Is Soft Water Important in Winter?
It’s nearly autumn, and soon the leaves will be turning colors and falling in some parts of the country. Friends and families will gather around campfires for warmth. Hoodies will appear as the temperatures start to fall. Crispness in the air makes way for school to start and Friday night lights will bring fans back to the stadiums. The cooling temperatures are a sure sign that winter will be on its way soon, along with the dry air that affects our skin and hair. Now is the time to contact your local WaterCare dealer to get your water tested and make sure you have the correct water treatment system in place to ensure you have good, quality water this winter.
Why Do Skin and Hair Dry Out More in Winter?
There are many reasons why skin and hair are drier in the winter. The air itself is drier because cold air cannot hold as much moisture as warmer air, which means there is less ambient moisture to soak in. Using a forced-air furnace also causes drier air since the furnace draws in air from outside to heat and forces it through your home. In an attempt to keep warmer during the colder months, we often tend to take longer and hotter baths and showers. As the warm water quickly evaporates when we step out of the shower or bathtub, it takes with it the natural oils in our skin. This leaves your skin dry, itchy, and sometimes red and irritated, while turning your hair dry, frizzy, and unmanageable.
If you have hard water, hot showers and baths are even more harmful to skin and hair. As water evaporates, it leaves behind calcium and magnesium deposits. These minerals can pull moisture from your skin leaving film behind causing itchiness and redness. Hard water can also clog your pores, which can exacerbate acne and eczema. The film that hard water leaves behind will also act as a barrier that prevents lotions and moisturizers from penetrating your skin.
How Will a Water Softener Help?
A water softener uses a process called ion exchange to safely remove the calcium and magnesium in your water. With the calcium and magnesium removed, your skin and hair will be able to retain the moisture they need to remain healthy, especially in the dry winter months.
In addition to healthier skin and hair, having a water softener can save you money! You will need less soap to lather up in the shower, as well as less soap when washing dishes and laundry. Your clothes will come out cleaner, with less wear and tear from calcium and magnesium build up. This additional stiffness that comes to clothing washed in hard water actually leads to the fabrics not being as warm either. The fibers break down faster, creating thin spots or even holes in your favorite sweaters and blankets.
The same is true for your faucets and water-using appliances. Just like your skin, calcium and magnesium build up as white crud called scale. You can’t get a nice warm bath without the help from your water heater. If you have hard water, your water heater needs to run harder and longer into order to raise the temperature of the water through the layer of minerals built up inside. Less build up means your appliances can work more efficiently, last longer, and get you that next warm shower faster!
Worried about Hard Water?
As fall approaches, and you’re already dreading the dry, itchy skin of winter, give us a call! We’ll send one of our trained technicians to test your water. With our full line of WaterCare water softeners, we will find the ideal solution for your water needs!