Soft Water vs. Hard Water: What’s the Difference?

If you turn on your tap and notice odd tastes or odors, it’s easy to realize that you have a water quality issue. However, some problems — like water hardness — don’t come with visible hints in the water itself. This may leave you wondering whether your home has hard water, what the difference is and what that means overall.

Soft vs. Hard Water: What’s the Difference?

The main difference between hard water and soft water is mineral content. Hard water has higher levels of dissolved minerals — specifically calcium and magnesium. The buildup of these minerals can in turn lead to limescale, dry skin and hair, reduced water pressure, hard water stains and more.

Soft water, by contrast, has had these minerals removed, typically through a water softening process. That’s why it’s better to shower in soft water — it doesn’t interfere with soaps and detergents or cause mineral buildup on your hair, skin, or appliances. So, how do you address those hardness minerals and ensure your home has soft water? Here’s what to know.

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What Is Hard Water?

Water flows through different environments on its way to your tap, coming into contact with various types of rock and soil. Along the way, it can pick up naturally occurring minerals like calcium and magnesium — and the higher the mineral content, the higher the water will rank on the water hardness scale.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, hard water exists in a significant portion of the United States (see the map here). The same is true for Canada, according to the country’s health authority, which notes historical hardness levels were highest in Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario.

However, it’s important to note that, like water quality, water hardness varies across locations. That’s because there are a lot of factors at play, from the type of rocks in your area to the original source of your water supply.

Is Hard Water Bad For You?

The good news is that drinking hard water is generally not a safety concern. Some studies have even shown that hard water may be healthy thanks to the presence of essential minerals and other factors; possible benefits may include improved gut health, stronger bones and disease prevention, but further research is required.

You should also keep in mind that hard water isn’t the same as commercially available mineral water (also called spring water). While they may contain some of the same mineral content, bottled water brands may include artificial additives and gases for carbonation.

While hard water might not actively harm you when ingested, it can wreak serious havoc on your home, budget, water-using appliances and even your self-care routine.

Hard water can:

• Harm your hair, dry your skin and thin your nails: When hard water comes into contact with your body, it can strip naturally occurring oils and coat your skin and hair with mineral buildup. You may not feel cleaner, even after scrubbing with shampoo and soap. Hair can become dry and limp. Skin conditions can worsen when in direct and continued contact with the minerals in hard water. Even your nails can feel the impact, including potentially stunted growth and discoloration.
• Leave spots and residue: As hard water lands on surfaces, collects on showerheads and dries on dishes, evaporation leaves behind scaly-looking limescale buildup. You may see it on your washed silverware and plates that have a white film or spots. There may be streaks left behind wherever water comes into contact. The residue left by hard water isn’t just unsightly; it also can lead to extra time and money spent cleaning.
• Damage pipes and appliances: Mineral buildup can make for costly and time-consuming repairs. When hard water comes into contact with pipes and appliances, the minerals can cause clogs or damage the pipes and valves. Your refrigerator, laundry machine and other water-dependent appliances may have a shorter lifespan — or require costly repairs — thanks to hard water.

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While hard water may not directly harm you, it can cause the need for resource-intensive solutions. Whether you’re continually investing in plumbing services for appliances like your washing machine or you’re just spending too much time and money on cleaning (or products to improve your hair and skin), hard water can be a big issue.

What can you do about these problems? The answer is soft water — and, more specifically, water softening.

What is Soft Water?

Soft water is water without the high mineral content. While it can exist in nature, it often needs a little help — and that’s where water softening systems come in.

Softening involves attracting, trapping and flushing out hard minerals. The system uses tiny resin beads like magnets, keeping calcium and magnesium stuck while softened water flows out to the rest of your home. When the beads are full, the softener triggers a process called regeneration, which uses a sodium solution to rinse away the minerals.

This is excellent news for your home, because soft water can:

• Prevent scale buildup: With hard water minerals removed at the point where your water enters your home, your pipes and appliances will have a longer lifespan. The calcium and magnesium will be removed before they ever come into contact with your washing machine or water heater, keeping them free from mineral buildup as well as working better for longer.
• Increase the effectiveness of soap: Minerals in hard water decrease soap’s effectiveness, requiring more soap or shampoo to make a lather. That’s why it’s difficult to work up good suds in the shower or when washing your hands, and why you may be buying soap or detergents more frequently. A water softener system will ensure your soap is doing its job while simultaneously reducing hard water stains and the need for additional cleaning.
• Combat dryness: When the weather turns colder or when there is generally less humidity, soft water can help reduce dry, uncomfortable skin conditions. Given that soap is more effective with soft water, shampoo and body wash can more effectively help your hair and skin with every wash.
• Protect your laundry: While hard water can lead to laundry stiffness, faded colors and unpleasant odors, soft water helps protect your fabrics and keeps them brighter for longer.
• Simplify cleaning: As you’ve likely noticed in your own cleaning endeavors, it’s difficult to get rid of hard water problems with more hard water. That’s because the minerals “stick” together and build up over time — which is why softening both prevents future problems and makes existing ones easier to address.

Water softeners will counteract the difficulties hard water brings into your home. That means you can rest easy knowing your home’s tap water isn’t working against your hair, skin, nails, water-using appliances, bathroom fixtures and more. You’ll also save time and money on repairs and cleaning.

Does Soft Water Have Any Disadvantages?

While soft water has many benefits, it might not be the best option for sensitive houseplants or lawn irrigation. This is because soft water contains small amounts of sodium due to the ion exchange process. However, many home water softeners have a bypass function for outdoor faucets.

How To Get Soft Water at Home

The good news about soft water is that it’s just a few steps away. Here’s how to choose and optimize a water softening system:

#1: Have a Professional Water Test

Professional water testing is the best way to find out where your water falls on the hardness scale. This is an important step because the best water softener for your home depends not only on your water hardness but also on factors like pipe size, how much water your home uses, and what else is in your water — so if you don’t have all the information, you could end up with a system that doesn’t fit your home’s unique needs.

#2: Choose Your Softener

Your local water expert can make personalized recommendations to help you find the best softener. You have plenty of options to choose from, especially when it comes to features. Some water softeners also can address other water problems, like iron or chlorine; some have dual tanks to serve homes using more water. You also may choose a smart water softener with technology that allows you to connect your softener to your phone, get low-salt alerts and maintenance reminders, bypass areas that don’t need soft water and more. Some softeners even let you manage the softening level to customize your water’s feel based on your preferences. You can look at this article to understand how water softeners work.

#3: Think About Filtration

Although they’re both types of water treatment, softening and filtration are separate processes. For example, softening alone can’t address issues like contaminant concerns, chlorine smells, sweet tastes, metallic tastes or rust-colored stains. Fortunately, the systems complement each other and give you more control over your tap water. As noted above, some softening systems even have built-in filtration solutions for specific water quality concerns.

#4: Enjoy Softened Water

The last step on your to-do list is to pay attention to how your water changes. Many people say softened water feels silky or even slippery. These are signs that your softener is doing its job — and if anything changes, it may be time to double-check the system or get another water test, just in case something else is impacting your water quality.

Start Your Soft Water Journey

If you’re tired of hard water stains, hair and skin issues, mineral buildup and more, it’s time to fix your hard water problem. Remember, while water softening is the best solution, you’ll need to start with a water test to make sure you can select the best system for your needs.

Take the first step today by scheduling your free, in-home water test and consultation.