It’s a Hard-Knock Life for Tampa’s Plumbing
Tampa residents might have beautiful beaches and a vibrant culture, but once home, residents have to contend with hard water.
The hardness of water is based on how many “hard” minerals are in the water, things like calcium and magnesium. The harder the water, the harder it is to feel clean after a shower, or thoroughly rinse dishes. Tampa’s water supply, which is primarily sourced from the Hillsborough River naturally dissolves these minerals as it filters through the earth, but the dissolved minerals are still contained within the water with hardness levels fluctuating between about 140 to 300 parts per million (ppm), or 8 to 17 grains per gallon. To put this into perspective, water is considered “hard” when it exceeds 120 ppm. That means residents are in dire need of water softener installation from our expert plumbers in Tampa, FL.
While our hard water is perfectly safe to drink or use, it has its downsides:
Appliances
Appliances that use water, such as dishwashers, washing machines, and water heaters, can suffer from efficiency loss and a reduced lifespan due to the mineral deposit buildup. They need more frequent repairs and consume more energy, as the appliances need to work harder to achieve their intended results.
Skin
Hard water can interfere with soap’s ability to lather, resulting in dull laundry, spotted glassware, and a filmy residue on surfaces. Hard water can leave skin feeling dry and rob hair of its luster due to the excess minerals stripping away natural oils. This can exacerbate skin conditions like eczema and cause discomfort after showering.
Water Softener Installation: A Soft Spot for Soft Water
Given the challenges posed by hard water, many Tampa residents stand to gain significantly from installing a water softener system. Water softeners are ingenious devices that operate on the principle of ion exchange to remove the minerals that cause water hardness. Inside a water softener tank, there’s a bed of resin beads coated with sodium ions. As hard water passes through this resin bed, a chemical reaction takes place where the calcium and magnesium ions in the water are exchanged for sodium ions. This exchange effectively “softens” the water, as it removes the elements responsible for water’s hardness.
After some time, the resin beads become saturated with calcium and magnesium ions and must be regenerated or “recharged.” This is done by flushing the system with a strong sodium ion solution from a brine tank – hence the need to add salt to a water softener. The high concentration of sodium forces the resin beads to release the calcium and magnesium ions, which are then flushed out of the system, allowing the resin beads to be recoated with sodium ions. This cycle allows the water softener to continue removing hardness from the water effectively.
Service Minds Benjamin Franklin Plumbing delivers expert water softener installation to ensure your new system will provide the full range of soft water benefits. When you entrust us with your softener installation, you can count on professional conduct and flawless performance:
- Expertise: Our plumbers leverage their knowledge to assess your home’s specific needs based on water hardness levels, usage, and existing plumbing setup. They can recommend the appropriate size and type of water softener to ensure efficient operation.
- Skill: Water softeners need to be connected properly to the main water supply, drainage, and electrical systems. Mistakes during installation can lead to leaks, inefficient operation, or even damage to the water softener and your home’s plumbing.
- Calibration and commissioning: Setting up and calibrating a water softener requires understanding the specific water hardness and usage patterns of your home. We will configure the system to regenerate at the optimum frequency, ensuring continuous availability of softened water while minimizing salt and water usage during regeneration.
- Guarantees: Service Minds Benjamin Franklin Plumbing stands behind our work with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. We care about helping clients regain their home’s comfort, so we’re not happy until you are.
We know you don’t have time to wait around for a repairperson to arrive. You can count on us to be on time. It’s not for nothing that we’re known as The Punctual Plumber.
If we’re ever late to your service call, we’ll pay you $5 for every minute you’re left cooling your heels, up to 60 minutes.