Guide to Buying a Water System
Water that is free of contaminants not only tastes better, it also keeps your dishes spot free, ensures your laundry stays bright and helps extend the life of your pipes, appliances, and fixtures. The first step in selecting the right water system for your home is to know what's in your water. Trail Appliances will test a water sample for free so you can be confident in your decision.
Contact a showroom today to book your free in-store water test.
Common Water Problems
Water never exists inherently in a pristine state. Water at its source contains natural minerals and, as it travels to your home, it picks up other contaminants such as trace metals, water treatment chemicals and other dissolved compounds. While not considered a health risk, these dissolved elements can still cause numerous issues in the home.
Hard Water
Hard water contains dissolved calcium and magnesium. The more minerals dissolved, the 'harder' the water. Hard water reacts with detergents, making them less effective, and causes a hard built up on your pipes and in your water-using appliances.
Cloudy Water
Cloudy, murky or greyish water is usually caused by dissolved or suspended solids. These dissolved compounds can affect how water tastes and smells, they can leave stains on your laundry, and can also cause corrosion on your pipes and appliances.
Bad Taste and Odours
Fishy, chlorine, rotten egg, earthy, musty, and metallic smells are all common issues depending on the source of your homes water, the way in which it has been treated and the age and quality of the water distribution system in your area.
Why Use a Water Softener
A water softener removes the minerals dissolved in your water that makes it "hard".
How Hard Water Affects Detergents
Hard water prevents water from mixing with detergent to form an effective cleaning agent. The minerals bond with the soap to create a detergent curd that sticks to fabric fibers, dishes and even your hair and skin. This detergent residue can prevent the removal of soil and bacteria, turning your white clothes gray, leaving your fabrics can feeling stiff and crusty, and can also irritate your skin.
How Hard Water Affects Pipes, Plumbing and Appliances
When hard water evaporates, dissolved calcium and magnesium are left behind leaving a white, chalky residue called scale. Over time, scale builds up in your water pipes and water-using appliances, restricting water flow, reducing water pressure and causing the eventual failure of expensive parts like pumps and heating elements.
How a Water Softener Works
A water softener works by removing the calcium and magnesium dissolved in water. This can allow detergents to function as they should as well as reduce mineral deposits in your plumbing and appliances, resulting in less wear and tear and unnecessary expenses.
Why Use a Drinking Water System
Drinking water systems remove dissolved minerals and other contaminants that affect the look, smell and taste of your drinking and cooking water.
How Water Quality Affects Your Drinking Water
If your water smells or tastes funny, you're less inclined to drink it. Odd tasting water caused by dissolved minerals, trace metals, algae and bacteria is the primary reason people turn to bottled water, which is expensive for you and harmful for the environment.
How Water Quality Affects Cooking
Minerals and contaminants dissolved in your water can affect the way dough rises, how beans cook and how crusts bake. Hard water and water with higher amounts of chlorine have a negative effect on yeast, where it slows down its fermentation process and over toughens the gluten structure. Additionally, if you follow a recipe that includes reducing or simmering, you’ll increase the concentration of any impurities in the water by double or more. Finally, water that is rich in minerals will harden the skin of beans, leaving them tough and difficult to digest.
How a Drinking Water Solution Can Help
Most drinking water filtration systems use a process called reverse osmosis. In this system, the water travels through a reverse osmosis membrane, which is able to stop larger minerals, chemicals and even small contaminants such as dissolved pharmaceuticals.
Specialty Solutions and Additional Options
Trail appliances has additional water solutions available including UV treatment and chlorine or chloramine whole home filters. If you have any questions about which water system is right for your home, contact a showroom near you to book a free in-store water test.