Water System

Water System for Your Home – The Benefits

Do you need a whole house water system or just something for your drinking water?

We’re living in a city, in a country, which by all accounts, does a terrific job of providing clean water to its citizens. Local municipalities have water treatment plants that filter, clean, and sanitize the water that comes into our homes and businesses. Most of the time, this sanitization is done with the use of chlorine. The question arises, “what impact does chlorinated water have on the pH of the water, and on our health?”

First let’s look at what chlorine does to the pH of water.

When chlorine gas (Cl2) is added to the water (H2O), it hydrolyzes rapidly to produce hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and the hypochlorous acid will then dissociate into hypochlorite ions (OCl-) and hydrogen ions (H+). Because hydrogen ions are produced, the water will become more acidic (the pH of the water will decrease). 

What is the pH of tap water?

EPA guidelines state that the pH of tap water should be between 6.5 and 8.5. Still, tap water in the U.S. tends to fall below that — in the 4.3 to 5.3 range — depending on where you live.

But here’s the bottom line. If your water tastes or smells like chlorine then it might be time to think about installing
a water system that can give you clean, healthy drinking water. 

What is the pH of water? And will a water system change that?

Most city water or commercial uncontaminated bottled water won’t make you healthier or sick due to its pH. Depending on the source and processing, most bottled water stays between a pH of 5 to 8.

Your body likes to stay at around a blood pH of 7.4, which is almost neutral. The pH of your body depends on how well your kidneys are doing their job. If your water is too “acidic” or too “basic” — meaning it’s been contaminated with caustic cleaners or acids — your pH can be thrown off, which could make you very sick, damage certain tissues, or even kill you.

A few bottled water brands run almost toward a pH of 8, but slightly more alkaline water doesn’t mean you’ll get additional health benefits. There isn’t any solid scientific evidence that says eating more alkaline foods or drinking alkaline water helps keep a person more disease-free than someone who doesn’t.

With all that said, that doesn’t mean that removing contaminates will change the pH. That depends on the contaminates. However, changing the pH of the water and removing contaminants can improve the taste of the water. Using a water softener or conditioner and then a reverse osmosis system under the kitchen sink for drinking water can dramatically improve the taste and quality of your water. 

History of the the Water System and the Desire for Clean Water

As far back as 1500 BC, starting with the Egyptians the idea of procuring cleaner water was beginning to be considered. By 500 BC we can find in Sanskrit writings that many methods were being used to purify water including:

  • filtering water through sand and gravel
  • and/or boiling water with heat from the sun.

In 460 BC Hippocrates developed a cloth sleeve that filtered water, understanding the importance of water to the human body. Then the Romans developed miles of aquaducts supplying water to a much larger population. When the dark ages arrived that development was put into retrograde. However, we begin to see things moving forward when, in 1670, the development of microscopy allowed micro-organisms to be seen in water.

In the mid 1800’s, the cholera outbreak was seen to be less pervasive with people who lived in areas where their water was being filtered through sand. In 1903 experiments began to show that there was a system called ion exchange that could dramatically clean water compared to other options. Chlorine was also beginning to be used.

The 1950’s saw the beginning of domestic water softeners. These units has an electric timer and could regenerate themselves with a salt solution. Nowadays many people use magnesium chloride instead of sodium chloride to clean their water softening units.

How can I tell if my water is already soft?

Each city in your area puts out a yearly water report. In addition, you can also buy a hardness tester at your local hardware store. Simply dip them into your water and then use the color meter to see how hard your water is. Anything over about 8-10 is hard water and you’ll do well to get it softened with a residential water softener. Another quick test you can do on your own is to put a little more than a cup of water into a bottle with a bit of Ivory soap then shake it. If the result is water that looks milky rather than having buoyant, bouncy, bubbles, you have hard water.

If you would like to enjoy the many benefits of soft water and a drinking water system like:

  • Soft, silky hair
  • Smoother skin
  • Less mineral buildup in your showers and sinks
  • Water appliances that last longer
  • Plumbing fixtures that last longer
  • Using less soap – a lot less soap!
  • A better tasting, and perhaps healthier water for drinking and cooking

…then call Mitch Clemmons Plumbing at (562) 246-9778. We can help you pick out a softener or conditioner, along with an under-the-sink system that works with your budget and lifestyle. We’ve helped hundreds of families discover how great really clean water can be.

So don’t hesitate. Call the experts at Mitch Clemmons Plumbing today! (562) 246-9778

Related Links

benefits of soft water

8 Benefits of Soft Water

What are the 8 benefits of soft water?

water softener diagram There are some very noticeable benefits that people receive after installing a water softener system:

  • No more soap scum on the shower walls, in the sinks and/or tubs.
  • Your pots, pans, or silverware have not have anymore deposits or white film.
  • You’ll see no more toilet bowl ring inside the bowl.
  • Your clothes will be softer, brighter, and will actually last longer.
  • Your hair and skin will be in better condition. Your need to put on a bunch of lotion or use a ton of hair conditioner can be eliminated.
  • Drastic change in performance in plumbing, like pipes and water heaters–usually due to the decrease in limescale build up
  • No more calcified shower heads

If you’re interested in these benefits give us a call to schedule an installation of your new water system.

(562) 246-9778.

What are my Options for Water Softeners?

There are a few ways to soften your water. The most common option is connecting a water softener to your current plumbing. Most softening systems use salt to assist in the removal of calcium and magnesium; the common culprits in hard water. The process called “ion exchange” is basically a trade of minerals. Most water softener systems have a tank filled with beads (the zeolite bed we mentioned earlier) that carry a negative charge. And as you probably guessed, calcium and magnesium carry a positive charge. The salt (a negatively charged ion) comes in to help remove the build up of calcium and magnesium in the ion bed allowing the system to continue to remove those minerals.

What About Salt for the Water Softener?

water softenerMost softeners use salt to recharge the ion base. However, there are some systems that offer a “salt-less” alternative. These came out about 20 years ago and became quite popular. Some look to this option due to concerns with sodium intake. The issue is, they’re really not what they’re billed to be. A salt-free “softener” uses other methods to deal with some aspects of the hard water, rather than the traditional ion exchange method. This type of water softener is actually more of a water “conditioner” rather than true water softening. Or what some call descaling. It may stop minerals from forming or staining surfaces that the water comes across but it doesn’t truly remove the hard water minerals.

The truth is you have to add some sort of mineral or chemical to remove the another. So salt-less soft water units may have some value for other reasons but as far as helping your hard water issues, not so much. These systems are also very expensive so beware of anyone that is pushing this sort of system. For a more detailed article about this click on this link: Water Softener of Water Conditioner

Do I need a water softener or water filtration system?

Some of the things having a water softener can do:

  • No more soap scum in the sinks
  • No more bathtub rings
  • Pots, pans, or silverware are clean, without film
  • Toilet bowl stays free from hard water film
  • Clothes washed feel soft and bright
  • Faucets are spared the damage that deposits and minerals can cause
  • Drastic change in performance in plumbing. PIpes, faucets, and shower heads last longer.

Is Soft Water Healthy?

Some people worry about getting the minerals they need through the water they drink. However, minerals are better absorbed via the food we eat. In fact hard water has been linked to kidney stones. A study suggests that, in the preventive approach to calcium nephrolithiasis, soft water is preferable to hard water, since it is associated with a lower risk for recurrence of calcium stones.

Associated Article: Effects of water hardness on urinary risk factors for kidney stones ->

hot water machine

With that, water also can carry substances that are not so helpful. Some homes have water filtration systems but they’re not the same as a water softening system. Softening units are great at removing hard water minerals, as we’ve mentioned earlier. However, if your water has problems different from just removing calcium or magnesium then you’ll need to consider a reverse osmosis system.

What About Reverse Osmosis?

That’s right! If your water has contaminants, chlorine, or fluoride that you want addressed you need a reverse osmosis system. It is not uncommon to install a softener and a reverse osmosis system to address all possible water issues. If installed properly and maintained these systems can prove to be a tremendous benefit to your family’s health and the welfare of your plumbing and appliances.

In addition to the reverse osmosis system that can be installed at the kitchen sink you can add a hot water machine. This provides instant hot water that can be used for tea, coffee, instant foods that use hot water, and so many other uses! It’s been a wonderful addition to my home and I would recommend it highly.

If you’re interested in all of the wonderful benefits that you can receive by having a water system installed, give us a call to schedule your installation.
(562) 246-9778.

Other Links:

Water System

Is Water Softening Worth It?

History of Water Softening

Water softening has changed dramatically over the years. It may surprise many to know that water softening has been around since the early 1920s. A paper published on May 16, 1923, by John C. Whitehorn discussed the need to remove certain chemicals from water to address mental disorders. (We are not suggesting that is true.)

It was discovered that zeolites are naturally occurring silicate. The zeolites serve as an ion exchange system. The minerals in the water stick to the zeolite bed. Then a salt water solution (a negatively charged ion) is then washed over the zeolite bed and they release the stored minerals which are flushed away.  The zeolites are recharged and ready to work again removing the damaging minerals that ruin plumbing, due to dry skin and hair, and leaving a film on fixtures.

Even though water softening has been around for nearly a century, most homes still have hard water issues. According to the US Geological Survey, over 85% of the country has hard water. The areas found with the hardest water were from West Texas, Colorado to Southern California.

Why Would I Need a Water Softener?

water softener diagramEach city in your area puts out a yearly water report. You can also buy a hardness tester at your local hardware store. One quick test you can do on your own is to put a little more than a cup of water into a bottle with a bit of Ivory soap then shake it. If the result is water that looks milky rather than having buoyant, bouncy, bubbles, you have hard water. There are some very noticeable signs around your house that you can look for that will almost assure you of a hard water issue:

  • Soap scum in the sinks and/or tubs
  • Pots, pans, or silverware have deposits or white film
  • The toilet bowl has a ring inside the bowl
  • Clothes washed feel stiff or harsh and never look bright
  • Faucets have a noticeable ring of deposits or minerals at the end of the spigot
  • A drastic change in performance in plumbing-usually due to limescale build-up
  • Calcified shower heads

So if you see any of these signs you can call your public water provider and inquire about your water. If that’s not an option you can find your local health department to schedule a test.

What are my Options for Water Softening?

There are a few ways to soften your water. The most common option is connecting a water softener to your current plumbing. Most softening systems use salt to assist in the removal of calcium and magnesium; the common culprits in hard water. The process called “ion exchange” is basically a trade of minerals. Most water softener systems have a tank filled with beads (the zeolite bed we mentioned earlier) that carry a negative charge. And as you probably guessed, calcium and magnesium carry a positive charge. The salt (a negatively charged ion) comes in to help remove the build-up of calcium and magnesium in the ion bed allowing the system to continue to remove those minerals.

What About Salt for the Water Softener?

water softenerMost softeners use salt to recharge the ion base. However, there are some systems that offer a “salt-less” alternative. These came out about 20 years ago and became quite popular. Some look to this option due to concerns with sodium intake. The issue is, they’re really not what they’re billed to be. A salt-free “softener” uses other methods to deal with some aspects of the hard water, rather than the traditional ion-exchange method. This type of water softener is actually more of a water “conditioner” rather than true water softening. Or what some call descaling. It may stop minerals from forming or staining surfaces that the water comes across but it doesn’t truly remove the hard water minerals.

The truth is you have to add some sort of mineral or chemical to remove the other. So salt-less soft water units may have some value for other reasons but as far as helping your hard water issues, not so much. These systems are also very expensive so beware of anyone that is pushing this sort of system. For a more detailed article about this click on this link: Water Softener of Water Conditioner

Do I need a water softener or water filtration system?

Some of the things having a water softener can do:

  • No more soap scum in the sinks
  • No more bathtub rings
  • Pots, pans, or silverware are clean, without film
  • Toilet bowl stays free from the hard water film
  • Clothes washed to feel soft and bright
  • Faucets are spared the damage that deposits and minerals can cause
  • A drastic change in performance in plumbing. PIpes, faucets, and showerheads last longer.

Is Soft Water Healthy?

Some people worry about getting the minerals they need through the water they drink. However, minerals are better absorbed by the food we eat. In fact, hard water has been linked to kidney stones. A study suggests that, in the preventive approach to calcium nephrolithiasis, soft water is preferable to hard water, since it is associated with a lower risk for recurrence of calcium stones.

Associated Article: Effects of water hardness on urinary risk factors for kidney stones ->

hot water machine

With that, water also can carry substances that are not so helpful. Some homes have water filtration systems but they’re not the same as a water softening system. Softening units are great at removing hard water minerals, as we’ve mentioned earlier. However, if your water has problems different from just removing calcium or magnesium then you’ll need to consider a reverse osmosis system.

What About Reverse Osmosis?

That’s right! If your water has contaminants, chlorine, or fluoride that you want to be addressed you need a reverse osmosis system. It is not uncommon to install a softener and a reverse osmosis system to address all possible water issues. If installed properly and maintained these systems can prove to be a tremendous benefit to your family’s health and the welfare of your plumbing and appliances.

In addition to the reverse osmosis system that can be installed at the kitchen sink, you can add a hot water machine. This provides instant hot water that can be used for tea, coffee, instant foods that use hot water, and so many other uses! It’s been a wonderful addition to my home and I would recommend it highly.

Other Links:
Water Filtration and Water Softeners