The water quality in Florida is known to be very “hard” water, meaning there is a very high amount of mineral content in the water system. Below is a brief explanation of why we have hard water in Jacksonville, the problems hard water causes, and which is the best water softener system for Jacksonville.
What Causes Hard Water?
Water passes through mineral-rich soil and rock on its way down to underground aquifers and into the water system. Minerals are picked up as the water moves through, and the hardness varies based on both location and the source of the water. Below is a map showing the levels of hard water throughout the United States, showing Jacksonville within the “Extremely Hard” and most of Florida falling within either “Extremely Hard” or “Very Hard” levels.
Why Is Hard Water Bad?
The high mineral content in hard water causes a variety of problems for the home, along with inconveniences for our daily life. The biggest problem hard water causes for the home is mineral buildup. As mineral content builds up inside pipes, faucets, and appliances, it causes a hard crusty material to form and creates stains which can be quite difficult to remove. Our appliances become less efficient and mineral buildup becomes visible on faucets, sinks, and inside the shower and tub. Washing machines don’t wash as well, dishwashers don’t seem to clean as well as they used to, and soap doesn’t rinse off completely.
What Does A Water Softener Do?
The first time I had a water softener installed in my home I was a little skeptical about whether I would notice any difference. It only took one day after installation for me to see the first benefits of water softeners, and it was amazing – seriously!
Water softeners remove minerals from your water through a process called ion exchange. Each water softener has two primary components – one is a tank filled with salt brine, and the other is the actual water softener system with filtration media saturated with sodium ions. As hard water passes through, the calcium, magnesium, lime, and other minerals are removed because their ions are attracted to the negatively charged filtration media and swap places with the sodium ions!
Have I Ever Been Clean Before?
Okay that heading may be a bit overstated, but that second day after installation we could all tell a huge difference in the shower with shampoo, soap, and body wash, and you will too. The bubbles and lather will seem to form instantly, and rinsing the shampoo and conditioner out of your hair will feel like a completely new experience. When you think you’re ready to turn off the water, you’ll wonder if you need to keep rinsing because your skin will feel a little slippery – because everything rinses off completely and you no longer have a layer of minerals all over you!
Which Water Softener Is Best For Jacksonville’s Hard Water?
There are several brands of water softeners and stores to choose from, but we’ve done the research for you and found which water softener is best for the hard water in Jacksonville. Thankfully, the water softener which is the most effective and efficient is actually NOT the most expensive. While you may be tempted to purchase your water softener from a big-box store like Home Depot or Lowe’s, the best water softeners are available through a locally-owned Jacksonville business called All Florida Soft Water. They’ve been in business over 25 years and have a 4.9 star rating on Google with over 600 reviews.
Winner: CareSoft Water Softeners by WaterCare
- In-Home Water Testing: Find out what’s in your water with a free in-home water test
- Free Salt Delivery: All Florida Soft Water provides free salt delivery! No need to worry about bringing those 40lb or 50lb bags of salt from the store to your home
- Customized Water Treatment: CareSoft water softeners utilize patented IQ2 technology to automatically adjust to your home’s water usage to effectively meet your household’s specific needs for clean, soft water.
