Cost of Ion Exchange Water Softeners

Ion exchange water softeners are an excellent way to improve the quality of your water. There are many benefits to using a water softener, including reducing hard water buildup, preventing staining and scaling on fixtures, and extending the life of your plumbing.

What are the pros of using an ion exchange water softener?

There are many pros to using an ion exchange water softener. This includes, but is not limited to :

1. Water softeners can significantly reduce the amount of soap required for cleaning. By removing the calcium and magnesium from the water, this reduces the chance of those minerals interfering with your dish soap and this saves you time and money while cleaning.

2. They can help to reduce mineral deposits on fixtures and appliances. Calcium builds up in fixtures and appliances in the form of limescale and this can lead to your appliances breaking down or needing to be replaced. There are ways to resolve limescale buildup but they also require money and your time to deal with them. 

3. Water softeners can make laundry cleaner and brighter. Clothes washed in softened water are cleaner and brighter because a water softener prevents soap scum forming, which can result in residue being left behind on clothes in hard water homes.

4. They can help to save energy by reducing the amount of time required to heat hard water. Removing calcium and magnesium removes the effect calcium has on the water which increases the boiling point of the water.

5. Water softeners can improve the taste of water. Calcium and magnesium can impact the taste of your water, especially in the particularly high quantities you might find in major hard water zones.

6. They can extend the life of plumbing by reducing the amount of corrosion that can occur. Limescale and calcium deposits can also build up in your pipes, leading to quicker damage and repairs and maintenance being needed more consistently. Those fees can add up quite quickly.

What is the cost of an ion exchange water softener?

Nowadays, water softeners are significantly more cheap than they ever were. The initial investment is followed by small ongoing expenses but it begins paying back that expense quickly.

The average price of a residential water softener ranges from £300 to £500, with more expensive models going up to £800. How much water you use, where it's installed, the media being used, and the number of people living in the home will all affect the size and kind.

British Water stated : 

"The typical family residence will utilise water containing 70 kilograms (154 lbs) of scale each year in a hard water area (300 mg/l as calcium carbonate equivalent). If left unchecked, it will result in loss and expense. For this typical 4-person family, an ion-exchange water softener might result in savings of around £200. Payback will take between two and four years."

Overall, water softeners provide a number of advantages that make them a worthwhile investment for any homeowner. While the initial fee can be a costly immediate payment, the ROI can be incredibly impactful, especially in an age where repair and maintenance fees are skyrocketing.