Category: Water Conditioning

Person loading laundry into a washing machine, illustrating the impact of hard water on clothing and the importance of water softeners for better laundry outcomes.

Soft Water for Washing Machine

Posted on | by The Bosworth Company Kerrville | Leave a Comment on Soft Water for Washing Machine

When you think about the inconveniences of hard water, one of the first things you think of is bad taste and lack of drinkability. But one of the other side effects is the negative effect hard water can have on your clothes, making them stiff and comfortable, and causing them to wear out faster. In this post, we’ll discuss a few solutions, including how a water softener can help make your laundry fresher and cleaner and help keep your washing machine running fully.

HARD WATER HEADACHE

Those heavy particles that make the water “hard” in the first place stick to your clothes just like they stick to your shower walls and sinks. It even combines with detergents to create a film that makes your clothes stiff. Hard water chemically suppresses the soap suds and can cause some people to add more detergent, which can add to the adverse effect on your clothes.

SOFT SOLUTION

Water that has been softened has the opposite effect. It can actually enhance soap suds helping your clothes get cleaner by penetrating into the fabrics to loosen dirt. If you do start using a water softener, make sure to lessen the amount of detergent you use! You won’t need it, and don’t want to end up with a soap sud overload!

These systems are called water softeners, but they could be called clothing softeners because that’s exactly the effect they’ll have on your laundry. If you’ve been using a fabric softener, you may not even need it anymore once your water is soft.

The effect of soft water also affects the temperature needed to keep your clothes clean. Hot water is harsher on clothing, but sometimes necessary to create those suds. Softer water means you can turn down the temperature without sacrificing cleanliness. Cooler water also means you won’t have to worry about your dark or bright colors fading!

WORTH THE CALL

If you’re ready for softer water and the softer clothing that comes with it, let The Bosworth Company in Kerrville install a water softener today for all your washing needs! Call us for a consultation at 830-428-2764 or book an appointment online. It’s Worth the Call. Always.

Woman drinking a glass of water in a modern kitchen, highlighting the importance of water quality and taste in home environments.

Making Your Water Taste Better

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You’re probably familiar with some of the visible impacts of hard water. Stains in the toilet, soap scum on the tub. But you can definitely taste hard water, too! The minerals that gather in the water as it makes its way to your home have a flavor as well… and it isn’t good! Most people who live in areas that are impacted by hard water only drink bottled water. But this is expensive and inconvenient. In this post, we’ll discuss a few ways you can make your water taste better.

SOLUTIONS FOR BETTER TASTING WATER

  1. Buy a filter: A simple filter can be a short-term solution to poor-tasting water. Just fill up the pitcher at the tap, and let it do its thing. This is a very cost-effective solution. The only real cost is purchasing the filter. Depending on the quality, some may feel the actual taste is only minimally improved. After a while, the filter itself will clog (with the minerals that make it taste bad in the first place) and have to be replaced. So, this a very cost-effective solution, but not a permanent one.

  2. Reverse Osmosis: The Bosworth Company can install a reverse osmosis filtration system straight to your water source. Since it works with the tank, it will improve the quality of water coming out of every faucet. R.O. water is cleaner and better tasting than traditional filters, due to an enhanced filtering process. R.O. is considered a more complete, permanent solution.

  3. Water softener: A water softener will also make your water taste better. It’s a similar process as reverse osmosis, but the scientific process is slightly different. Water softeners are generally considered an excellent complement to reverse osmosis systems.

WORTH THE CALL

At the Bosworth Company, we have a variety of water softening and reverse osmosis options available. Give us a call at 830-428-2764 or schedule an appointment online today. The Bosworth Company. Worth the Call. Always.

Hard water shower head showing mineral buildup, relevant to plumbing and water conditioning issues discussed by The Bosworth Company.

How Can You Tell If You Have Hard Water?

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In a previous blog post, we defined hard water and explained one of the services that The Bosworth Company provides to combat it. Today, we’ll explore some of the symptoms of hard water, so you know what to look for.

Taste and Smell

Sometimes hard water can be detected by how it tastes or smells. If your water tastes or smells funny, it’s likely a sign of hard water. A metallic taste could indicate too much iron, while a dirt flavor could be caused by sediment from rusty pipes. A smell or taste like rotten eggs could be the result of sulfates from magnesium.

Stains in the toilet

No, those stains in the toilet probably aren’t what you’re thinking. It’s more likely the result of hard water. The brown stains inside the toilet bowl look a lot like rust. That’s because they’re likely from iron in your water, the main ingredient in rust. You can scrub all you want, but the stains will keep coming back as long as you’ve got hard water.

Excessive Soap Scum

Does it feel like you’re constantly having to clean what appears to be soap scum around your sinks and tubs? Those might actually be hard water spots. If the water sits, then evaporates, what’s left can actually be excess calcium. Hard water and soap just don’t mix. Be especially careful if you find this type of stain accumulating on your shower curtains – it can potentially contain bacteria that can spread disease. 

Suffering in the Shower

Remember when we mentioned that hard water and soap don’t mix? This can cause even more problems in the shower. Hard water can make it tough to lather up and tough to thoroughly rinse when you’re through.  Hard water can also clog your shower head, reducing water pressure and even blocking streams if not cleaned regularly. 

The Bosworth Company offers a variety of solutions to combat hard water. Schedule an appointment or give us a call at 830-428-2764 to discuss options, including reverse osmosis or our water softeners. Worth the call. Always.

Close-up of a faucet showing mineral buildup and hard water stains on tile, highlighting common issues related to hard water in Texas homes.

What’s So Hard About “Hard Water”?

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It’s a common term, especially here in Texas: Hard Water. Unfortunately, there’s not a lot we can do to prevent hard water from coming into our homes, but there’s plenty we can do to prevent hard water from damaging your home. Most people have an idea of what hard water does, but they don’t really know what it is. Let’s investigate.

For you chemistry folks out there, water is H2O. Two parts hydrogen, and one part oxygen. That’s the molecule that makes water, or steam, or ice. But there are a lot of additional elements contained in what’s coming out of your tap. Water becomes “hard” when it picks up minerals along the way from the ground to your faucet. Small traces of calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, and aluminum are all common elements of hard water. They can be picked up through limestone, lakes and rivers, or, if the plumbing system is old, even corroded pipes. None of these minerals are necessarily bad for you and some could even have nutritional benefits. It’s estimated that 85% of all U.S. homes have hard water.

Luckily for you, The Bosworth Company has a solution. Among our many services, we also offer a variety of solutions to hard water. One of those services is reverse osmosis.  Without getting too scientific, reverse osmosis is a process that helps purify your water, thus getting rid of many of the minerals that make your water hard, and giving you a much purer version of H2O. You can learn more about the process here. The Bosworth Company offers a variety of reverse osmosis systems for sale or lease. You can even customize which water lines receive the purified water within your home. In a future blog post, we’ll explore some of the symptoms you can look for to know if you have hard water. To learn more, just schedule a consultation with one of our experts or call 830-428-2764.  The Bosworth Company. Worth the call. Always.

Hands cupping water, illustrating the importance of water quality and the effects of hard water, relevant to The Bosworth Company's plumbing services in Kerrville, TX.

Now is the Right Time to Start Filtering Your Water

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Calling a plumber is never something a homeowner looks forward to, but it can be a better solution than letting your household water remain leaking and unfiltered. To improve the overall quality of your water, and the lives of your loved ones living with your water, sometimes it is necessary to enlist the commercial service of a plumber.

You may need the service of a plumber if you are experiencing common household water leaks. These can often be easily corrected and can save homeowners approximately 10% on water bills. This means proper maintenance performed by a professional plumber can end up meaning monthly savings which add up quickly.

But it’s not just run of the mill maintenance and lowering monthly bills to be concerned about. Living in an affluent country like the USA, we’re mostly lucky enough not to have to worry too much about the cleanliness of our drinking and bathing water. However, that is slowly changing as our entire planet’s soil and water supply becomes more saturated with fertilizers, chemicals and other pollutants in the modern age. This is why you should consider calling a plumber to look into installing a water filtration system for your home.

When it comes to installing a water filter, there are many different possibilities available. Reverse osmosis is a time tested, reliable water filtration method that is a great option to consider. Reverse osmosis removes contaminants from your water by using your water pressure to push the tap water through a semi permeable membrane which filters out inorganic chemicals. These can include salts, lead, other metals, minerals, nitrates and asbestos.

A reverse osmosis filtration countertop system can simply be installed to your kitchen sink, or there are more complicated but thorough whole house filtration systems available as well. Perhaps the most popular is an under the sink unit, which usually can be installed beneath your counter in under an hour.

Whatever water filtration option you pick or plumbing maintenance service you require, it will be well worth the call to schedule a professional plumber. When it concerns your home and family, it’s always worth the peace of mind to recruit a professional to perform a job. In this case, whether it be basic plumbing maintenance that could save you monthly money, or more importantly, to install a filtration system that will give your loved ones clean and safe water to enjoy. Either way it will be worth it!

Water Tech water softener system with digital display, showcasing innovative technology for improved water quality, featured in plumbing and HVAC services context.

Reionator: The Ultimate Water Conditioner

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The Reionator, by Water Tech, is truly the ultimate water conditioner. The innovative and proprietary technology behind the Reionator goes way beyond an ordinary water softener. The multi-resin Reionator process removes chlorine taste and odor while reducing the slippery feel that is sometimes associated with softened water. It creates the ultimate quality water…all without the need for costly filter changes!

The Benefits Of A Water Conditioner:

Energy Savings-Enjoy energy savings of up to 30%, due to lack of mineral buildup in pipes and water-using appliances.

Softer Skin & Shinier Hair-With a Reionator Water Conditioner, there is no slippery residue left behind on skin or hair, leaving a softer feel and shinier look.

Easy Cleaning-Bathroom and kitchen fixtures will say cleaner longer since hard water scaling and soap scum are essentially eliminated.

Better Taste-Food and beverages will taste better when prepared with conditioned water, since the aesthetic chlorine taste and odor is reduced.

Cleaner Laundry-Enjoy cleaner, brighter, and softer laundry without harsh (and costly) chemicals! Clothing also lasts longer with conditioned water.

Less Soap-Conditioned water does not have mineral hardness to react with, so you can use up to 70% less soap and cleaning products. When combined with conditioned water, a smaller amount of soap creates more suds and has greater cleaning power.

Would you like more information on conditioning your water with a Reionator? Contact us today! We’re happy to help!