Most homes in the US deal with some level of hardness in their water sources. Hardness is dissolved minerals in the water that come from the source that your city uses for water. Calcium and magnesium are the two minerals that most contribute to hardness and they can easily be removed from your water with a water softener. The benefits of installing a water softener are: Healthier skin Cleaner, brighter clothes Dishes with no residue Greater longevity in pipes and appliances Better water flow due to reduced scale build-up Better tasting water