If you find yourself suddenly sensitive to a product you’ve just started using, it might not be your haircare. Or your body care. Or your laundry detergent. It might just be your water source and the impact of hard water.
It’s easy to switch up what you take into the shower… but can you filter hard water? The answer is: yes! Whether you opt for under sink filtration systems or a shower water filter, this simple solution comes complete with mineral-based filtration systems that remove unwanted metals, chlorine, and impurities that can cause irritation, dry skin, and limp, lackluster hair.
Perhaps you’re prone to sensitivities. Maybe you’re looking for H2O that’s kinder to young children and babies who may require a more gentle approach than a hard water supply. Whatever your challenge, Brio filters may be just the solution you need.
Here, we explore the best filters for hard water that will be kind to your hair as you rinse out suds, gentle on conditions like psoriasis, improve the quality of your laundry, look after your appliances, and make your water taste better.
What is Hard Water?
Hard water is a common issue that many households face. In fact, around 85% of U.S. homes have hardwater, which is water that contains high levels of minerals, primarily calcium and magnesium ions. These minerals can be naturally occurring and are typically picked up as water passes through porous rocks like limestone.
What Issues Can Hard Water Cause?
Unfortunately, hard water and the minerals it contains can cause all sorts of problems at home, such as:
Scale Build-Up in Appliances
When hard water is used in an appliance, minerals can accumulate on the heating elements and inner components. Limescale is often an issue.
This mineral buildup can lead to decreased heating efficiency in washing machines. As a result, the appliance may consume more energy and take longer to heat the water, increasing energy costs. The same applies to dishwashers or any other large appliance exposed to hard water. As efficiency begins to drop, they become less effective and more expensive to operate.
The presence of minerals in hard water can interfere with the effectiveness of detergents and soaps. This means that when you wash your clothes with hard water, detergents are less able to create a good lather to remove dirt and stains effectively.
As a result, your clothes may not come out as clean as they would with soft water. Hard water can lead to the formation of soap scum on your clothes. This soap scum can make fabrics feel stiff and rough, even after washing. It can also cause discoloration of fabrics over time.
Hair and Skin
Hard water can negatively impact hair and skin, especially when people have pre-existing conditions such as eczema, dandruff, and dermatitis.
You may need much more shampoo and bodywash to obtain a spreadable foam, and heaps of conditioner to make hair manageable.
Hair and skin subjected to hard water can be dryer, coarser, and duller. It’s particularly brutal on textured hair.
Clogged Plumbing and Fixtures
The mineral content in hard water can lead to the accumulation of scale deposits on the internal components of plumbing and appliances, such as pipes and hoses. These deposits can restrict water flow, reducing efficiency and causing blockages.
The scale deposits can also shorten the lifespan of your appliances. They can cause mechanical issues, increase wear and tear on moving parts, and necessitate more frequent maintenance and repairs.
Can You Filter Hard Water?
Yes, you can filter hard water. There are various methods available to reduce the mineral content in hard water, making it more suitable for household use.
To filter hard water in your home[a], the most effective option is to invest in a water softener. This solution is often paired with a reverse osmosis (RO) system. The RO system helps purify water but does not prevent the damage hard water causes to appliances and fixtures. Also, hard water is tough on RO membranes.
Please note that not all filters target all aspects of water quality. For example, some filters may take out sediment but not the minerals associated with hard water. A carbon block filter is great for removing chlorine, but it won’t address hard water. Before you invest in a filter or filtration system, complete a water test to find the best water treatment option. You can then select the type of filtration system you need based on other circumstances, choosing between countertop units, undersink water filter systems, tankless water filtration solutions, and more.
Which is Better: A Water Softener or a Water Filter?
The choice between a water softener and a water filter depends on your specific needs and the water quality in your area.
Water Softeners: Reduce Scale Build-Up But Not Impurities
• Water softeners are designed to remove the calcium and magnesium ions responsible for water hardness.
• They use a process called ion exchange, where the hard water passes through a tank of resin beads that trap the minerals.
• Water softeners are highly effective at preventing scale build-up in plumbing and appliances, but they don’t remove other impurities.
You can source a range of water softener systems, including an undersink water softener system.
Water Filters: Soften Water AND Remove Impurities
• Water filters come in various types, each designed to target specific contaminants, including those responsible for hard water.
• Some water filters, like activated carbon filters, don’t remove calcium and magnesium, but they can reduce chlorine and chloramine, some heavy metals, and some odors and tastes.
• Other filters, like reverse osmosis systems, are highly effective at removing many impurities, including minerals and their tastes and odors, PFAS, PFOS, etc., making them a more comprehensive solution. These systems contain filters rated at .0001 microns.
Why Reverse Osmosis is Best for Dealing With Hard Water
When it comes to addressing hard water comprehensively, especially for drinking water, cooking, washing clothes, showering, and maintaining appliances and household pipe systems, reverse osmosis (RO) is seriously effective.
Here’s why undersink RO systems are the best solution.
1. Mineral Removal
RO systems use a semipermeable membrane to remove not only hard water minerals but also a wide range of impurities, such as bacteria, viruses, and heavy metals. If you want to remove fluoride, RO is your best bet.
2. Taste and Purity
The result is extremely pure and great-tasting water, free from the taste and odor of minerals found in hard water.
3. Cost-Effective and Eco-Friendly
RO systems provide an ongoing supply of high-quality water at a lower cost than purchased bottled water, which is harmful to the environment.
4. Convenience
Undersink RO systems are convenient, taking up less space than whole-house systems while delivering premium water quality for drinking and cooking.
5. Peace of Mind
Brio replacement filters mean you never have to worry about losing a constant supply of pure, soft water that’s free from hard minerals and impurities. Get up to 20% off filters with a Brio subscription and receive orders automatically delivered on your schedule. There’s no obligation – you can modify or cancel at any time.
Whats the Best Shower Filter for Hard Water?
Hard water can deposit minerals that build up on strands, making hair feel heavy, dull, and difficult to manage. It can also cause color to fade more quickly and strip natural oils from both hair and skin, which may lead to dryness and itchiness. Fitting a shower water filter helps.
The Brio 17-stage high output shower filter adds natural minerals and vitamin C to water that nourish hair and skin, leaving them looking soft and supple, and feeling fabulous.
If you have hard water, a shower water filter delivers purified, odorless water that guards against scale build up. It enables pure, mineral-enriched cleansing that hydrates with no pressure loss. Discover further benefits that softer, alkaline water can bring.
A hard water filter really can improve your quality of life. Plus, it’s cost-effective and eco-friendly. Enhancing your water quality will:
• Provide more efficient cleaning
• Reduce soap and detergent usage, saving you money over time
• Reduce descaling and cleaning
• Reduce the energy needed for heating water
• Extend the lifespan of your appliances
• Improve the taste of food and drink
• Preserve your clothes and fabrics
• Give you softer skin and hair
Discover more about Brio under-sink water filtration and other NSF-certified systems to improve your life (and home!) today.
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