Apartments have water issues, too!
Homeowners are not the only consumers dealing with the annoying effects of hard water. A US geological study shows that there is hard water found in more than 85% of the country. That means renters are just as likely to have hard water as their fellow counterparts in homes. The effects are the same, and not all landlords will put water treatment systems into place to ensure that water is conditioned for their dwellers.
Hard water is created after rain water or natural water sources pass over rocks, soil, or sand and picks up minerals. Hard water is extra high in mineral content like mineral salts – calcium and magnesium ions are the most common. Water hardness is usually measured in grains per gallon, with a degree of hardness ranging from 1 to 10. It isn’t seen, and it usually isn’t harmful. So why should renters consider a water softener? Hard water can cause severe mineral buildup clogging pipes and reducing water flow, increased energy with appliances that must work harder to work at all, film and scale can build up on kitchen and bathroom surfaces, an invisible soapy film left on skin can cause it to feel dry or scaly, excess shampoo causes hair to be dull and dry, deposits of scale shortens the life of water heaters or other appliances which the hard water passes through, higher utility bills can increase due to the scale, dishware has an embarrassing white film, reduced suds in the washer mean clothes look dingy and dirty, clothes can have a reduced lifetime, and hard water can also affect the taste of coffee and tea.
Many renters, however, deal with limited space for a water softener in the apartment, or may not want to purchase a system for a temporary solution. The good news is that there are options out there for those consumers who find themselves in this exact predicament. Some water softeners are small enough and will not take up a lot of space, but do make a lot of difference. Likewise, there are water treatment companies out there who have payment options like leasing or renting a water softener rather than purchasing the whole system. Renters deserve to have soft, conditioned water as much as the next person. They should not have to deal with the embarrassing impact from hard water, but shouldn’t have to worry about paying a fortune and finding a permanent solution for their temporary home. Shop around for a water softener that works best for you and your family in size, price, environmental savings, and energy efficiency. You’ll be glad you did.
