It’s a well-known fact that water softeners have many great benefits. They protect your plumbing system from damage, improve your water heater’s efficiency, eliminate limescale, help improve your skin and more. Unfortunately, there are a few unsubstantiated rumors about water softeners that can misinform homeowners about the value of installing softeners in their homes. Today we want to address those rumors by busting five of the most commonly circulated myths about water softeners!

Busting 5 common water softener myths

1. Soft water removes essential minerals from your diet. Along with myth number two, this is one of the most widely circulated myths about water softeners. Some people say that because water softeners remove calcium and magnesium (essential nutrients) from tap water, soft water is not as healthy for you as hard water. The truth is that we only get a tiny amount of our daily minerals from what we drink. We get almost all of our bodies’ essential daily nutrients from the food that we eat. If you’re not getting enough essential minerals, don’t blame your water softener; eat more fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds instead!
2. Soft water is unhealthy because it adds sodium to your water. Another very common myth about water softeners is that they add an unhealthy amount of sodium to your water. Although it is true that water softeners add a small amount of sodium to tap water, the amount of sodium that they add is extremely tiny and does not pose any health risks to the people who drink it. As the Mayo Clinic attests, the amount of sodium in softened water is well within the FDA’s definition of “very low sodium.”
3. Soft water makes your skin feel “slimy.” It’s been said that showering or washing your hands in soft water leaves a slimy residue on your body. This is not the case! One problem with hard water is that it does not lather well with soaps and detergents. This allows soap residue to stick to your skin and clog up your pores, making your skin feel tough and dry. Switching to soft water makes your skin much smoother because soaps and detergents dissolve much better, and the lack of soap residue and hardness minerals allows your body’s natural oils to rise to the surface.
4. Water softeners will purify your water. Although water softeners are great at softening your water, they do not remove any dangerous contaminants that can affect your health. That job is best left to a water filtration system like a carbon filter or reverse osmosis system. If you want both soft and pure water, you should install a water filtration system in conjunction with your water softener. An even better option is to install the Hague WaterMax, which softens and filters your water in the same unit.
5. Salt is the only way to soften water. Although salt is the most effective way to soften water, it is not the only way. If you have a medical condition that requires a very low-sodium diet and you’re concerned about the salt added by a water softener, water softeners are available that use potassium chloride instead.

If you have any questions about these water softener myths, or if you’d like a water system serviced or installed in your home, contact EPA Water Consultants, your water softener and water filtration system dealer in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. We provide service all over Eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey, including towns like Macungie, Malvern and Quakertown, PA.