Water SoftenersSave Energy

Water Quality Association

“Household Water Heating Efficiency Improvements from

Softened Water” by Battelle Memorial Institute.

To retrieve a copy of the complete report,

please go to this link:

www.wqa.org/BattelleReport

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US Household Energy Usage

Source: www.energystar.gov

Water heaters: Second highest energy consuming area of a home.

Gas Storage Tank Water Heaters

• With softened water: oGas storage tank household water heaters

operated on softened water maintained the original factory efficiency rating over a 15 year lifetime.

• With hard water: oHard water can lead to as much as a 24% loss of

operating efficiency in gas storage water heaters.

Battelle Research Results

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Tankless Water Heaters• With softened water

o Indoor instantaneous gas water heaters (tankless heaters) operated on softened water maintained the original factory efficiency rating over a 15 year lifetime.

• With hard water (26 gpg)o Tankless water heaters operating on hard water failed after 19 days of testing. o The equivalent of only 1.6 years of hot water use.

Softened water saves between 40% of costs (versus 20 gpg) and 57% of costs (versus 30 gpg).

•  

Battelle Research Results

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Battelle Research Results

Carbon Footprint

• 15% increase for gas storage tank water heaters operated on 26 gpg hard water for 15 years versus softened water

• 4% increase for tankless water heaters operated on 26 gpg hard water over 15 years

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Battelle Study Messages

• Even the newest and most efficient water heaters become more efficient with softened water

o Prevents a 10% drop in energy efficiency that happens within just 2 years

o Eliminates the need for regular scale removal which translate into a 14-57% reduction in operating costs over the first two years of ownership

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Is 10% Big?

YES!

The most energy efficient water heater on the market today

…a tank-less water heater….

is 10% more efficient with softened water

…..and it also reduces the operating cost by up to 57%

Dishwashing Study Results

Lowering the water hardness to zero grains per gallon by water softening will allow for a reduction in the amount of

detergent to 30 grams - 38% of full dosage and still achieve equal or better cleaning compared to what occurs in hard water with 80 grams - 100% of full detergent dosage

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The Energy Savings Story In Summary

1. Water heaters are the 2nd biggest users of residential energy

2. Consumers are switching to energy efficient appliances to cut energy costs

3. Most manufacturers of water based appliances recommend that consumers use soft water

4. The independent 2009 WQRF and Battelle Softened Water Benefits Study showed that:1. Water heaters using softened water are 10% more efficient after

less than two years.2. Operating costs of a tank-less water heater using soft water are

reduced by 14 to 57% after 2 years depending on water hardness.

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