Water softening

March 23, 2005 9:13 AM

Our new house has hard water, and my skin is really starting to dry out. What's the most economical way to soften water for your shower?
posted by bjork24 to home & garden (5 comments total)

Choice of soaps may make a difference. I started using my wife's "beauty bar" soaps and noticed my skin wasn't nearly as dry. I had been previously using a deoderant soap. I just found a deoderant soap with Aloe, and it seems to work pretty good.
posted by Doohickie at 9:58 AM on March 23, 2005

If you are on a well, marble chips in the well will soften the water. If you are on city/county water, I don't know, but this seemed to be pretty informative.
posted by Medieval Maven at 10:06 AM on March 23, 2005

Get a water softener. You, your laundry, and your water using appliances will appreciate it. Get a demand regenerating softener, which will only flush when it needs to. We found that when we put in the softener we were able to turn down the water heater a bit, as we were able to get stuff as clean with slightly cooler water.

If you don't like the taste, have it plumbed so that it only softens the water into the water heater.

Really, a water softener is the most economical way to do it, especially if you have a washing machine and/or a dishwasher. Softened water will make them clean better with less detergent (if you do dishes by hand, you'll need less dish soap). Your water heater will last longer and heat more efficiently, and if you've got a refrigerator with an ice maker or water in the door, you won't have to replace the plumbing as soon.
posted by jlkr at 10:11 AM on March 23, 2005

amen jlkr - we installed a water softener a few months ago and the improvement has been immediately noticeable. You will notice the difference in your skin.

Appliances (water heater, coffee maker, dishwasher) will last longer - You will also find yourself going through soaps and detergents a lot slower.

We found a large-capacity one for ~$500 at Home Depot; check ebay.com for 10% off coupons.
posted by neilkod at 10:57 AM on March 23, 2005

Second the demand regenerating. Old house was time generating and to balance softness and generation used about 4 bags of salt a month. The current house has a demand and because we are gone more than half the time it has only used 6 bags in the last year. Different technologies and different efficiencies. I'm sure the current one cost much more but the annual saving of dragging an extra 2000 lb of salt home and into the basement is well worth it.
posted by mss at 11:39 AM on March 23, 2005