Extend the Life of Your Appliances with a Water Softener in Edmonton

Most homes in North America have hard water—89.3 percent in the U.S. and 85 percent in Canada.

It’s OK to drink hard water, but it can cause trouble in your Edmonton home:

• Mineral accumulation in plumbing and appliances
• Reddish stains in toilets
• Worn-looking clothing and rough towels
• Lackluster skin and hair
• Stains on dishes, flatware and glasses
• Low flow rate during showers

Water softening solutions from McKinley Heating Service Experts can take care of your home water issues and bring you better-tasting drinking water.

Whether you’re starting to check out water softeners or you need water softener repair, our group of professionals are here to help.

Interested in getting a new water conditioning system for one low monthly payment? Ask us for more information about our Advantage Program™.¹

Benefits of Using a Water Softener

It’s economical to use a water softener. It uses less than $3 in electricity annually.²

A water softener only needs about 2.5 pounds of salt. That’s 80 percent less salt than dial-style softeners.

Soft water can make cleaning take less time, help your appliances work longer and help you avoid plumbing clogs.

Clog-Free Plumbing and Fixtures

Soft water helps water flow freely in plumbing. Hard water causes mineral coatings to build up in your pipes and fixtures. This can cause clogs and decreased water pressure.

Showerheads in homes with hard water can lose 75 percent of their flow rate in less than 18 months. Soft water preserves the shine and full flow for faucets and showerheads, nearly as well as the day they were installed.

Soft water is doesn’t have a lot of minerals. It doesn’t cause deposits in pipes or limit water flow in fixtures.

Longer-Lasting Appliances

Over time, hard water can cause minerals to accumulate in your washing machine and dishwasher.

The mineral deposits in hard water turn into limescale when heated. This can coat the heating elements in your appliances, lowering life span and efficiency.

As a result, your appliances may need repeated service or need to be swapped out earlier.

Efficient Water Heaters

Soft water preserves the efficiency of water heaters.

Gas storage and tankless water heaters operating on soft water maintain the factory efficiency rating over a 15-year life span. In comparison, using hard water for a gas water heater can reduce efficiency by up to 48 percent.

If you have an electric water heater, up to 30 pounds of rock-like scale can build up in the tank from hard water. The scale is a bad heat conductor. It can decrease the life of your heating element, because it has to work harder to heat water.

Soft Skin, Brighter Laundry and Cleaner Dishes

Hard water minerals collect on your skin and in your hair, making it look dull. It can also lead to painful razor burn.

Soft water is more efficient at rinsing soap residue, so you’ll have silkier skin and glossier hair. Plus, your clothes will look more colorful and your dishes will look more flawless.

Less Soap and Cleaning Time

When you have hard water, you have to use extra soap for a good lather. The minerals in hard water react with soap. This creates a scum on showers.

With soft water, you won’t need to use as much time cleaning to get rid of soap scum. You’ll also use less cleaning supplies.

What You Need to Know About Hard Water and Water Softener Systems

What is Hard Water?

Hard water has more minerals than soft water.

What is a Water Softener System?

It’s an appliance that removes extra minerals like calcium and magnesium. It also lowers chlorine, iron and volatile organic compounds.

How Long Does a Water Softener Last?

A water softener that’s the right size for your home will last for many years. Its life span depends on the manufacturer and how much you operate it.

How Much Does a Water Softener Cost?

Some water softeners are more efficient than others. As a result, the price may differ.

Costs can also be different based on how hard your water is and how much water you need. If your water is extremely hard and is used heavily, softening rates will go up.

Is Softened Water Safe to Drink?

Softened water includes all the natural minerals we need. While a small amount of sodium is added during the softening process, softened water is perfectly safe to drink.

What’s the Quality of My Drinking Water?

Water quality differs by geography and processing levels. It can also be impacted by construction, mining, agriculture and mineral deposits your groundwater travels through.

You can find out if there are chemicals in your home’s drinking water.

The Environmental Working Group has a free database of more than 30 million state records of tap water tests. About 81 percent of community water plants checked in the U.S. contain chemicals connected to cancer, according to the group’s research.

Can Brine from Softeners Damage my Septic Tank?

A study by the Water Quality Association found a septic tank can’t be hurt by brine let out by a water softener. The tanks that were studied were correctly placed and in good working order.

Softened water may help decrease detergents being released into your septic tank.

Softer Water, Guaranteed

Hard water problems? Call us at 780-800-7092 or request an appointment online.

One of our professionals can determine if you need a water softener.

We back our work with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee³ for a year. That means we’ll get the job done correctly the first time, whether you need us to repair your water softener or install a new one.

¹Some exclusions apply.
²Based on manufacturer’s information and assumptions. Savings may vary based on the type of system you use.
³Not applicable to the Advantage Program. See your signed Advantage Program Agreement for full details and exclusions. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee is subject to certain restrictions and limitations as set forth in the applicable Terms and Conditions.