detergent savings study included tests for removing difficult soils in addition to the spot and film evaluation. The relationship between detergent dose and hardness was investigated with three non phosphate automatic dishwashing detergents with two consecutive wash-dry cycles for spot and film. One detergent was evaluated for five cycles to ensure that effects do not change with increased number of cycles.

Conclusions
The savings in detergent use and the energy required to heat the water is very high for each of the stains tested. Even when 50% of the detergent is used at a lower temperature of 60ºF instead of 100ºF, the washing yielded improved results when softened water was used as compared to when hard water was used. The study showed that one can use cold water and half the detergents for washing clothes stained with any or all of these stains and still achieve the soil removal desired, if the very hard water is softened prior to such use. This is the most significant conclusion of this study. Reduction of hardness is significantly more effective on stain removal than either increase in temperature or detergent dose.

Statistically significant improvements by softening water with hardness were observed in spotting and filming performance as well as in better soil removal in automatic dishwashing. Detergent savings up to 70% was observed for dishwashing when softened water was used compared to hard water. Depending on the soil, hardness reduction was found to be up to 12 times more effective at soil removal than increasing detergent dose.

What Are You Waiting For?
So, as you can see, there are some REAL tangible benefits to getting a water softener to take care of your hard water issues. Not only can it save you money by allowing your appliances to run more efficiently, but you can also save money on detergents, soaps, etc. So, now that you've seen the potential savings in black and white, what are you waiting for? Knowing the benefits of having a water softener at the Lake of the Ozarks you can feel more confident in your choice to purchase a Lindyspring System to treat your water in your home or your business. If you have any questions pertaining to water treatment at the Lake of the Ozarks or are interested in scheduling a time for us to come out to your home to determine which system would best fit your needs, contact Lindyspring Systems today!

For All Your Household Water Conditioning and Treatment Needs Count on LINDYSPRING!

Lindyspring Systems is the oldest independent water treatment company in the Lake of the Ozarks, dating back to 1970. We service Osage Beach and the entire Lake of the Ozarks area. As many of you know, we sell residential and commercial water treatment solutions for many different water problems. But did you know that we also RENT out water softeners?! We have tons of rental customers who LOVE being able to get soft water by taking advantage our rental program! So, why would you want to rent a water softener? Well, there are several reasons that renting is more convenient than buying for some folks. Take a look:


You Can't Afford the Upfront Cost of Buying
The biggest factor for people choosing to rent is the financial side. To most people, the one time upfront fee of purchasing a water softener is daunting and without the relevant knowledge of which to buy, many people can pay too much for the system. By renting, the stress of financing a softener is eradicated. When renting, you'll only worry about a one-time small installation fee, the low monthly rental fee, and the cost for salt!

You Are Renting or Don't Plan to Reside Long in Your Home
Renting is often considered a short-term solution to an individual’s hard water problems. If you are undecided about the length of your tenure in your current property, then renting may be the best solution for you. There is very low commitment associated with rental because when you decide to move, you don't have to worry about relocating your water softener. You can just contact your Lindyspring provider and they will remove the softener for you and even move and reinstall it for you in your new property if you wish to continue renting!

You Don't Have to Worry About Maintenance or Repairs
When you rent a water softener through Lindyspring Systems, any maintenance issues that arise is handled by us. So besides making sure you're maintaining the salt levels as recommended, you can leave the maintenance worries to us! What's even better, is that our rental clients are very important to us - so if an issue does arise, we provide same day or next day service to ensure your softener is functioning properly without hassle or little downtime.

So, if you've got hard water problems, but don't want to purchase a water softener, you've got options! At Lindyspring Systems, we can help make sure you get the size of unit that is exactly right for your needs as well as install it in the most professional manner possible. Our rental softeners are typically new or in like new condition, so you don't have to worry about getting an old worn out model from us! Contact us at 573-348-5044 to learn more about our water softener rental services at the Lake of the Ozarks!

For All Your Household & Commercial Water Conditioning and Treatment Needs Count on LINDYSPRING!

While Dave and Rose Kempker are the current owners/operators of Lindyspring Systems, they certainly aren't the first to find their place in the Lake of the Ozarks water treatment industry. Because of the choice of a very special person, we're able to continue providing excellent water treatment services to homeowners and businesses around the Lake area. We want to take this time to recognize someone very special and to congratulate Don Gainey on his upcoming retirement! So, without further ado, here's just a little about Don's history and plans for retirement.

In 1991, Don & Debbie Gainey purchased a water softener business under the name of Lindsey Water Softener. They operated the business under the name of Ecowater Lake of the Ozarks. In December 2014, they decided to retire from the water softener business. After diligently searching for a family business to sell to that would operate in a manner similar to them that could be entrusted to keep the business going, the Gainey's sold to Dave and Rosann Kempker.

For the last 32 years, Captain Don Gainey has been affiliated with the Osage Beach Fire Protection District in one way or another, starting off as a volunteer before becoming a career captain. Originally one of the nine full-time firefighters hired by the district in 1991, Captain Gainey had already served approximately six years as a volunteer firefighter and volunteer lieutenant after joining the ranks back on May 14, 1985, as a small resort owner at the Lake of the Ozarks.

Captain Don Gainey of B-Shift House #2 will officially retire in 2018 and complete his last 24-hour shift on December 29, 2017. At this time, Don hasn't set any plans in stone for his retirement. The first order of retirement will be to take a trip to Florida with his wife, Debbie, and to spend as much time with his family as possible. Don and Debbie also do industrial lighting and building/refurbishing of rustic furnishings as a side hobby. Debbie has a strong feeling that Don will dive more into this hobby once his retirement hits because "he isn't an idle man and loves to stay busy!"

We at Lindyspring Systems want to take a moment to recognize Don for not only dedicating 32 years of service to our community as a firefighter, but we also want to recognize him as a wonderful small business owner, who over the years has been a great asset to our community! Best of luck in your retirement, Don! As one chapter ends, another begins. Welcome to your new found freedom!

For All Your Household Water Conditioning and Treatment Needs Count on LINDYSPRING!

Here at the Lake of the Ozarks, hard water is a problem that every homeowner deals with. But having hard water isn't the only issue that we face with our water sources. To help homeowners understand the types of water problems that are typical in Lake of the Ozarks region, Lindyspring Systems has put together a list of common contaminants relating to water quality in Missouri. Take a look.


Iron
While iron in the water doesn’t pose any health risks, it can certainly be a nuisance. If you notice red, rusty stains in your sink, toilet, and tub – iron is probably to blame. High iron content in the water can stain your laundry, too. Plus, it may give your home’s water a metallic taste and affect the flavor of beverages like coffee and tea. It can also cause other problems such as clogged or corroded pipes and damaged appliances.

Manganese
When manganese is present in water, it is every bit as annoying as iron, perhaps even more so. In low concentrations it produces extremely objectionable stains on everything with which it comes in contact. Deposits collect in pipelines, and tap water may contain black sediment and turbidity due to precipitated manganese. When fabrics are washed in manganese-bearing water, dark brown or black stains are formed due to the oxidation of the manganese.

Hydrogen Sulfide
If you live in a home with water that stinks like rotten eggs, there’s a good chance that hydrogen sulfide is the problem. Once again, there is no major risk to your health, but no one wants to bathe in or drink water that smells like rotten eggs.

Nitrates
Nitrate is a compound that is formed naturally when nitrogen combines with oxygen or ozone. Nitrogen is essential for all living things, but high levels of nitrate in drinking water can be dangerous to health, especially for infants and pregnant women. Runoff from fertilization may cause nitrate contamination of private wells. Yet another thing to keep in mind is that the presence of nitrates in water indicates the possibility of E.coli contamination. This is why it's so important for those whose water source comes from a private well to test their water regularly.

Every Home’s Water Situation is Unique
Residential water treatment is a science that takes time to master. Hooking up a water softener or an R.O. you buy at a big box store is unlikely to completely solve your water problems. You need a professional to come to your home, identify the issues, and assemble a system that meets your specific needs. Let us schedule a time to come out to test your water and determine what is needed to treat your specific water needs. We sell and lease residential and commercial water treatment systems at Lake of the Ozarks. Any type of water problem can be taken care of by us. Visit our website for more information.

For All Your Household Water Conditioning and Treatment Needs Count on LINDYSPRING!

Many people wonder if buying a water softener at the Lake of the Ozarks is worth the money. We at Lindyspring Systems know that not only is it worth the money you'll spend on getting one, but it'll save you a lot of trouble and expense in the long run. To better help you understand the benefits of having a water softener at the Lake of the Ozarks, we've answered some frequently asked questions for your convenience.

Can you drink soft water?

Although many people believe soft water should not be drunk because of the sodium content, most do not realize how little sodium is in the water. Over 95% of our minerals come from our food and less than 5% from drinking water. The amount of sodium a water softener adds to tap water depends on the “Hardness” of your water. The higher the concentration of calcium and magnesium, the more sodium needed to soften the water. Still, the amount of sodium in softened water that was originally very hard shouldn’t be cause for concern. (www.MayoClinic.com)

Why does soft water not rinse the soap off? Showering in soft water makes my skin feel “slick”.

Showering in soft water may give you the sensation that soap and shampoo haven’t been rinsed away.  The “slick” feeling is actually your skin and hair thoroughly clean. Bathing with soft water, skin and hair retain natural moisturizing agents, feeling softer and smoother. Your skin will be healthier all winter long and not be so dry and itchy. Hair needs less conditioner and will not get so much build up on it from styling products.

Are water softeners expensive to operate?

A water softener is the only household appliance that can save you money. The cost of the electricity it uses is less than $6.00 per year. Soft water will help your appliances such as your water heater and dishwasher run more efficiently and last longer. Soft water also uses 50-70% less detergent to laundry and dishes. A Lindyspring water softener can also save you hours of housework by eliminating mineral deposits and soap scum on your fixtures.

Should I buy an electronic or magnetic device to soften my water?

Do not be fooled! While a lot of these devices do exist, only water softeners soften water. In the industry these magnets are referred to as “Descalers”, not softeners. They may be effective in certain applications as descalers, but they do not remove the hardness of the water. All of the benefits of softened water are forfeited. These items are sold with testimonials and a money back 90 day guarantee, but there is no scientific evidence to support their claims. If it sounds too good to be true, then it most likely is!

Can the discharge from a water softener’s regeneration damage my septic system or drainfield?

In studies conducted by the University of Wisconsin in the late 1970s, it was confirmed that salt brine discharge from water softeners caused no problems in the operation of typical and newer style home treatment plants. High concentrations of calcium and manganese in the softener backwash water have no effect on the biological functions occurring in the septic tank and may, in some cases be helpful. The additional volume of wastewater generated is added slowly to the wastewater stream and does not cause any hydraulic overload problems. (Corey et al., 1977)

Do water softeners waste water and salt?

When you are shopping for a water softener at the Lake of the Ozarks, be sure to check the specifications for efficiency. If sized properly, a water softener will only regenerate 1 or 2 times per week. Always look for an electronic demand softener which meters water usage and adjusts accordingly. With the use of new technology such as upflow brining and metered electronic demand, today’s water softeners are much more efficient than those of yesteryear. It is not uncommon for a good quality softener to use less than 2 pounds of salt and less than 30 gallons of water per regeneration. Remember this piece of trivia – the total amount of water used to manufacture a new car, including tires is 39,090 gallons. Softeners do not waste water!

For many of us, taking a shower is priceless personal time. You’re alone with your thoughts getting ready for the day, or winding down from a workout or hectic daily schedule. You are supposed to get out feeling clean and refreshed. But if you’re showering in hard water, your showering experience could definitely be better. In fact, when you bathe or shower in hard water, you may not be getting as clean as you should. Here’s why…

How Minerals in Hard Water Keep You from Getting Clean

Dissolved minerals like calcium and magnesium are what make the water in your home hard. Those minerals also create an undesirable chemical reaction with your soap, shampoo, and body wash as well as shaving cream. What happens is the calcium and magnesium ions in hard water react with fatty acids in soap to form insoluble lime soaps, which are ineffective at cleaning.

The best way to know if you’re dealing with hard water problems in the shower is to look at how well you’re lathering up. Hard water prevents you from getting a nice soapy lather in the shower. When you have soft water, it’s much easier to produce a foamy lather from your soap and shampoo.

After installing a water softener in their home, some people notice their skin feels slick and even slippery after bathing. Part of this may be due to the fact you aren’t accustomed to how truly-clean skin feels. What you feel might simply be the real you. But you may also be in the habit of using too much soap. You won’t need to use as much with soft water.

How Hard Water Affects Your Hair

Have you ever noticed how your hair can look and feel different when you shower in different places? Your hair behaves one way after showering at the gym, turns out another way when you’re vacationing or staying in a hotel, and looks completely different when you wash your hair at home. That’s most likely because the hardness of the water varies from location to location.

If you have hard water at home, your hair may feel dry all the time and become frizzy making it tangled and difficult to manage. It may also have a dull, lifeless appearance. That’s because those minerals and deposits build up in your hair. With a water softener in your home, those hard water issues are eliminated. You will find that your hair has a more-attractive shine when you shower in softened water. And soft water will make your hair more manageable, so it’s easier for you to style it the way you want.

Sometimes people with finer hair complain that soft water can make their hair feel flat or even greasy. This is probably because you’re using too much soap and not rinsing it out of the hair completely. Rinsing your hair in the shower for a little longer may solve that problem. Of all the hard water hair issues, the scariest has to be hair loss. Calcium build up can form around the base of hair follicles causing hair to break off and potentially hindering growth of new hair.

How Hard Water Affects Your Skin

Hard water can give you skin troubles too. Let’s start with the scalp. The calcium salts that build up in your scalp can cause dryness and flaking, AKA dandruff. You might assume it’s the shampoo you buy causing dandruff. But hard water may be the real culprit.

Hard water can make the rest of your skin feel dry and itchy as well. That’s thanks to the soapy residue left on your body, which clogs pores. Plus, the minerals in hard water can suck moisture right out of your skin leaving it even more dry and irritated. In fact, certain studies indicate hard water may cause additional aggravation in people with skin conditions like eczema and dermatitis.

Even washing clothes in hard water can be problematic to those with sensitive skin. Hard water leaves soap residue on your laundry too, and that residue is in contact with your skin all day long. If you have sensitive skin, the soft water a high-quality water softener provides could help you avoid much of the dehydration that occurs.

What Can You Do?

If you have a private well, you’re definitely dealing with hard water. But the majority of municipal water sources have levels of hardness as well. According to the USGS, in the United States, 85% of the water is considered hard. There are certainly little tips and tricks you can use to try and improve your showering experience. However, there’s really only one permanent solution…that’s a water softener. Water softeners remove those dissolved minerals from the water in your home. They are an investment that will make life for you and your family more convenient and more enjoyable.

Now that you know just how hard water is affecting your cleanliness during shower time, it's time to start thinking about getting a water softener at the Lake of the Ozarks. Contact Lindyspring Systems, the best water treatment company at the Lake of the Ozarks, to get your water source tested. Not only can we test your water, but we can also recommend and install the best water treatment system to match your specific water needs. Give us a call at 573-348-5044!

Lindyspring Systems at Lake of the Ozarks knows the hard water struggles homeowners and businesses face daily. We're here to tell you that you don't have to continue to deal with those maintenance headaches. We've got several products that can help protect your drinking water at the Lake of the Ozarks. This week we are featuring our Lindyspring Sanitizer Water Conditioning System:

Lindyspring Sanitizer

Ideal for homeowners who use well water.

The sanitizer water conditioning system is recognized for its unique ability to kill and remove iron and sulfur bacteria - a naturally-occurring bacteria that can incubate and grow in water softener beds and other water appliances. Most homeowners experience this problem as red or black slime and stains on plumbing fixtures, and foul smells when operating a tap.

The system safely creates chlorine from the softener's brine solution. The dissolved chlorine then sanitizes the media bed with each regeneration of the system. An exclusive crystalline media acts as a superior filter and softener that removes iron, manganese and hardness - while raising pH to acceptable level and securing chlorine for continued media sanitizing.

Features of the Lindyspring Sanitizer System:

• Bypass Valve
• Digital Demand Controller
• Full One-Inch Riser
• Fiberglass Reinforced Media Tank
• Self-Cleaning Distributors
• Positive-Action Brine Valve
• Crystal Right (CR100, CR200)
• Washed Quartz Underbedding
• Patented KDF Material

Whether you have municipal water or you rely on a private or shared well, chances are you face some level of issues with water hardness at the Lake of the Ozarks. It's just a fact of life around here. One way to prevent hard water problems is by getting a water softener. Now some folks are against this solution because they've heard a number of myths about how soft water is bad for you and how expensive a softener can be. But in reality, NOT having a water softener can be a bigger problem than you realize. Here’s the truth about what happens when you use a water softener in your home as we bust eight different soft water myths.


Myth No. 1 – Water softeners put salt in your water.

It’s easy to understand why people make this mistake. However, you are not drinking salt water if you install a water softener in your home. It’s true that you you’ll need water softener salts, but you shouldn’t taste salt in your water. Water softeners use an ion exchange process to remove minerals like calcium and magnesium, which make the water hard. A special media stored in a mineral tank makes this process possible. That media is charged with sodium ions, which replace the hard minerals in your water. So it isn’t salt (NaCl) that gets added to your water, it’s sodium (Na).

Myth No. 2 – The amount of sodium in softened water is unhealthy.

How much sodium a water softener adds to your water depends on how hard your home’s water is in the first place. That being said, the typical amount of sodium in softened water is too small to have any sort of negative impact on your health. The Mayo Clinic states on its website that “the added sodium shouldn’t be an issue for most healthy adults.”

However, not everyone likes the taste of softened water, but they don’t want to deal with hard water problems either. Thankfully, there are options. You could separate the tap you use for drinking and cooking from your system while still getting the advantages of soft water for cleaning, bathing, and laundry. Better yet, you could install a reverse osmosis system to get pure and refreshing drinking water straight from a faucet at your sink.

Myth No. 3 – Water softeners purify water.

Water softeners are specifically designed to reduce the hardness of water. They do an excellent job of removing minerals and metals that cause scale and create all sorts of household headaches. However, water softeners do not filter out all contaminants. This is another reason why you may need a reverse osmosis system for the water your family actually consumes. You can also look in to other types of in-home filtration systems to deal with iron and sulfur issues.

Myth No. 4 – Water softening takes away healthy minerals.

When some people hear how water softeners remove calcium and minerals they think the softening process is taking away important nutrients. After all, calcium and magnesium can benefit things like bone health. The truth is that the calcium and magnesium deposits in hard water are inorganic minerals, which don’t provide the same benefits as obtaining minerals from food or supplements. The calcium and magnesium in hard water cannot be easily absorbed by the cells in your body.

Myth No. 5 – Soft water leaves a film on your skin.

Some people notice a different feeling on their skin when they first shower in soft water. It feels slick, and some might even say slimy. This is not a film being left behind on your skin, and it isn’t soap that doesn’t wash away either. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. When you have hard water it does leave soap scum on your skin. What you notice after showering in hard water is not a sign you’re “squeaky clean,” but instead, that you are covered in a sticky residue. The slickness on your skin when you bathe in soft water is actually your body’s natural essential oils. It’s how clean is supposed to feel!

Myth No. 6 – Water softeners waste water and energy.

It’s true that some water softeners can waste water and salt during the regeneration process. This is a cycle your system goes through to re-charge the media with sodium ions. Today, there are high efficiency models available to homeowners which help save money and energy by learning your home’s water needs and using only the amount of water and salt that’s necessary for regeneration.

There are also other ways in-home filtration can help the environment. Soft water is more efficient at cleaning, that means you’ll use less detergent and chemical-filled cleaning products, which in turn reduces water pollution. Plus, when you have a reverse osmosis system, you can stop buying water in plastic bottles. The environmental impact of bottled water is huge!

Myth No. 7 – You don’t need a water softener if you have city water.

This might be one of the biggest misconceptions of all. Water softeners are most-commonly found in homes where there is a private well using groundwater. In that case, the water almost always needs softening. However, municipal water is rarely ever perfect water. In fact, more than 80-percent of all homes in the United States have hard water. Every city has different water quality. If you’re unhappy with your home’s water – whether its drinking, cleaning, laundry, or bathing – there are things you can do that will provide an effective solution.

Myth No. 8 – Water softeners cost a lot of money.

Putting a water softener in your home will require an initial investment. However, it will save you quite a bit of your hard earned money in the long run. Yes, your water softener will use electricity, you’ll have to buy salt, and it will need to be serviced on occasion. But in reality, water softeners put much more money back in your pocket.

Perhaps the biggest savings come from your water heater. These appliances operate much better on soft water while hard water makes them inefficient and forces you to run the water heater at a higher temperature. That’s one way a water softener will lower your utility bills while extending the life of appliances. Water softeners help keep other appliances running longer, too. Soft water reduces the amount of laundry detergent you use to clean clothes by more than 50-percent, and prevents colors from fading.

Now that you know the truth about what a water softener can do for your household, it's time to look into your water treatment options at the Lake of the Ozarks.  Lindyspring Systems offers a wide array of products and solutions to fit every water treatment need. We sell and lease residential and commercial water treatment systems at Lake of the Ozarks. Any type of water problem can be taken care of by us. We also deliver to your home or business 40 lb. bags of coarse solar salt and 40 lb. bags of potassium chloride. Do you want to learn more about the water services we provide? Visit our website for more information.

For All Your Household Water Conditioning and Treatment Needs Count on LINDYSPRING!

Fall has arrived and Halloween is almost here, and there's all sorts of family friendly events at the Lake of the Ozarks to get you in the spirit! With only a week left before Halloween, now's your chance to check out all the spook-tacular Autumn and Halloween related festivities the Lake has to offer. This week, Lindyspring Systems is sharing with you a list of events that the whole family will enjoy!


The Cave Pumpkin Patch
Enjoy the Cave Pumpkin Patch at 123 Swinging Bridge Rd in Brumley on October 28-29th from 10a-5p. The Cave Pumpkin Patch offers plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy!

Activities Include: Corn Crib, Mini Golf, Duck Race, Water Balloon Sling Shot, Pumpkin Painting, Sand Box, Barrel Train, Playground, Bounce House, Hay Rides, Bridges, Hay Bale Maze, The Cave, Family Photo Ops and more.

Thunder Mountain Park Fall Festival
You can enjoy this event every day through October from 9a-4p at Bridal Cave & Thunder Mountain Park in Camdenton. The everyday wonders of Bridal Cave & Thunder Mountain Park will be joined by tasty autumn treats (pumpkin fudge, s'mores, caramel apples, and more,) duck races, a hay bale maze, corn crib, Hay Bale Mountain, and so much more! On weekends, there will be demonstrations of sarsaparilla making and pumpkin painting, as well as incredible live entertainment, plus take home your own pumpkin from the thousands that will be lining our Pumpkin Trail.

Included with your Bridal Cave admission ticket, you can: pan for gemstones, get your face painted, feed the giant fish, join the Duck Races, check out the Pumpkin Chunkin range, play jumbo Tic-Tac-Toe, toss bean bags, enjoy the Corn Crib, explore the hay bale maze, conquer Hay Bale Mountain, relax by the fire pits, or take advantage of numerous family photo settings.

Pumpkin Patch & Fall Attractions
Check out the MECCA Family Farm on October 28-29 from 10a-5p at 425 Delmar, Roach, MO. Grab a sack and ZOOOM down the 150ft slide or take your shot with with an air powered corn cannon! Aim for the tractor tire in the back of the field. A petting zoo with goats, cows, pigs, donkeys, a horse, and possibly more will keep you and the little ones occupied, or check out the sandbox of corn... It is a sure hit for the little ones.  Grab the whole family and tour the farm from a tractor pulled hay ride. Enjoy the fun of getting lost in a 3 acres corn “maize walk.” Get in the fall spirit with face painting and capture those great memories at the Photo op stations. The concession stand features seasonal favorites like caramel apples, locally popped kettle corn, and a signature mecca mix!

Bonfire & Hayride at The Lodge of Four Seasons
Take the family on October 28th and November 4th from 5-8p to the Beach at The Lodge of Four Seasons to enjoy some great fall festivities. The Lodge Hayrides along the lake and throughout the resort will begin once again...a tradition for families here at The Lodge. Hayrides are including in the Resort service fee for overnight stays. $5 charge for public rides. Hayrides also include s'mores, hot cocoa and mini pumpkins for the kids set around our lakeside bonfire beach location.

Hy-Vee Hollow Trick-or-Treat
Visit the Osage Beach Hy-Vee Parking lot for the annual Hy-Vee Hollow Trick-or-treat event this Thursday, October 26 from 4-7p!This is a FOOD ALLERGY FRIENDLY EVENT! Each booth will have candy and non-food treats! Hy-Vee will be supporting the Teal Pumpkin Project in donating a separate bucket of non-food treats to each booth for those kids who have food allergies. Each child with food allergies will be provided a teal bag or necklace at the entrance. Don't forget your costumes!

Admission for this event is $2.00 per child. All of the proceeds will be donated to two local organizations - The Dream Factory and Camp Wonderland. Refreshments will be provided for the kids.

Lindyspring Systems Customer Appreciation Day
And of course, don't miss out on our CUSTOMER APPRECIATION DAY this coming Friday, October 27th from 10:30a-1:30p at 1063 Industrial Drive in Osage Beach, MO. We'll be serving complimentary food and beverages, and will be offering some fantastic specials on some of our products as a token of our appreciation! Everyone is welcome to join, so stop by to grab a bite to eat and say hello!

At Lindyspring Systems, the best water treatment company at the Lake of the Ozarks, we can help you select the perfect water treatment system for your household or business needs. And with us, service doesn't stop at the close of a sale, we'll continue to provide excellent service for years to come for all of your water treatment needs. We also deliver to your business 40 lb. bags of coarse solar salt and 40 lb. bags of potassium chloride. Contact us at 573-348-5044 to learn more about our water treatment services at the Lake of the Ozarks!

For All Your Household & Commercial Water Conditioning and Treatment Needs Count on LINDYSPRING!