Have you ever bought a fancy coffee machine only for it to have visible scale buildup on it within the first week? Scale can build up on other kitchen appliances and can also be seen on fixtures. You want these fixtures and appliances to last a long time without breaking down, so what’s the best way to deal with scale buildup?
While there are several ways to fight scale, water conditioners are one of the most popular systems we’ve installed to combat this issue. For over 15 years, we’ve seen scale buildup in most homes we visited throughout Los Angeles and the surrounding areas. At Monkey Wrench Plumbing, Heating & Air, we’ve assisted thousands of homeowners looking for solutions to their scale buildup problems.
Water conditioners have plenty of advantages, which include preventing scale buildup, but it also has a few disadvantages that homeowners should be aware of. The more informed you are about the pros and cons of water conditioners, the better prepared and informed you’d be with making a water conditioner purchase. Here’s a quick look at the pros we’ll cover, followed by a peek at the cons.
Pros
- Removes scale buildup
- Prevents major plumbing issues
- Minimal maintenance
- Eco-friendly
- Less expensive than water softeners
Cons
- Doesn’t soften the water
- Not compatible with hard water test strips
Are you excited to learn more about water conditioners? Read on to understand why the advantages of water conditioners outweigh the disadvantages so you can make the best decision to suit your needs.
Types of Water Conditioners
Two common types of water conditioners are available to combat the scale buildup due to hard water. Before discussing water conditioners’ pros and cons, it is essential to understand the two types of water conditioners commonly seen in homes.
- Electromagnetic Frequencies: These water conditioners use low-level electrical frequencies to disrupt calcium and magnesium. These water conditioners, like Flow-Tech, use their magnetic frequencies to cause the calcium and magnesium to stick together and crystalize. These crystallized minerals cannot build scale because they stick to each other instead of hard surfaces and the inside of plumbing pipes.
- Template-assisted crystalization (TAC) Media: Water conditioners with TAC media are usually single-tank systems. Every tank contains resin beads that interact with calcium and magnesium in hard water. The special beads cause the minerals to stick to each other, reducing scale buildup.
Now that you know the types of water conditioners available, we can dive into the pros and cons with a much better understanding.
Pros of Water Conditioners
Water conditioners are anti-scaling systems ideal for areas that deal with hard water, like Los Angeles. Hard water contains calcium and magnesium minerals responsible for building scale and causing other unwanted problems.
We’ve seen the inside of a thousand pipes during plumbing work, and scale buildup is usually present. Any plumbing technician can tell you the importance of removing and reducing scale, but have you ever wondered why?
Removes Scale Buildup
Scale is short for limescale, and you can find it on most of the fixtures and appliances in your home. If you inspect your showerhead, you’ll likely see a chalky residue built up.
That residue is the limescale and can affect the efficiency of your appliances and fixtures. The scale residue is usually off-white but may also be yellowish or moldy green.
Limescale tends to build up faster with hot water. So you may see more residue on the hot water faucet than the cold one.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the effects of scale:
- Stains glassware and utensils
- Damages appliances
- Affects water flow in fixtures
Water conditioners like Flow-Tech and TAC media are effective in reducing scale buildup. These water conditioners use different technologies to prevent scale from building up in your pipes and appliances.
Flow-Tech not only reduces limescale buildups but can also remove the existing ones using low-level frequencies. On the other hand, TAC media water conditioners reduce scale buildup by up to 88%, according to the California Water Board.
Limescale reduction doesn’t only produce better working appliances, but did you know it can also prevent major plumbing issues from occurring?
Prevents Major Plumbing Issues
If your pipes are old, the scale can eat through the corroded pipes, leading to leaks. A water conditioner installation is one of the ways you can avoid plumbing leaks and extend the life of your pipes.
Some homeowners use DIY methods involving vinegar or a cleaning solution to remove visible scale, but what about the limescale inside plumbing pipes? Scale buildup inside pipes can restrict water flow and damage them too.
Without a water conditioner, your pipes will reaccumulate scale. You can end up paying hundreds, even thousands of dollars, to clean your pipes.
Plumbing maintenance can help save money on top of the money you can save with proper maintenance on your water conditioner.
Minimal Maintenance
Water conditioners do not require daily or even monthly maintenance. Water conditioners take up less space and require less maintenance than water softeners. The water softeners have an extra tank that holds the salt and relies on salt refills to combat hard water.
Flow tech is a popular choice among homeowners since they’re advertised as maintenance-free and take up less space than water softeners and single-tank TAC media water conditioners.
Alternatively, TAC media water conditioners require their resin beads to be replaced every couple of years. Failure to replace the beads can cause them to fail to combat hard water.
Water conditioners are great alternatives in areas that do not allow water softeners, like Santa Clarita. Water experts in California argue that water conditioners are also more eco-friendly than water softeners.
Eco-Friendly
Water conservation is crucial in drought-stricken areas like Southern California. Water softeners are highly effective in combating hard water and producing soft water. Yet, one of their most significant drawbacks is the wastewater they produce.
Water conditioners do not produce any wastewater, which makes them a more eco-friendly option.
The wastewater produced from water softeners is diluted with salt concentrations and is challenging to filter out in water recycling plants. Water conditioners do not produce brine water since they don’t require salt and hardly impact the environment.
Most homeowners appreciate environmentally-conscious products, but everyone loves saving money, which is possible with water conditioners.
Less Expensive Than Water Softeners
Water conditioner installations end up costing less than water softener installations. They also take up less time to install too.
Flow-Tech installations can cost between $2,800 to $3,200, which is less than a $5,200 to $7,600 water softener installation. Flow-Tech water conditioners require less energy to function, saving you money on your electricity bill.
The average cost of a TAC media water conditioner is $1,500, plus installation fees. Although they may be the same price as some water softeners, these water conditioners do not require as much maintenance as softeners. You will save more money in the long run with a water conditioner than a water softener.
Cons of Water Conditioner
Water conditioners have a few drawbacks worth knowing about before purchasing one. Like most technologies, water conditioners aren’t perfect but are highly efficient in treating hard water.
The two minor disadvantages of water conditioners are that they don’t produce soft water and are incompatible with hard water testing. Let’s take a look at each drawback!
Does Not Soften Water
Soft water has benefits like being gentle on the skin and hair. Water softeners are the only water treatment that can produce soft water. Water conditioners are not able to make soft water.
If you seek soft water for your home, a water conditioner is not the right choice.
Not Compatible With Hard Water Test Kits
Water conditioners do not remove calcium and magnesium as water softeners do, , so water test strips won’t really help you combat hard water.
Hard water tests are one of the effective ways to determine if your home has it flowing throughout. These tests involve strips that you place underwater, and they change color depending on the hardness of the water.
Homeowners also use these tests to determine if they still have hard water in their homes after they’ve installed a water softener.
Is a Water Conditioner Right For Me?
Hard water flows in homes throughout Los Angeles county from Hollywood Hills to Long Beach. If you’re tired of dealing with limescale staining your fixtures and appliances, water conditioners are ideal. With the information we’ve outlined above, you can now start assessing whether a water conditioner is right for you or if you’d like to run another path.
At Monkey Wrench Plumbing, Heating & Air, we have accumulated years of knowledge of water conditioners' pros and cons. Our insider information can help prepare you for your hard water treatment shopping, whether it’s a water conditioner or softener.
If you have questions regarding water conditioners, contact our team with one of the buttons below, or schedule an appointment through our water filtration online scheduler. Check out this article for a price breakdown of all the available water filtration systems.
