Why Experts Recommend Saltless Water Softeners

Why Experts Recommend Saltless Water Softeners For the majority of the century, salt-based water softeners were the most popular option. Policy makers endorsed them, plumbers loved them and even doctors gave their thumbs up. Yet in the last decade, more and more people are leaning away from salt-based water softeners and opting for saltless ones instead. Why? More importantly, should you make the shift as well?

Salt and Appliance Corrosion Salt corrodes. If you've ever taken a swim in the ocean, you've felt this for yourself on your skin, your hair and your eyes. The corrosiveness of no salt water softener is very subtle and is often hard to measure. Yet for appliances that are designed to last years, the corrosiveness of salt can be a big problem.

Take your water heater for instance. A water heater with a salt-based water softener might only last 7 years, instead of 10 years. The corrosion happens over a long period of time, but at the end of the day you're still cutting your appliance's lifespan by 30%.

Salt and Human Consumption One rarely talked about aspect of salt based water softeners is human consumption. The average American already gets far more sodium than recommended.

The USDA puts an Adequate Intake level for sodium at 1,500mg per day. The Upper Limit (UL) of what can be safely consumed is put at 2,300mg per day. The average sodium intake of most Americans is above 3,400mg per day.

Adding salt to water only makes the problem worse. Excess sodium intake impairs mental functioning, as well as facilitates weight gain.

Installing a saltless water softener will do the job just as well a saltless softener, if not better. These softeners work through reverse osmosis, instead of directly adding chemicals to the water. It's both healthier and better for your home's plumbing and appliances.