7 Signs You Need a Water Softener

Not sure if you need a water softener? In hard-water Central Texas, the signs are usually all around you. Here are seven of the most common.

1. White, crusty scale on faucets and showerheads

That chalky buildup is calcium and magnesium left behind by hard water. It clogs showerheads and aerators and keeps coming back no matter how often you scrub.

2. Spotty, cloudy dishes and glassware

If your glasses come out of the dishwasher filmy or spotted, that's hard-water mineral residue — not a detergent problem.

3. Dry skin and itchy scalp

Hard water makes it hard to rinse soap fully, leaving a residue that dries out skin and hair. Many people notice softer skin within days of installing a softener.

4. Soap and detergent that won't lather

Hard water fights with soap, so you use more of everything — shampoo, dish soap, laundry detergent — and still don't get a good lather.

5. A water heater that's wearing out early

Scale builds up inside water heaters, making them work harder and fail years early. It's one of the most expensive hidden costs of hard water.

6. Stiff, dingy laundry

Minerals get trapped in fabric, leaving towels stiff and whites looking gray over time.

7. Reduced water pressure over time

Scale narrows pipes and clogs fixtures, slowly choking your water pressure.

Sound Familiar?

If you're nodding along to several of these, your water is almost certainly hard — most of Williamson County is. The first step is a free on-site water test to measure exactly how hard. Request yours or see our cost guide.