The Battelle Memorial Institute, a non-profit international science and technology enterprise, was retained by the Water Quality Research Foundation to develop and run tests evaluating the energy and costs in heating water versus the savings with treated water. They also examined effects on washing machines, faucet fixtures, shower-heads, and dishwashers using hard water versus treated water.
The US Department of Energy says “water heating can account for 14%–25% of the energy consumed in your home.” It is the second highest energy consuming area of a home, next to heating and cooling. Battelle conducted tests to determine how much energy savings household water softeners can provide homeowners.
Results of the study have shown that untreated hard water can cause significant efficiency losses and added costs in water heating – up to 48% in some cases. The study also found hard water can rapidly lead to clogged shower-heads, in some cases possibly as soon as a year and a half of regular use. After just one week of constant testing with hard water, more than three-fourths of shower-head nozzles became clogged, according to laboratory results. Shower-heads using treated water, meanwhile, performed nearly as well as on the day they were installed.
It has also been proven that treating hard water, which in most cases is defined as limescale (calcium and magnesium), can effectively extend the life of appliances using hot water such as water heaters and dishwashers.
Instead of removing the calcium and magnesium crystals as salt based systems do exchanging them for sodium, consider treating the "hard" water with a Hydrocare system that transmits a signal throughout the plumbing system rendering the crystals inert so they don't adhere to the surfaces of the heating elements, shower heads, faucets and dishwashers.
Remember, Calcium Carbonate and Magnesium Carbonate, in their soluble state, are bio-available or bio-accessible meaning the body can absorb and use them. We all know the calcium is good for bones and the magnesium is good for the heart.
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