A lot of residential areas do not have soft water, and the hard water available can cause harm to a person’s hair and skin. Other than that, it is also damaging to the appliances that use the water and even to the plumbing system as the pipes tend to get clogged and damaged over time.
If you live in an area where you can’t get soft water naturally, then investing in a good water softener system is ideal. There is an array of water softener systems available in the market in various capacities and budgets.
Let us first try to understand how a water softener system works. Most of the conventional water softener systems soften the water by replacing the excess minerals in the water with sodium. That is why softened water always has a salty tinge to it as it contains salt. Water flows through two tanks – one containing zeolite or resin beads and the other containing salt and liquid brine. The negatively charged resin beads attract the positively charged ones in the water and help the water absorb the sodium.
Here are some of the benefits of softened water from water softener systems as compared to untreated hard water.
- Softened water leaves no scaling with use over time which is the case with hard water. This scaling can often develop in pipes and can lead to plumbing work over time if the hard water use is continued.
- Water treated in water softener systems do not harm the skin and hair. Water that is not softened can make one’s skin and hair extra dry and damage it in the long run.
- Cleaning different surfaces with soft water is much easier than cleaning with untreated hard water. Since water treated in water softener systems do not scale, the surfaces cleaned with it also look cleaner and shinier.
- Washing clothes with soft water ensure that no hard minerals are left behind in the fabric. It also helps the detergent work more effectively. Washing clothes with hard water regularly can make clothes look dull and gray, especially the whites. This is not the case when clothes are washed with soft water.
- Soft water also helps maintain the longevity of appliances that use water due to the non-scaling advantage. Some of these appliances include coffee makers, steam irons, ice makers, washers, dryers, water heaters, and dishwashers among the many others.
- Water treated in water softener systems can also help you save money on fixing any plumbing or appliance damage that may arise due to scaling with the use of hard water.
- Softened water heats up faster than hard water which would mean less consumption of energy by water heaters and lower utility bills.
- Soft water reduces the formation of soap curds that may be difficult to get rid of while bathing or cleaning.
- However, it is important that you take some precautions if you are consuming water that has been treated in water softener systems. The water may not be ideal for consumption for those who have been advised to take a low sodium diet as the softener systems replace the minerals with sodium to soften it.
Before you set out to buy any of the water softener systems, find out about the hardness of the water at your home or office is. A lot of water softening system companies help you evaluate the hardness of the water. There are testing kits also available in the market that helps you do this by yourself.
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Benefits of equity release
Read moreEquity release is a process which refers to retaining an asset that has capital value, while the owner enjoys a steady flow of income from the said asset, owing to the capital value of the assets. This is normally done for house and property through which you can earn income, but with a condition that the income provider must be repaid at a later stage after the demise of the home owner.
Equity release scheme is preferred by elderly who have no intentions of leaving their estate to any heir or cannot, after their demise. A common form of equity release in the country is also known as a reverse mortgage. A reverse mortgage is a type of loan which is provided to elder people who are not charged any monthly mortgage payments but are responsible for paying all property taxes and homeowners insurance. The loan payment is deferred without any problems for accessing the home equity. The interest component for availing the mortgage is added back to the loan balance which in time increases the value above and beyond what can be recovered from the home at that stage.
The advantages of equity release include:
The lump sum amount which you will receive as part of the equity release is a tax-free form of annuity return one can say. Income tax takes out a major chunk of your income and thus this tax-free benefit can prove to be quite handy.
Estate owners have to pay inheritance tax which is a tax paid when the heir of the estate owner inherits any property or the estate from the said owner. This can be quite a substantial amounts and the big advantage is equity release helps reduce the amount of inheritance tax that needs to be paid.
The housing market conditions influence the prices which keep fluctuating and thus there is no sure guarantee of good returns. However, with equity release, there is a no negative equity guarantee that will protect the borrowed from these fluctuating prices which can affect the overall value of the estate or property.
Borrowers are free to refinance their mortgage a minimized cost with other finance providers owing to fluctuating interest rates. This is a big benefit when it comes to equity release.
As mentioned earlier, equity release will enable the owner (borrower) of the home or estate to reside on the same property without worrying about repayments during the tenure of their stay up until their demise.
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How the right daybed covers can improve your interior decor
Read moreIf you live in a studio apartment or a tiny space and have toiled hard to find a solution to get furniture that serves the purpose of napping, seating, lounging as well as accommodating guests at night, a comfortable daybed is all you need.
The popularity of daybeds can’t be denied and it’s all due to their versatility. It is so easy to choose a daybed for any kind of space because they come in so many sizes and styles. Daybeds can be a single or a twin bed or even a trundle bed that can be pulled out when required for some additional sleeping space. The style you choose to go with will depend on what complements the rest of your interior décor style. Depending on the space available, it will be wise to decide beforehand the size of the daybed you want to go with. There are large and elaborate ones that are more traditional and slim and simple designs that suitably fit tiny spaces.
Making your daybed visually appealing is not a difficult job as you can shop for so many kinds of daybed covers. A variety of affordable fitted daybed covers come in an array of fabrics and designs. It’s also a good idea to turn an unused bed into a daybed to make it multi-functional. This gives you a simple yet chic option to add an extra sitting and napping place. You will be surprised how simply changing the upholstery can drastically alter the overall look of your furniture.
To make it more inviting, all you need to do is to find a good fitted or tailored daybed cover and throw a bunch of cushions or a pair of bolsters to match the upholstery style. To make the daybed cozier and livelier, go with warm colors. If you are particularly fond of a feminine look, pastel shades or floral designs on your daybed cover would be good. For an airy and spacious look, cool colors like lighter shades of blue do wonders. If you want to add a sense of depth, white and off-whites are what you need for your daybed covers.