Angie's List: Solutions for hard water

Hard water is a real problem for many homeowners.

It's water that has a high mineral content., and can leave a dull white residue on dishes, in appliances, and even on clothes and hair.

Homeowner Nathan LaGrange said "it's just really hard and our clothes were pretty dull and it's hard to lather up and all kinds of stuff like that."

Nathan is one of a growing number of homeowners considering buying a water softener.
Our partners at the consumer guide Angie's List say it can save money in the long run, by extending the life of appliances.

Angie Hicks, the founder of Angie's List, said "85 percent of U.S. Homes have hard water which clogs pipes and can lead to leaks. It also reduces the lifespan of water-using appliances - like your water heater."

Not Your Dad's Softener

Angie says water softeners range from around $400 to $1,500.

Softener companies will test your water free. But she says remember, they have a vested interest in selling you something, so it may not exactly be an impartial test.

Meantime, today's water softeners are computerized and dont require nearly as much salt as older types.

Salesman Mark Timmons explained "they are very salt efficient these days. They may use 50% to 75% less salt than they used to."

Salt or No Salt?

Some are now even salt-free, using magnets and electricity to "condition" your water. They typically do not say "soften," as that is a different process.

But Angie's list says while salt free conditioners can improve the water coming out of your faucet, they may not be as effective in places where water sits, like in your hot water heater. She says those may still get a build up of scale, with salt free systems.

The advantage is that there is no salt or chemicals added to the water, which is convenient and can be cheaper in the long run.