Top 3 Ways to Soften Hard Water

Soft water is free of hard mineral ions and dissolved solids, like calcium, magnesium, and iron. When your water contains traces of these constituents, you can safely assume it is hard. Fortunately, hard water can be treated a number of ways. In some cases, you may need to apply more than one strategy to adequately soften your water.

Continue reading to learn the top three most effective ways to soften hard water, plus how to get started with a personalized soft water plan at home!

Water Softener Plumbing Indianapolis Indiana 317-784-1870
Water Softener Plumbing Indianapolis Indiana 317-784-1870

Water Softening 101

What is hard water? Hard water is water that has permeated the ground layer by layer, collecting the minerals and dissolved solids contained in the soil, clay, sand, and aggregate along the way. Once the water reaches the underground water table, where we source our municipal tap water from, it has a high level of hardness.

What’s the problem with hard water? A lot. For starters, limescale. When heat is introduced to hard water, it causes the calcium and magnesium deposits to release from the water and stick to pipes and other areas of contact, like faucets, drains, shower heads, water bowls, tea kettles, plumbing pipes, water heaters, boilers, water lines, and more. These residual deposits accumulate to form what is known as limescale, which can appear in a range of colors, from white and light blue to yellow, green, or even pink hues.

Not only does limescale poorly conduct heat, but it also obstructs the flow of water through pipes and other underground systems. In fact, this is a common reason for having poor or lowered water pressure. Scale damages plumbing and plumbed appliances, which ultimately costs homeowners’ money.

What are the signs of hard water? Don’t fall victim to premature appliance replacements or costly plumbing repair bills. Get rid of a hard water problem at first sight. Common signs of hard water, aside from limescale formation and low water pressure, include spotty dishes or dishes that don’t seem to get cleaned, as well as poor quality laundry, like faded, stiff, or musty/sour-smelling clothes. Poor soap lather, itchy irritated skin, and dingy hair are more signs of hard water.

How to Eliminate Hard Water

What can you do to get rid of hard water? There are many options, but the top three most effective water softening methods, which can be used in congruence, include water softeners, whole house water filters, and reverse osmosis.

Water Softeners

Water softeners are the top-recommended, most effective tool for eliminating and abating hard water. In regions with naturally softer water (not Indiana by the way; we have the hardest water in the country!), a home might only need a quality water softener. In areas with harder water, like the Hoosier state, a home would benefit from installing a water softener and then combining it with another effective soft water strategy.

Whole House Water Filters

Whole house water filtration is an excellent way to soften water even further. It is especially useful for making tap water taste and perform better. If your drinking water tastes better, you can stop wasting money on bottled and canned versions! Plus, your coffee, tea, soup, lemonade, and other water-based pleasures will taste even more delicious. Not only will whole house water filters and cutting-edge iron removal systems eliminate heavy metals and contaminants in your drinking water, but they may also come with anti-bacterial filter options for treating E. coli, coliform, chemicals, dissolved solids, and more.

Reverse Osmosis System

Reverse osmosis is a convenient and affordable water filtration technology that utilizes water pressure and semi-permeable membranes to remove unwanted contaminants and heavy metals from tap water. Reverse osmosis (RO) systems are designed to eliminate things like sodium, potassium, nitrates, and other dissolved solids. With a simple touch of a button, anyone in your home can instantly have purified drinking water right from the tap!

Are you ready to implement an effective and budget-friendly hard water removal plan for your home or office? Contact Weilhammer Plumbing Company at 317-784-1870 for professional water softener sales, installation, service, and repair in Indianapolis, Indiana. We serve residential and commercial customers, and service all make and model water softeners, including saltfree water softeners.

Related Posts:

How to Test for Hard Water Using an Empty Water Bottle
How to Tell if Your Home Could Use a Water Softener
What is the Hardness Level of Well Water?

How to Know if a Saltless Water Softener is Right For You

Buying a new water softener is a big investment worthy of some long forethought. And with so many options on the market today, your thought process can extend well-beyond the time you expected it would take to come to a decision. One such option is a saltless water softener. You are likely familiar with the conventional, salt-using versions; in fact, you might currently have one. But salt-free water softeners are much different, and not just because they don’t use salt.

Continue below to learn some important facts about saltfree water softeners that can help you make the smartest decision for your home or office.

Water Conditioning Indianapolis Indiana 317-784-1870
Water Conditioning Indianapolis Indiana 317-784-1870

What is Saltfree Water Softening?

Conventional salt-based water softening uses ion-exchange technology that replaces hard mineral ions like calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+) with softer minerals, like potassium chloride, also known as salt. Saltless water softeners use a different system to abate the negative effects of Calcium (Ca2+) and Magnesium (Mg2+) in hard water. Rather than eliminating hard mineral ions by exchanging them and flushing them out of the unit, saltfree water softeners keep them, but change their form so that they cannot cling to any surfaces. This process is called Template Assisted Crystallization (TAC), which is more similar to water conditioning, not softening.

Which System Should I Get?

Since both water softening systems work well to remove the threats and effects of hard water, your decision to choose one over the other will depend on some specific factors that are unique to your lifestyle.

Salt-based water softeners are usually the better option for homes and properties with higher levels of hard water. If you suffer from dry, cracked skin, dingy laundry, spotty dishes, and other signs of hard water, it is best to abate the mineral intake and flush them out on a routine basis.

In regions with naturally softer water or water with lower levels of hardness, a salt-free water conditioner could be the right choice. Are you a renter? They are great compliments to your landlord’s water softening system. Furthermore, saltless water softeners are low-maintenance, so they will not require much in terms of electricity, wastewater disposal, and chemicals.

Overall, saltfree water softeners are more like water conditioners, so they work well as a basic form of water purification. For moderate to high cases of hard water, water softeners are the best method of softening. Talk to a trusted Indianapolis soft water plumber for advice on hard water removal and abatement.

Are you ready to improve the quality of your property with a budget-friendly water softening plan? Contact Weilhammer Plumbing Company at 317-784-1870 for professional water softener sales and service in Indianapolis, Indiana. We offer a selection of water softeners and water filtration systems for both residential and commercial clients, and provide installation, repair, and service for them all!

Related Posts:

The Difference Between Salt and Saltless Water Softener Systems
Best Salt Options for Residential Water Softeners
How Hard Water Problems Can Cost You Money

Money-Saving Plumbing Tips You Don’t Want to Ignore

Who doesn’t want to save a little money? More importantly, who doesn’t want to save A LOT of money? Well, with the right plumbing practices and choices, you can save loads of your hard-earned income on monthly energy and water bills, plus all sorts of other expenses, like soap, laundry, detergent, clothing, shampoo, super expensive plumbing repairs and replacements.

Continue reading to learn some money-saving plumbing tips you don’t want to miss out on, then share them with your friends and loved ones so they too can enjoy the savings!

Licensed Plumber Indianapolis Indiana 317-784-1870
Licensed Plumber Indianapolis Indiana 317-784-1870

Cost-Effective Plumbing Tips

Most people are not aware that plumbing plays a significant role in so many different elements of your quality of life. After all, without indoor plumbing, we might as well be living back in the stone ages! From drains and faucets to dishwashers, sinks, washing machines, showers, bathtubs, water heaters, water softeners, boilers, and more, plumbing is a part of our lives in almost everything that we do at home. For this reason, it is worth your while to pay close attention to your plumbing practices and choices. Not only can you modify your habits, but you can also replace current systems with more energy-efficient models too.

Here the top plumbing tips that are guaranteed to save you money:

Get To Know Your Plumber

Routine plumbing maintenance is an important part of saving money and preventing future plumbing disasters. The sooner you get a plumbing problem, the cheaper it’ll be to resolve. Not only should you retain the services of a licensed and insured plumber with extensive experience in the industry to perform such maintenance, but you should really get to know them too. The more you get to know your plumber, the better you are able to communicate your plumbing concerns and troubles with them, and in turn, this allows them to have a comprehensive understanding of your home’s plumbing needs.

When you take good care of all of your plumbing systems and appliances, you can expect them to perform well and last a long time. It is important to have your home’s plumbing systems checked every 3 to 5 years, while water heaters and water softener should be inspected and serviced annually. Talk to your local Indianapolis plumber the best routine maintenance schedule for your home or office.

Consider Lowering Your Water Heater Temperature Setting

Generally, a safe temperature setting for a water heater is between 115 and 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Homes with young to middle-aged adult occupants can safely increase the temperature up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. However, if you’re interested in saving some money, it is recommended to turn your water heater temperature setting down. Although this might not seem like much, the slight change in temperature drop can decrease your monthly energy bill.

Insulate Your Plumbing Pipes

When plumbing pipes are not adequately insulated, a home can experience a significant amount of heat loss, which ultimately costs money. By insulated your plumbing pipes, you can instantly stop heat loss, and therefore, retain your conditioned air longer. This reduces the need to continue running your furnace or central heater, which costs a lot of money. Furthermore, properly insulated pipes protect against standby energy loss from your water heater tank.

Incorporate Energy Efficient Plumbing Appliances and Fixtures

There are many types of plumbing appliances and fixtures that incorporate efficiency into your plumbing practices. For instance, you can replace your toilets with high-efficiency models, such as a dual-flush toilet, which gives users two options for flushing: low flush mode for liquid waste and a higher flush mode for solid waste. These toilets use a mere 1.6 gallons of water per flush!

You can also install low-volume restrictors in your shower heads and faucets, which can also decrease the amount of water you waste while brushing teeth or washing hands and dishes. Additional energy efficient plumbing systems to consider for money-saving purposes include solar water heaters and tankless water softeners.

Are you experiencing plumbing problems that are costing you more money? Contact Weilhammer Plumbing Company at 317-784-1870 for professional plumbing service and repair in Indianapolis, Indiana and its surrounding counties. We serve residential and commercial clients.

Related Posts:

Summertime Plumbing Tips That Will Save You Money
Recommended Green Plumbing That Will Reduce Energy Usage
The Most Effective Water Conservation Tips to Try in the New Year

How to Test for Hard Water Using an Empty Water Bottle

Living with hard water is a detriment to your quality of life, and one that you don’t have to tolerate. If you suspect that you have hard water, you are likely right. Hard water boldly leaves behind evidence of its damage, from your faucets and drains to your appliances, plumbing, laundry, dishes, hair, skin, and much more. If you are on the fence about having a hard water problem, why don’t you just perform a do-it-yourself test? All you need is an empty water bottle, pure Castile soap, and a working faucet.

Continue below to learn how to perform a hard water test using an empty water bottle, plus what to do if you determine, you do have a hard water problem.

Soft Water Company Indianapolis Indiana 317-784-1870
Soft Water Services Indianapolis Indiana 317-784-1870

How to Test for Hard Water at Home

There is really only good news about testing for hard water at home. Not only is it inexpensive, of free if you already have all of the materials, but at-home water testing is also very easy (so easy a child could do it; in fact, you should enlist your children to help you with this really cool DIY science experiment!) and the results are highly reliable. Aside from low costs, simplicity, and reliable results, at-home water testing is also beneficial because there is more than one way to do it.

Here are three, including the water bottle test:

Store-Bought Testing Kits

You could go to the store and purchase an at-home water testing kit that comes with all of the materials needed to test your water for hardness. These kits generally have you send the results into a water testing laboratory, which means you will need to pay for postage and wait for your results to come back. Water testing kits are typically very reliable and accurate.

The Water Bottle Test

A more enjoyable way to test your water would be to implement a water bottle test. All you need is an empty plastic water bottle, a pure Castile soap, and your tap water. Take your empty water bottle and fillet 1/3 of the way with water directly from the top. Then add 3 to 4 drops of soap into the bottle. Screw the lid on tightly and vigorously shake the bottle.

Set the bottle down on a flat surface and observe the bubble formation. If your bottle is filled with suds and bubbles, and the water below is mostly clear, you have little to no hard water. However, if your water is cloudy and there’s only a thin layer suds at the top, you have hard water.

Professional Water Quality Testing

The most accurate and comprehensive method for hard water testing would be to hire a professional soft water company in Indianapolis. They have the proper knowledge, materials, and resources to perform precision hardness testing, plus provide and deliver the most compatible solutions to your water quality problems.

Are you ready to have the best water quality for your home or office? Contact Weilhammer Plumbing Company at 317-784-1870 for professional water softening services in Indianapolis, Indiana and its surrounding counties. We serve residential and commercial clients with soft water sales, service, and repair.

Related Posts:

How Hard Water Problems Can Cost You Money
FAQS About Water Softeners and Hard Water
Are Water Softeners Worth the Cost?

Common Problems With Water Softeners and What to Do About Them

Any property that uses water, whether residential or commercial, will benefit from having a quality water softener. But like any plumbed appliance, malfunctions and breakdowns are a possibility. As for water softeners, they tend to present the same types of issues, especially among low-rated models. If you suspect that your water softening system is not performing at its best, you could be right. After all, the signs are usually easy to spot, so long as you know what you are looking for.

Continue below to learn some of the most common types of problems with water softeners, and more importantly, what you can do about them.

Water Softener Service Indianapolis Indiana 317-784-1870
Water Softener Service Indianapolis Indiana 317-784-1870

Common Water Softener Problems

Water softener performance is an important element in your overall quality of life. A defective or damaged unit will cost you money and cause you to suffer the effects of hard water. As soon as you see signs of poor water quality or a change in your water softener’s performance, act quickly by contacting a local and trusted water softener repair in Indianapolis. They can implement a comprehensive inspection and generate a diagnosis in no time at all.

While you wait for your licensed and insured water softener professional to arrive, peruse these common water softener problems to see if any fit the mark for your home or business:

Salty-Tasting Water

Does your tap water taste a bit on the salted side? If you can detect notes of salt in your tap water, it could be due to a clogged drain hose. Salty water can also be caused by incomplete water softener regeneration cycles.

Brown Water

If you notice that your tap water is dark or discolored, namely brown, the problem may be a result of high levels of dirt and sediment that has contaminated the water lines. It could also be caused by rusting components or metal within the tank itself.

Salt Bridges

Salt bridging in water softeners is a common issue tackled by property owners all across the nation. Hard mineral ions like salt, calcium, and magnesium, produce scale, which builds up inside the tank overtime. This formation can cause obstructions that make it difficult for the water softener to perform as it should.

Not Using Salt

When you look inside your water softener brine tank, does it look like the salt hasn’t been used at all? If your salt pellet levels are not lowering as they should, it could be a sign that there’s a problem with the system’s resin beads, which by the way, could stem from salt bridging, mentioned before.

Not Regenerating

If your water softener is not completing its regeneration cycles, the problem likely has to do with the regeneration timer. If the timer is not making any beeps or sounds when you try to test it, it may be damaged.

Operation Errors

If your water softener requires you to manually program and input data, then the likelihood of experiencing an operational error is high. Even modern water softeners that are designed with innovative structuring and technical configurations are prone to errors and malfunctions. Refer to the owners’ manual for factory reset instructions.

Strange Sounds

Your water softener should not make a lot of noise. If you are hearing strange sounds coming from the unit itself or the surrounding plumbing, it could be indicative of worn-out components. This might include timers, water lines, valves, or even the motor.

All these common water softener problems can be solved by a licensed water softening plumber! Contact Weilhammer Plumbing Company at 317-784-1870 for Indianapolis Indiana plumbing services for water softeners and more. We serve residential and commercial customers all throughout Central Indiana.

Related Posts:

What is the Hardness Level of Well Water?
Are Water Softeners Worth the Cost?
The Difference Between Salt and Saltless Water Softener Systems

Are Water Softeners Worth the Cost?

If you are on the market for a new water softener, you might be contemplating your cost-to-value ratios right about now. Water softeners are not cheap, and they shouldn’t be considering the vital role they play in on-demand water quality. However, cars are not cheap either, yet they are a standard, fixed cost in most people’s budgets. Water softeners can be viewed quite similarly, as they are also highly-beneficial assets that enhance the level of convenience and quality in our lives.

So, when shopping around for a replacement water softener, do not let the price tag, nor the cost of set up and installation, throw you off. There are many valuable advantages of having a water softener that make the upfront investment worth it, including, believe it or not, future cost savings.

Continue reading to learn why water softeners are worth the money, plus where you can get top-of-the-line models for economical prices right here in Indianapolis.

Water Softener Plumbers Indianapolis Indiana 317-784-1870
Water Softener Plumbers Indianapolis Indiana 317-784-1870

Top Benefits of Water Softening

Are you still reeling on the mention of cost-savings by water softening? Well, it’s true. One of the top-noted advantages of having a quality water softener is that it can save you money. Not only does soft water lower your monthly utility bills (water and energy), but it also helps prevent future breakdowns within plumbing systems and water-related appliances (dishwashers, washing machines, water heaters, etc.). And that’s not all; they also save you money on detergent, shampoo, conditioner, soap, clothing, and much more! How does a water softener do all this? It protects us and our assets against the effects of hard water.

Why Hard Water is Bad

Hard water contains dissolved minerals, such as iron, calcium, and magnesium, among other contaminants and constituents. These hard mineral ions cause limescale buildup, which is often seen around plumbing fixtures and drains. Limescale can also build up inside water heater tanks, washing machines, dishwashing machines, and water lines. Because of limescale, hard water can negatively affect your hair, skin, dishes, laundry, and overall budget plan.

Hard water does not lather or rinse very well. As a result, it can leave behind a residue that makes skin feel dry and irritated, while causing the hair to look greasy and dingy. Additionally, people tend to use more soap, shampoo, and conditioner just to get a good lather, which leads to more frequent product replacements, thus costing more money.

As for laundry, hard water can fade and dry out fabrics. Not only does this make your clothes and upholstered items look more worn, but it can cost you money by forcing you to replace laundered items that have been damaged by hard water.

Because hard water leaves behind limes residues, it can make your dishes look cloudy and spotty. This often prompts homeowners to run the dishwasher cycle over again to get a better clean, which ultimately costs them more money in water and electricity bills.

Water Softening Costs

The average cost of buying and installing a new water softener is around $3,000. You could be spared from a large bill by opting for a magnetic or ion-exchange manual regeneration water softener. These tend to be the least expensive to install, usually between $100 and $400. As for buying price, you can buy a quality make and model for as low as $500 or $600. This could be one of your cheapest options.

How to Ensure You Get all the Benefits of Water Softening

Having a water softener installed in your home is one of the best methods of water softening and overall asset protection. However, in order to get the best results from your water softener, it is important that you make the right size selection. Not only must you choose a quality water softener, but you need to select the right capacity water softener.

You can make this determination based on the number of occupants within your home and the level of water hardness. On average, the water in the United States contains nearly 10 grains of hardness per gallon, while the average person uses 80 gallons of water per day. So, if you have 4 people in your home, your calculations will look like this:

People: 4
Gallons Per Person: 80
Grains of Hardness: 10
Gallons Used Per Day: 80 x 4 = 320
Total Grains Used Each Day: 320 x 10 = 3,200
Water Softener Capacity: 3,200 x 10 = 32,000

In this example, you would need a 32,000 grain water softener. Most homes use a 33,000 grain water softener, but for larger homes with more occupants, more conditioning is required. Overall, water softeners are worth the cost because they start saving you money as soon as they get to work.

Are you ready to learn your options for affordable water softening at home or in the office? Contact Weilhammer Plumbing Company at 317-784-1870 for professional sales, installation, service, and repair for all make and model water softeners, including saltfree water softeners.

Related Posts:

How to Tell if Your Home Could Use a Water Softener
Top 3 Ways to Test For Hard Water
Best Salt Options for Residential Water Softeners

What is the Hardness Level of Well Water?

Are you on the market for a new home or business location? Do some of these properties operate on well water? Perhaps you are considering the addition of a well water system to your current home or office? If so, you are likely filled with all sorts of well water questions, namely about hardness. Continue reading to learn whether well water is hard or soft, plus how to test for and get rid of hard water.

Well Water Softening Indianapolis Indiana Well Water Softening Indianapolis Indiana
Well Water Softening Indianapolis Indiana Well Water Softening Indianapolis Indiana

Well Water Comes From the Ground

Rain falls from the skies as naturally softened water. Once it permeates the varying layers of soil, sand, aggregate, bedrock, and more, it accumulated hard solids and minerals, like calcium, magnesium, and iron. Seeing as though well water is generally sourced from a natural or man-made water table beneath the ground, you can safely assume that well water is harder than your standard, municipal tap water.

Hard water cannot always be seen by the naked eye, but you can often spot the signs. Hard water causes limescale buildup around plumbing fixtures like drains and faucets. Water can appear cloudy or have a metallic taste. Dishes tend to accumulate spots or look cloudy after washing them. Laundry and bathing can feel less effectual because hard water does not rather or rinse well. Hair can feel dry or dingy. Skin can feel itchy and dry. There are many signs of hard water. But the guaranteed way to know is through hard water testing.

Testing Well Water Hardness

It is important to test well water for hardness. The level of water hardness varies, regionally. One town might have naturally-softer water than the town next door, and so forth. Testing well water is an important part of the hard water solution process, but also for ensuring safe drinking water.

You can contact your local Indianapolis soft water plumber to schedule an on-site well water test. They have the proper resources and technologies to obtain an accurate reading. You can, however, purchase your own well water testing kit, but these are not always as accurate, and accuracy counts when it comes to developing a viable soft water plan for a well water-using property.

Hard Water Solutions for Wells

Whether your property operates on a well or municipal water, the most effective and proven solution to hard water is water softening. Installing a quality water softener that is the correct size and capacity for your soft water needs is the smart approach to hard water removal. Not only does soft water feel better, taste better, and perform better, but it saves you a lot of money. In addition to saving on water and energy bills, you will also save on shampoo, soap, detergent, clothing, and premature appliance repairs and replacements!

Are you ready to save loads of money by implementing an innovative soft water plan? Contact Weilhammer Plumbing Company at 317-784-1870 for professional water softener service and repair in Indianapolis, Indiana. We serve residential and commercial clients with the most effective and affordable plumbing and water softening services around!

Related Posts:

The Purpose of Groundwater Sampling
5 Signs of a Hard Water Problem
How Hard Water Problems Can Cost You Money
Learn a Little Something About Tube Wells

Best Salt Options for Residential Water Softeners

Water softeners are excellent, money-saving appliances that significantly contribute to your quality of life. Not only do water softening systems remove solid and dissolved minerals from water, making them an effective solution for hard water removal, but they also reduce monthly utility costs by saving homeowners energy and water. Even better, water softeners protect other important plumbing appliances, such as water heaters, washing machines, dishwashers, piping, and more.

By having a water softener, you have already made a wise and impactful decision for your home. Nonetheless, using the right softening salt is another important element of soft water maintenance at home. But which softening salt is best for your water softener? What are the differences between potassium and sodium chloride salt pellets?

Continue below to learn some of the best salt options for residential water softeners, plus where you can get more advice and service for your water softening needs in Indianapolis.

Water Softeners Indianapolis Indiana 317-784-1870
Water Softeners Indianapolis Indiana 317-784-1870

Top 2 Water Softener Salt Options

When it comes to choosing a water softening salt, it is important to select a quality product. Lower-quality water softener salts contain high traces of contaminants and water-insoluble matter. Such contaminators can leave behind residues in the water softener tank, which can lead to breakdowns and costly repairs. Although brine tank cleaning can abate the likelihood or frequency of water softener malfunctions, using a good quality water softening salt can eliminate the risk of long-term damage.

Sodium Chloride and Potassium Chloride

The top two options for water softener salt are sodium chloride and potassium chloride. Each water softener salt product is acceptable in most types of water softeners, but one might work better than the other for your water softener unit or softening needs.

Sodium chloride is your traditional water softening salt. Common types include evaporated salt pellets, solar salt pellets, rock salt, and block salt, all of which comes in three forms: pellet, crystal, or block. Evaporated salt is the highest purity water softener salt at 99.9% pure salt, and it comes highly recommended. Solar salt is a close second being 99.6% pure salt.

Rock salt contains high calcium sulfate levels and does not dissolve well. For these reasons, rock salt is not usually recommended because it cause a lot of water softener maintenance issues. Sodium chloride water softener salt will be the more economical buy, as it tends to be less expensive to potassium chloride water softening salt. It tends to be more available as well.

Potassium chloride is another type of water softening salt that works well to regenerate the softening resin. Potassium chloride is great for anyone looking to reduce their sodium intake because it is 99.9% sodium-free. Although a bit pricier and more challenging to come by, potassium chloride water softening salt is an excellent alternative to the traditional water softener salts on the market.

Switching Water Softener Salts

If you have been using sodium chloride and wish to make the switch to potassium chloride water softener salts, you may need to increase the salt dosage by up to 10% to accommodate proper resin bead regeneration.

If you have been using potassium chloride and now wish to switch back to sodium chloride, you can do so without making any major modifications or adjustments. If you increased the salt dosage on the valve when you originally switched to potassium chloride, you may need to adjust this again to accommodate for sodium chloride water softening.

Would you like to learn how to improve your soft water quality at home or in the office? Contact Weilhammer Plumbing Company at 317-784-1870 for licensed and insured water softener services in Indianapolis, Indiana. We serve residential and commercial clients, offering water softener sales, service, and repair! Ask us about our saltless water softeners!

Related Posts:

How to Tell if Your Home Could Use a Water Softener
The Difference Between Salt and Saltless Water Softener Systems
How to Choose a Residential Water Softener Based on Occupancy

Non-Toxic Cleaning Solutions You Can Make Yourself

Many store-bought cleaning agents contain high amounts of harmful chemicals and toxic solutions. Not only can these be dangerous to humans, pets, and wildlife, but they can also damage your home’s plumbing systems, appliances, and more. So, let’s keep the Earth Day momentum going by introducing some non-toxic, homemade cleaning solutions you can use all around the house and beyond! Continue below to get started with some easy recipes you can make right at home.

Indianapolis Plumber 317-784-1870
Indianapolis Plumber 317-784-1870

Why Make Your Own Cleaners

Various products on the market today fail to specify their dangerous chemicals on the ingredients label. So, the best way to avoid contact with these types of dangerous products is to simply replace them with safer alternatives. Making your own chemical-free, non-toxic household cleaning products is extremely rewarding. Best of all, it is a lot less expensive and easy to do!

Simple and Safe Homemade Cleaning Solutions

Purchase quality spray bottles. Be sure to choose bottles with ounces measured on the outside of them. This will help you measure and mix solutions quicker and easier. Also, always label each bottle with the type of cleaning agents inside. For example, if the solution is for your kitchen, label it, “kitchen cleaner”, or something similar. Safe ingredients that can be used to create your own homemade cleaning solution range from vinegar and baking soda to borax, Castile soap, and essential oils. Make your own combinations and experiment with what works best for your cleaning goals and even allergies.

Safe and Non-Toxic Ingredients Include, But are Not Limited To:

❧ Distilled White Vinegar
❧ Baking Soda
❧ Borax or Washing Soda
❧ Olive Oil-Based Soap
❧ Coconut Oil-Based Soap
❧ Vegetable Soap
❧ Castile Soap
❧ Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice
❧ Essential Oil
❧ Clean Water

Safety Warning
Although you are making Eco-friendly and safe cleaning products, it is still strongly encouraged to keep them locked up and out-of-reach from children, pets, and wildlife. No one wants to be responsible for a sick animal or child. If these solutions are ever ingested in large quantities, immediately contact emergency services for medical attention.

How to Use Your New Cleaners

When it comes to cleaning your kitchen with Eco-friendly solutions, use a mixture of baking soda, Borax, or washing soda with a little bit of vegetable soap and warm water. This solution can be applied on counters, floors, appliances, and other surfaces.

For ovens and appliances, mix baking soda and washing soda with a little bit of water to make a paste. Generously apply the paste and allow it to sit overnight. Then wash away in the morning for best results.

For countertop cleaning, gently scrub an even mixture of these same ingredients, and then rinse with clean water.

For cutting boards, use a mixture of vinegar and 3% hydrogen peroxide. Bottle each solution separately, spraying first with the vinegar and second with the hydrogen peroxide. Repeat these steps until you achieve a clean surface.

Drains, Sinks, Tubs, and More

Use the same solutions and recipes for bathroom tile, bathtubs, bathroom countertops, toilets, and sinks. For drains, use a combination of baking soda and vinegar. First poor half cup of baking soda down the drain, and then pour 1 cup of vinegar down the drain. Allow the drain to rest for a few minutes and then run hot water through the drain until it is unclogged.

Are you experiencing cloudy or spotty dishes? How about clogged drains or smelly water? Solve your plumbing issues soon, before they can get worse, and costlier! Contact Weilhammer Plumbing Company at 317-784-1870 for professional plumbing service and repair in Indianapolis, Indiana and its surrounding counties. We serve residential and commercial clients.

Related Posts:

How to Make Homemade Drain Dissolving Cleaner
Why You Need to Stop Using OTC Drainage Cleaner
How to Clean With Undiluted White Vinegar

The Difference Between Salt and Saltless Water Softener Systems

When it comes to buying a new water softener, consumers quickly learn that there is an overwhelming large number of options in terms of make, model, capacity, and efficiency. It is important to do your research and learn as much as you can about how water softeners work and the various versions currently available on the market in order to make the right decision for your home or office.  Once you have a basic understanding of the water softener market, you can decide which version best meets your needs. The most basic decision is deciding between a salt-based and saltless water softener.

Continue reading to learn the difference between salt-using and salt-less water softener systems, plus who to trust for sales, service, and repair in Indianapolis and its surrounding areas.

Saltfree Water Softeners Indianapolis Indiana 317-784-1870
Saltfree Water Softeners Indianapolis Indiana 317-784-1870

Water Softening: Salt Versus Saltfree

Traditional Water Softeners

Traditional salt-style water softeners use a process called ion exchange to eliminate hard mineral ions in water. They remove hard mineral ions from water by using negatively charged polymer resin beads that attract the positively charged ions, and then exchanges them with sodium potassium, which comes from the salt pellets used in the unit. Once the resin beads become too saturated, the water softener flushes them out through a drainpipe. This cleaning cycle is triggered automatically by an electronic meter valve on top of the unit.

Saltless Water Softeners

In contrast to salt-based water softeners, saltfree water softeners do not remove hard mineral ions. Instead, they change their chemical composition so that they do not adhere to anything. This process is known as Template Assisted Crystallization (TAC), which processes water through a catalytic media. The hard mineral ions are changed to hardened crystals that is not capable of sticking to any surface. Because of this fact, saltless water softening does not technically soften water, but rather, conditions it. For this reason, non-salt water softeners are more accurately described as water conditioners.

Saltfree Water Softeners in Indianapolis

To determine which water softening and conditioning system is best for your home or office, talk to a trusted Indianapolis IN water softener plumber who can offer professional advice, information, and installation. Choosing a water softener is just the beginning. Ensuring proper installation and routine maintenance sets the tone for problem-free water softening.

Are you looking for affordable water softeners and water softener service near you? Contact Weilhammer Plumbing Company at 317-784-1870 for professional sales, installation, service, and repair for saltless water softeners, today. We provide residential and commercial plumbing services for all make and model water softeners.

Related Posts:

Where to Start When You Need to Buy a Water Softener
Top 3 Ways to Test For Hard Water
Deciding Between a Single-Tank and Twin Tank Water Softener