- What makes hard water hard?
- Hard water forms when naturally occurring minerals, specifically calcium and magnesium, enter water sources. Over time these minerals accumulate in pipes, affecting the water that flows through your home.
Do I live in a hard water area?- According to the U.S. Geological Survey, more than 85 percent of the United States has hard water. The best way to find out if you have hard water is to have your water tested professionally or by visiting www.wqa.org.
- How can I tell if I have hard water?
- Visual signs that you may have hard water include spots on glasses and dishes, dulling of bright colored clothing and white, crusty build up and gritty film on tubs and bathroom fixtures. You may also notice that soaps and laundry detergents lather poorly and experience uneven, inconsistent water pressure throughout your home. You can have your water tested by your water dealer or you may find additional information at www.wqa.org.
- Why is hard water bad for my home and family?
- Hard water consists of minerals that, while non-toxic, can cause a host of problems within your home — and ultimately affect your health. The presence of hard water can make cleaning more difficult, reduce the lifespan of household appliances, irritate skin and dry out hair.
- What are the advantages of soft water?
- Returning your water to its natural state of purity results in water that is safer and gentler on your clothing and appliances. Additionally, soft water is tastier and gentler on skin and hair, for total body rejuvenation.
- What are the benefits of sodium water care products versus potassium?
- Both potassium chloride and sodium chloride-based products work equally well in water softeners and provide the same water softening advantages. The main differences are in content and water softener discharge that is put back into the environment. Nature’s Own offers four distinct formulas, each designed with the unique needs of individual homes in mind. Click here to discover which product is right for your family.
- How does my water softener work?
- As hard water moves through your water softener, minerals such as calcium and magnesium are attracted to and bond with resin beads. They are then replaced with sodium or potassium ions, creating “soft water.” Over time, the resin beads will become saturated with minerals and need to be recharged. This process is known as the water softener's regeneration cycle. Each cycle frequency varies depending on water usage and the source water's hardness.
- Are all water softening salts the same?
- Nature’s Own water care products replace traditional water softening salts with pure, high-grade elements designed to return water to its natural state of purity. Nature’s Own offers four distinct formulas, each designed with the unique needs of individual homes in mind. Click here to discover which product is right for your family.
- Is water softened by potassium chloride safe for pets?
- For most healthy pets, potassium chloride softened water is perfectly safe for consumption. If your pet suffers from heart disease, diabetes or kidney disease, consult your veterinarian before introducing potassium chloride softened water to their diet. Some fish species are sensitive to potassium chloride. Consult your vet or local pet store before using water softened with potassium chloride in your aquarium.
- Will Nature’s Own water care products cause discoloration of my hair?
- No. Softened water is actually more soothing to hair and skin.
- Are Nature’s Own water care products safe for my septic tank?
- All Nature’s Own water care products are safe for septic systems. Studies by the University of Wisconsin (UW) and the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) have found that the increased sodium and potassium in the softened water had no effect on the septic tank digestion process, and was actually helpful to the bacterial organisms inside the septic tank. For more detailed information and study summaries visit the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website at: http://www.epa.gov/
- Will using Nature’s Own water care products make my water taste salty?
- No. Any residual salt should be totally rinsed from a properly operating water softening system during the brine and rinse cycle of the regeneration process when the hardness in the water is exchanged for sodium or potassium. If your water tastes salty, the culprit is likely a water softener malfunction, such as a stuck valve or valve that isn't seated properly. Consult your water softener owner's manual or have a water dealer inspect the unit for defects.
- How can I transition my water softener to Nature’s Own water care products?
- Nature’s Own water care products are safe for all water softeners. It is not necessary to empty the brine tank. Simply add in Nature’s Own product on top of any remaining salt product and enjoy.
- Is Nature’s Own safe for my houseplants and lawn?
- The amount of sodium or potassium discharged into your water from the water softener poses no problem for most lawns or houseplants. For soil with high sodium or potassium content, you may choose to bypass the water softener when watering the lawn or use water from an unsoftened tap for houseplants.
- Will Nature’s Own protect my family from radium and barium?
- Both radium and barium are naturally occurring elements that may migrate into ground water. At high levels both can be harmful to your family’s health. The ion exchange process in Nature’s Own can remove up to 90% of radium and 99.5% of barium from your drinking water.