Category: Land & Property

Do You Need a Water Softener

What Is Hard Water?

Hard water can slowly and quietly wreck a home’s plumbing appliances, fixtures, and household items. This can be both a nuisance and expensive as homeowners must repair and replace plumbing fixtures and clothing items.

Hard water contains a high concentration of dissolved minerals – usually calcium and magnesium ions. This can have numerous effects on a household, including soap scrum, mineral deposits or scale on pipes, appliances, or plumbing fixtures, reduced lifespan of plumbing systems, and even faded laundry and dry skin.

Property owners can prevent these issues by installing a water softener system.

How Does a Water Softener Work?

water softenerHomeowners can combat the effects of hard water by adding a water softener. 

Two of the most common water softeners are salt-based ion exchange water softeners and salt-free water conditioners, like reverse osmosis. A salt-based water softener replaces calcium and magnesium ions with sodium ions. With a salt-free water conditioner, a membrane is used to remove dissolved minerals from the water. These units do not require a brine tank or salt, making them a popular option for households worried about sodium intake.

Signs of Hard Water

waterTo preserve plumbing fixtures and prolong the lifespan of appliances, households should recognize the signs of hard water so they can take the necessary steps to treat it.

Some of the most common signs of hard water that experts recommend watching for are:

  • Soap scum buildup in sinks and bathtubs, and difficulty lathering the soap
  • Scale buildup in pipes and plumbing appliances
  • Stains and mineral deposits on bathroom fixtures, kitchen faucets, and plumbing appliances
  • Faded clothes, or clothing that is stiff or rough
  • Spotted glasses and dishes, even after washing them
  • Dry hair and skin
  • Inefficient water heater due to buildups, resulting in higher energy bills

If homeowners experience these issues, they should schedule an appointment with a plumber to test their water. Technicians can perform tests to determine the hardness of the water and what minerals are present. Based on the results, the experts may then recommend installing water softeners.

Benefits of Whole Home Water Softeners

Scheduling a water softener installation can have numerous advantages for households. Some of the top water softener benefits include:

  • Reduced scale buildup in pipes and appliances, resulting in cost savings by extending the lifespan of systems.
  • Less time cleaning scale buildups and soap scum from appliances, sinks, showers, and bathtubs.
  • A more efficient water heater that can operate correctly. This can result in lower energy bills.
  • Softer skin and smoother hair due to reduced mineral exposure.
  • Elimination of spots on glasses and dishes.
  • Longer-last clothes that are not prematurely fading or ripping.

About AZ Water Solutions

AZ Water Solutions is a woman-owned company in Maricopa County that strives to provide healthy and safe water to its customers. They only hire trustworthy technicians, and they guarantee satisfaction with every appointment. Call them today for whole-home filtration services in Scottsdale, AZ. 

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Going Back to School With Tankless Water Heaters 101

A Guide to Tankless Water Heaters

When households want to reduce their energy bills, save space, and have hot water when needed (eliminating waiting for the water tank to heat up between showers), tankless water heaters can be their home’s best water heating solution. This guide will share what tankless water heaters are, how they work, and the benefits of installing them in homes.

What Is a Tankless Water Heater?

inside of a tankless water heaterTankless water heaters, also known as instantaneous water heaters, are water heating systems that heat water without a big storage tank. While traditional storage water heaters have a large tank to provide hot water to a household, with tankless hot water heaters, the water is heated as it passes through the system and only as needed.

Because they only heat water when needed instead of continuously heating a large tank of water, tankless water heaters can be more energy efficient than traditional storage water heaters. Additionally, their heating water on demand and the lack of a storage tank allow tankless water heaters to not run out of hot water like storage water heaters do when the hot water in the tank runs out.

How Does a Tankless Water Heater Work?

endless hot waterTo provide hot water to households, tankless water heaters warm water through the following process:

  • When a faucet or showerhead is turned on and hot water is requested, cold water enters the tankless water heater through an inlet pipe.
  • Inside the unit, the heat exchanger quickly heats the incoming cold water as it flows through.
  • The tankless water heater uses a flow sensor to detect the water flow rate and a temperature sensor to measure the incoming water temperature. Based on these readings, the heater adjusts the heating elements or gas burner to achieve the desired hot water temperature.
  • Since these systems heat water as it flows through the unit, they can provide a continuous supply of hot water to the household. There is no need to wait for a storage tank to refill and reheat the water.

Advantages of Tankless Water Heaters

While most households are familiar with storage water heater units, tankless water heaters provide many benefits to families. Some of their benefits include:

  • Energy efficiency: They are more energy-efficient than traditional storage tank water heaters by only heating water when needed and not keeping a large water tank hot.
  • Savings on utility bills: The efficiency of tankless water heaters is reflected in lower water heating costs for homeowners.
  • Space-saving: These systems are compact and can be mounted on walls, allowing homeowners to save space.
  • Longer lifespan: These systems generally have a longer lifespan than traditional storage water heaters. With proper maintenance, they can last around 20 years or more, and storage tank water heaters typically last about 10-15 years.
  • Endless hot water: Since they provide hot water on demand, there is no risk of running out of hot water, even with multiple simultaneous hot water demands in different parts of the house.

About AZ Water Solutions

AZ Water Solutions is a female-owned and operated company serving Scottsdale and the surrounding areas. They offer straightforward pricing, free quotes, and the latest technology. Call them today for a gas tankless water heater installation or replacement in Scottsdale, AZ.

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