Water Softeners
Water softeners are very effective at preventing the build-up of limescale and so extending the lifespan of plumbing and appliances. This is achieved by replacing the calcium (and other cations) in the hard water with sodium. However, there are significant other compromises that need to be considered.
Drawbacks vs Clenso:
- No health benefits
- Negative health impact as:
- Users consume even more sodium which is already too high in our modern day diets – based on various researches (e.g. the average consumer takes in more than double the daily recommended amount of sodium in some developed countries). High sodium intake is associated with many problems including increased risk of cognitive decline, kidney dieseases and kidney stones, hypertension, high blood pressure increasing chances of heart attacks and strokes, bone thinning, stomach ulcers, weight gain and so on.
- A World Health Organisation report suggests hard water is actually beneficial for health and has shown a correlation with reducing heart attacks. But water softeners remove the water hardness, stripping it off the natural occuring, beneficial ingredients.
- Requires replacing salt every 8 to 12 weeks (tedious process rather than simply replacing a Clenso Lemon Bottle)
- Harmful for environment as wastes a significant amount of water- an estimateed 7300 litres (1600 gallons) of water wasted annually for a family of 4
- Very expensive as:
- Water softeners start from £250 with a good quality system costing £500 – £2,000
- Plumber initial setup charges of £65 to £400 (depending on how complicated the system is)
- Requires regular, often monthly maintenance. Includes service from engineer, motor, parts & repairs
- Requires more space due to large sizes and requires electrical connection
- Often loud and noisy
