As a homeowner at the Lake of the Ozarks, you've more than likely already learned that we've got some very hard water here. Hard water problems at the Lake of the Ozarks can wreak havoc on your plumbing, appliances and even your hair and skin. You're probably wondering if investing in a water softener would be worth the money. Part of knowing that your investment is making a difference is understanding how a water softener works and why it's essential to have one in your home. So first, let's take a look at the difference between hard and soft water and which is better for your home.

Hard Water vs. Soft Water
Water quality differs depending on where you live and whether you’re getting water from a municipality or a private well. Regardless as to where it comes from though, both sources are known to contain hardness minerals. Calcium and magnesium are the most common minerals found in water that causes hardness. Minerals from groundwater - the source of all water regardless of whether it comes to your home from a municipality or well - can cause a scaly buildup on everything from dishes, to pipes, to the heating elements of your appliances, to your own body. Water softeners remove those hard minerals, prolonging the life of appliances that use water and making it easier to clean and do laundry.

How Hard Water Becomes Soft
So how do water softeners get the minerals out? Water softeners use a process called ion exchange to remove things like calcium, magnesium, iron, and manganese – replacing them with sodium ions. As hard water passes through your water softener tank, calcium or magnesium are pulled to the media like a magnet, and sodium ions take their place. All the hardness minerals stay trapped inside the water softener tank while the clean water, with a few sodium ions, disperse throughout your home for use. No more scaly build up!

Regeneration is how a water softening system cleans and recharges itself so it can continue providing your home with soft water. This process happens in the brine tank, where you add water softener salt. During regeneration, the water softener will take the brine solution into the softener tank and the ion exchange process happens again, only this time in reverse. The media gets a bath in the salt solution. Hard minerals caught in the resin are released and the media gets replenished with sodium ions. The water softener is also cleaned and disinfected during regeneration. Finally, water containing the hard minerals and other waste gets flushed out of the system.

Do You Need a Water Softener?
Here's the bottom line. Water softeners aren't just for those homes whose water supply comes from a private well with extremely hard water. Even people living in the city who are on municipality water sources can have hard water too. Municipalities are required to treat the water for impurities, but they do not remove hardness minerals because, while they're burdensome and can be costly when it comes to home care and maintenance, they are not harmful to your health. Regardless as to where your water comes from, the modern home depends on soft water. High efficiency appliances can not run as designed when they suffer from hard water build up. Dishwashers and washing machines could end up with a much shorter lifespan because of hard water. You could end up spending thousands on avoidable plumbing and appliance repairs or replacement by installing a water softener in your home.

Are your eyes playing tricks, or does your favorite white shirt look a little dingy? If you question whether your clothes look and feel clean coming out of the washing machine, you’re not alone. Issues with laundry such as yellowing or graying clothes and stiff towels are not uncommon. If you’re experiencing any of the following issues at home, you are likely dealing with a hard water problem.

Why Hard Water and Laundry Don’t Mix
Hard water contains dissolved compounds of calcium and magnesium – and, simply put, those minerals do not play nice with detergents. The greater the mineral count, the harder the water and the larger the impact could be on laundry. In fact, a study by Purdue University found that clothing washed in hard water wears out 15 percent faster than clothing washed in soft water.

Hard water prevents water from mixing with detergent to form an effective cleaning agent. The calcium minerals bond with the soap to create a detergent curd that sticks to the fabric fibers, drawing in more dirt than before you washed your clothes. Over time, detergent residue can turn your white clothes gray or yellow, and you may even discover white or gray streaks on your colored clothes. This buildup is also what makes laundry feel stiff and crusty. When this happens, fabric is less likely to flex, creating more friction that causes unnecessary wear-and-tear on your laundry.

Common concerns associated with hard water include:

• Laundry grays or yellows easily
• Fabric is stiff and not fluffy
• Clothes are weakened or tear easily
• White or gray streaks appear on colored clothes

To combat this issue, homeowners resort to using even more detergent and hotter water, resulting in additional expenses. At the end of the year, your bills have increased, you’ve spent more in detergent, and you’ve ultimately had to replaced damaged, worn clothing.

Better performance and savings can be found using softened water. That means buying less laundry detergent, saving on utility bills, and clothes last longer and look better. Not to mention, soft water allows appliances to last longer. Moral of the story, if you want cleaner clothes, sheets, and towels, get a water softener.

Fixing the Problem with Soft Water
If you suspect hard water is causing a toll on your clothing, you should begin by determining if you truly have hard water. Start with a simple home test. This soap test will tell you if you have hard water or not; it will not tell you the approximate level of hardness, which is measured in parts per million (ppm).

First, fill a clear container with water. Add approximately 10 drops of soap into your container and shake vigorously. If the container has a good amount of suds at the top and the water below is clear, you likely have soft water. On the other hand, if your water is cloudy and doesn’t have a thick layer of suds on the top, you have a hard water problem. What occurred during this test occurs on a larger scale in your washing machine.

Now that you’ve confirmed you have hard water, you’ll want to call a water treatment professional to determine the exact hardness of your water. They will also test for contaminants which may be resulting in other water problems throughout your house.

With soft water you’ll likely notice other benefits around your house, including:

• Less soap scum in bathrooms
• Cleaner, less-slimy feeling hair
• Softer, less-dry skin
• Longer lasting appliances
• More efficient dishwashing sessions

Time to Call Lindyspring Lake of the Ozarks!
Stop replacing your wardrobe so often and learn more about the difference between hard and soft water. Then talk to a water treatment professional to discuss options tailored to your specific needs. The Lindyspring LCR Series II water softener removes unwanted hardness or minerals from your household water - whether from municipal sources or private wells. Used alone or in combination with Lindyspring filters and neutralizers, this system can meet the most challenging water problems existing today. Count on Lindyspring Systems, the best water treatment company at the Lake of the Ozarks, to provide you with the best possible water quality for your home or business!

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

Having hard water in your home is common if you live in Central Missouri. Did you know that hard water could be the cause of many household cleaning issues? Lindyspring Systems is your expert in water treatments at the Lake of the Ozarks. We specialize in helping you with hard water issues and are here to tell you how your household chores will become easier to accomplish when you invest in a water softener for your home.

Do you have soap scum or residue?