Are water softeners a must-have efficiency-saving tool for homeowners, or simply another nice-to-have piece of equipment. According to a renowned independent testing and research facility, they are definitely a worthwhile investment.

A recent study by the Battelle Memorial Institute revealed that water softeners help preserve the efficiency of water heaters and major appliances and keep showers and faucets unclogged. Overall, the study found that installing a water softener can help you save money through energy savings, increased life for appliances and water heaters, and reduced use of cleaning supplies including soap, shampoo and detergents.

The study was commissioned by the Water Quality Research Foundation in 2009. The Battelle Memorial Institute, located in Ohio, is an independent testing and research facility dedicated to applied science and technology development. Here are some key findings from the study:

Gas water heaters – Gas storage tank household water heaters that are operated with softened water maintain their original factory efficiency rating over a 15-year lifetime. On the other hand, hard water can lead to as much as a 48 per cent loss of efficiency in water heaters.

Electric water heaters – Up to 13 kilograms of calcium carbonate rock-like scale can accumulate in electric water heaters over time. Scale buildup adversely affects a water heater's performance and the life of the heating element will be shortened because the element must operate at a higher temperature.

Tankless heaters – Indoor tankless water heaters that are operated on softened water maintain their original factory efficiency rating over a 15-year lifetime.

On the other hand, the study found that tankless water heaters completely failed to function because of scale plugging in the downstream plumbing after only 1.6 years of equivalent hot water use on 26 grains per gallon (gpg) hard water. Softened water saves 34 per cent of costs compared to operating on 20 gpg and saves 47 per cent compared to operation on 30 gpg hard water.

Showerheads and faucets – Showerheads on soft water maintained a brilliant luster and full flow. Showerheads on hard water lost 75 per cent of their flow rate in less than 18 months.

Faucets on softened water performed well throughout the study; nearly as well as the day they were installed. Faucets on hard water could not maintain the specified 1.25 gallons per minute flow rate because of scale collection of the strainers. The strainers on the faucets using unsoftened water were almost completely plugged after 19 equivalent days of testing.

Appliances – In the study, dishwashers and washing machines were operated for 30 days and 240 completed wash cycles on soft and hard water sources. The units using soft water were almost completely free of any water scale buildup. As the report states, they appeared as if they could be cleaned up to look like new with just a quick wipe down. The appearance of the inside of units using hard water showed the need for deliming and cleaning due to the buildup of scale and deposits.

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