Get matched with top water softener pros in Lancaster, NY

Hard water is not considered unhealthy and is safe to drink, cook with, and bathe in. It doesn't pose a risk to your physical health and can even help you get enough essential minerals like calcium in your diet. However, it can negatively affect skin and hair. Using hard water for washing can contribute to dry skin, an itchy scalp, and may worsen conditions like eczema by altering the pH balance. Additionally, some people do not like the taste of hard water.

Soft water is better for your hair. The minerals in hard water can dry out hair, make it brittle, and leave a film on the hair and scalp that may cause irritation. Hard water also doesn't rinse out shampoo and conditioner effectively, which can lead to product buildup that makes hair look dull and limp. You may also find you need to use more shampoo to get a good lather in hard water.

If your water softener repair is fairly straightforward, like a simple filter replacement, then you can probably do it yourself with little risk. However, anything beyond a simple fix should be addressed by someone with extensive plumbing expertise to avoid costly water softener problems, like leaks. 

That said, even simple problems can be complicated to diagnose, particularly if your water softener is attached to a whole-house treatment system. So, unless you feel absolutely certain that the problem is an easy fix that you can take on yourself, it's probably best to hire a plumber to diagnose and fix the problem.

If your ‘do isn’t doing what you want it to do despite using good hair care products, hard water might be to blame. Since hard water can’t rinse soap off as well as soft water can, your hair might grow limp because of the shampoo and conditioner residue that’s left behind. If you color your hair, you might see it fade more quickly or even turn a different shade as the dye reacts with the minerals in the water. You might also experience an itchy scalp, thanks to the dryness that comes from bathing in the hard water.