The Importance of Water Softeners in Las Vegas Homes

Are you seeing pesky stains in the toilet that keep returning, no matter how much you scrub? What about white residue in your dishwasher or shower walls? Perhaps crud is forming on your shower head? These are all signs of the "very hard" water found in the Las Vegas Valley. In reality, "very hard" doesn't fully capture the severity.

Understanding Water Hardness

The hardness of water is rated by parts per million (ppm) and grains per gallon (gpg). To put it simply, there are 17.1 ppm in 1 gpg, which we refer to as "grains". To keep it simple, let's stick to grains. The scale for water hardness is as follows:

• Soft: 0-3 grains

• Moderately Hard: 3-7 grains

• Hard: 7-10.5 grains

• Very Hard: 10.5+ grains

  
  

At Lynd Brothers, we have tested numerous water samples across the Las Vegas Valley. Would it surprise you to learn that we consistently find hardness ratings between 16 and 17 grains? Very hard water starts at 10.5, and Las Vegas exceeds that by a significant margin.

The Damage Caused by Hard Water

The damage from hard water can be devastating to fixtures in your home. Brown stains can block the siphoning jet in your toilet, causing flushing issues. While this is visible, what’s often hidden is the damage to the fill valve in your tank, resulting in a constant hissing sound. This indicates your toilet is slowly leaking, wasting hundreds of gallons of water each month!

Moreover, the grains in hard water harm your copper pipes and brass valve bodies in faucets and shower valves. Imagine a tiny sandblaster, eroding the soft metals in your plumbing system. This process thins out the walls of your water lines and leads to pitting around the rubber diaphragms in your valves.

The Importance of Plumbing Maintenance

Did you know that Nevada is the 3rd most seismically active state in the continental United States? An estimated 15-40 earthquakes occur every day! You might not feel them, as they are often too small to notice in our busy lives. You might wonder, "What does this have to do with hard water?"

Most copper water lines in the Las Vegas Valley lie in a pea gravel bed. They can feel the vibrations of those small earthquakes. Picture this: even the smallest tremors can rub against the exterior of our water lines, while grains of hard water continuously erode the interior. Eventually, this duo can create leaks that directly affect our underground aquifer. When you also consider the high levels of chlorine used to treat reclaimed water from Lake Mead, the situation becomes quite pressing. That’s why I call Las Vegas "The Land Of Slab Leaks".

Misconceptions About Water Softeners

Recently, there has been a surge of negative opinions about water softeners. I'll keep it straightforward: without a catalyst like salt or potassium to remove mineral grains, you won’t achieve soft water. That’s simply the reality. While there are many effective water conditioners in Las Vegas, they primarily focus on removing chlorine, pesticides, and even traces of medications from reclaimed water. These systems can improve taste and odor, but they don’t soften the water!

Some people are apprehensive about using salt in softeners. This leads them to expensive potassium tablets. At Lynd Brothers, we exclusively install high-quality softener units made in the USA. These softeners feature a mixer that rotates through the media to maximize mineral attraction. During regeneration, it thoroughly rinses away all the salt used.

Our manufacturer guarantees that the amount of residual salt is equivalent to that in a slice of bread!

Why You Should Consider a Water Softener

Treating our water in Las Vegas offers numerous benefits. It not only prolongs the life of plumbing and fixtures but also saves you from costly plumbing repairs and the associated headaches.

Most quality softeners may last around ten years before their internal diaphragm fails or the beads become less effective. If your softener is older than ten years, it may be time for an upgrade. We can test your water to determine if your current softener is functioning efficiently.

Take Action Today

Investing in a water softener can be beneficial for both your home and your health. These devices help maintain plumbing integrity and protect your fixtures from hard water damage.

If you're ready to improve your water quality, call us or send an email for a quote on a new water softener installation today!

Written by Anthony Lynd