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What is water hardness?
Hardness is caused by compounds of calcium and magnesium, and by a variety of other metals. These minerals are simply picked up as water travels over, under and through the earth’s surface. Hardness varies due to the environment in which the water travels and therefore changes as the earth’s mineral make up changes.

How do I find out about my water’s hardness?
Call your local water department or the water department of where you may be traveling to. They will be able to tell you the Grains Per Gallon (gpg) of hardness for their area.

Click here for a great resource on water quality/hardness.

How is water hardness measured?
soft: 0-3.5 grains per gallon (gpg),
moderate: 3.5-7.0 gpg,
hard: 7.0-10.5 gpg, and
very hard: over 10.5 gpg

What does WETSPOT do?
Wetspot removes the hardness by using a resin. The resin carries sodium. When the hard water carrying the dissolved calcium and magnesium come in contact with the resin, the resin releases the sodium and grabs onto the calcium and magnesium ions that are making them hard. Thus, releasing a softer water. If there is dissolved manganese and/or iron in the water, Wetspot can also remove them.

What are the benefits of using soft water and the detriments of using hard water?
Using softwater will help ensure a lasting finish on Boats, RVs, autos, aircraft, etc. The harmful elements left in hard water can dramatically shorten the life of most finishes.

Soft water is much more beneficial to hair and skin. Hard water may leave a film on skin and possibly cause skin irritations. Hard water may also leave behind minerals that can change your hair’s true color. Soft water leaves behind shiny, soft hair that is more manageable. Skin feels soft and smooth.

Soft water also ensures the purest flavor when cooking-because there are no unwanted minerals adding unwanted flavors to foods and beverages-ice tea, coffee, etc. Also, as these deposits build up they reduce the efficiency of heat transfer, so food may not cook as evenly or quickly in pans with large scale deposits

Any appliances and plumbing that use water are also at risk for the abuses of hard water. The dishwasher, washing machine, coffee makers, and other on-board pumps, etc. will have deposits left behind if they are using hard water. When the deposits start building up, supply hoses and water outlets can slow down or become clogged. If soft water is used to run these appliances then there is less maintenance and less chance early replacement of equipment.

Hard water requires more soap and synthetic detergents for laundry and washing, and contributes to scaling in boilers and industrial equipment. .
The American Institute of Laundering reported that laundry costs almost double when water with a hardness of 5 gpg (grains per gallon) is used versus when water with a hardness of less than 1 gpg is used. It has also been documented that when using water with less than 1 gpg hardness:
A) linens last twice as long
B) soap consumption is less
C) washing times are less

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