Hard water isn’t just a nuisance - it can make your skin feel dry, decrease the effectiveness of detergent, and leave a residue on kitchen and bathroom surfaces. Water softeners eliminate hard water by removing hardness minerals like magnesium and calcium from your water using salt, a process called ion exchange. While these hard minerals interfere with things like soap and detergent, the salt does not. You may even need to reduce the amount of soap and detergent you use following installation of a water softener due to the increased effectiveness of these products. Haldeman Mechanical provides free testing for hardness and can recommend the appropriate water softening unit for your home.