
Millcreek Plumbing
4035 S West Temple, Building B
Salt Lake City, UT 84107
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Hard water takes a serious toll on your property. The high mineral content creates scale buildup in pipes, reducing water flow and increasing pressure on your plumbing system. This can lead to costly repairs.
Appliances that use water will use more energy and wear out faster– including your dishwasher, washing machine and hot water heater. The accumulation of hard water scale on the heating elements forces these appliances to use up to 30% more energy.
Replacing appliances damaged by hard water is expensive. A water softener helps extend appliance life by preventing mineral buildup that causes premature failure.
Hard water affects more than just your home’s systems. It can impact your body too.
The minerals in hard water make it difficult for soaps to lather properly, leaving people with itchy, dry skin.
Hard water can also affect internal organs over time. While minerals like calcium and magnesium are beneficial in your diet, they can also possibly contribute to kidney stones when consumed in high concentrations through drinking water.
According to a 2025 Water Quality Report from Salt Lake City Public Utilities, the city’s water hardness ranges from 121-487 ppm (parts per million), with most areas falling between 157-189 ppm. This translates to approximately 7-28 grains per gallon.
By industry standards, this is classified as “hard” to “very hard” water. The water across Salt Lake County rates at around 13 grains per gallon hardness, which is considered very hard.
A home water softener system significantly reduces or eliminates hard water problems throughout your home.
If you answered yes to several of these questions, a water softener could be the solution.
A soft water system for the home removes minerals like magnesium and calcium from the water. These systems work through a process called ion exchange, where hard minerals are replaced with sodium or potassium ions.
Modern water softener systems are compact, efficient, and designed to work quietly in the background of your home. It includes a mineral tank where the hard minerals are removed, a brine tank which holds the salt solution, and a control value. These components work together to provide soft water when needed.
The best systems are properly sized for your household’s water usage and calibrated to your specific water hardness level.
This cycle repeats automatically, providing your home with continuous soft water.
We find that most water softeners will last 10-15 years with regular maintenance. Here are some of the signs that it’s time for replacement:
If your system is more than 10 years old and showing these symptoms, replacement is often more cost-effective than continued repairs.
At Millcreek Plumbing, we diagnose and fix water softener issues quickly to restore your system’s performance. Our expert technicians handle everything from simple maintenance to complex repairs on all water softener brands and models.
Common problems we solve include:
Don’t wait until small issues become expensive replacements. We offer upfront pricing, quality replacement parts, and complete testing after repairs to ensure your water softener works properly for years to come.
If you live in Salt Lake City, the answer is likely yes. With our region’s very hard water, most homes benefit from water softener installation. However, factors to consider include:
Our technicians can help you evaluate these factors and recommend the right solution for your specific needs.
Installing a water softener is an investment that pays for itself. You’ll save money through:
Many homeowners report that their water softener paid for itself within 2-3 years through these savings.
Cleaning becomes easier with soft water. You’ll notice:
Your home will not only be cleaner but will stay clean longer with less effort.
Soft water makes a noticeable difference in personal care:
Many people with skin conditions notice significant improvement after switching to soft water.
Your laundry will look better and last longer with soft water:
Soft water helps preserve your clothing investment by preventing mineral damage to fabrics.
Ready to solve your hard water problems? Contact Millcreek Plumbing today for a free water hardness test and consultation.
Our expert technicians will help you select the right water softener system for your home and provide professional installation, and we can provide maintenance and repair services to make sure your system runs efficiently for years to come.
Need an estimate on a plumbing challenge? Please complete the form below and we’ll get right back to you (usually same day M-F 8am-5pm). Need a faster response? Give us a call at 801-277-3342
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What makes water hard or soft?
A: Water hardness is determined by the concentration of dissolved minerals, primarily calcium and magnesium. These minerals enter the water supply as it travels through rock and soil.
Hard water contains high levels of these minerals (typically above 7 grains per gallon), while soft water has minimal mineral content. Salt Lake City’s water is considered very hard due to our local geology.
How hard should water be?
A: Ideally, household water should measure below 3 grains per gallon (or 51 ppm) to be considered “soft.” Most homes in Salt Lake City have water that measures between 7-28 grains per gallon, well above the threshold for “hard” water.
While some mineral content can be beneficial, levels this high cause problems for plumbing, appliances, and personal care.
Which is healthiest and safest to consume?
A: Hard water contains minerals that can actually provide health benefits when consumed, so it is safe to drink.
However, softened water is better for your home’s systems and for cleaning purposes. Some people with certain health conditions may need to monitor sodium intake from softened water.
For those concerned about sodium, there are potassium-based systems available. Many homeowners choose to keep one unsoftened tap for drinking and cooking while softening water for the rest of the home.
Need service in your area? Call us at (801) 277-3342 to confirm availability.