You’ve probably heard the terms “water softener” and “water filter,” but what do they really do—and how do you know which one your home needs? If you live along the Wasatch Front, you’ve probably noticed hard water leaving spots on your dishes, cloudy glasses, or a chalky film in your shower. Maybe your water tastes off, or your appliances aren’t lasting as long as they should.
With all the minerals, chemicals, and other impurities in Utah’s water, it’s easy to feel uncertain about the right treatment solution. Knowing how a water softener and a water filter work—and how they differ—can help you decide which system, or combination of systems, is best for your home.
Keep reading to find out how the right water treatment can protect your home and provide your family with cleaner, better-tasting water.
What is a Water Filter?
A water filter helps remove contaminants from the water you drink, shower in, and cook with. It does this by blocking things that aren’t water from passing through a thin material with tiny holes. Anything bigger than those holes gets trapped on one side, and the water passes through.
There are several different types of water filters and levels of filtration. For example, there are carbon-based filters that remove chemicals from the water. These are mainly focused on how the water tastes. Then there are Reverse Osmosis filters that can remove 99.8-99.9% of everything that’s not water.
What is a Water Softener?
Hard water is water with minerals like calcium dissolved in it. It acts like sandpaper, making your water fixtures wear out much sooner than they should. One of the places where the effect of hard water is most visible is in your dishwasher. The hot water condenses on your dishes and leaves behind that chalky white residue when it dries.
A water softener’s only job is to remove those minerals. They do this by getting them to adhere to small resin beads at an atomic level and replacing them with salt. Using a water softener can increase your appliances’ lifespan by 40-60%. On top of that, your soap works much better. Because it doesn’t need to work through the minerals, you can use 50-75% less soap and get as good or better results.
What Water Treatment System Is Right for Your Utah Home?
The short answer is, it depends on what you want from your water. If you want to save a ton of money over time, get a water softener. If you want to want your water to taste better and be safer to drink, get a water filter. Getting either one will improve the water in your home by a huge margin.
Often, the best option is to let them work together. A water softener can help your water filter last longer and perform better. The water filter can keep that water tasting clean and fresh. Each one removes different things from the water, so they complement each other well.
If you’re interested in water treatment for your home, Any Hour Services would be happy to help. We have licensed plumbers who will help you find the best option for your home. Give us a call or schedule an appointment online!
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