For Most People... Hard Water & Softened Water Are Just As Healthy,
& Softening Your Home's Water Is Just A Personal Preference.

Hardness is a term to describe the presence of calcium and magnesium minerals in water. A chemical analysis accurately measures the amount of minerals in grain weight. To relate it to something familiar, one aspirin tablet usually weighs five grains. We rate hardness of water based on the grains of these minerals per gallon of water (gpg,) Hardness can also be in parts per million (ppm.) To convert ppm to gpg, just divide the ppm by 17.118. For example, 387 ppm equals 22.6 gpg

Note: Water softening systems work by reducing the concentrations of the calcium and magnesium minerals in the water. However, the tradeoff with soft water is instead of having higher levels of calcium and magnesium, most soft water tends to have higher concentrations of sodium, or salt.

Indiana, and The Greater Indy Area By Most People’s Standards, Has Very Hard Water!

The average water hardness for the state is 15.3 gpg (grains per gallon). For context Indianapolis as the state’s largest city has a water hardness level of 16.0 gpg.

SEE HOW HARD THE WATER IS FOR OTHER PARTS OF THE GREATER INDY AREA

hardness scale

SOME COMMON QUESTIONS...

IS HARD WATER OR SOFTENED WATER HEALTHIER FOR YOU?

While you should always speak with your own health provider, for most people there are no serious adverse health risks associated with drinking or using hard water or softened water.

From a health perspective the most common negative to softened water is people with high blood pressure are typically advised against adding salt to their diet, so some people may be also advised against softening their home drinking water. Plus, if your home was built before 1986 when lead pipes were banned, and especially if your home was built in the 1950s when lead pipes were commonly used, softened water is more likely to pick up lead from the inside of these older pipes. Because of the possibility of one or both of these negative side effects, many who install water softeners also choose to also add a reverse osmosis filtration system for drinking water to remove sodium from the softened soft water, along with other contaminants like chlorine and lead.

IS SOFT WATER BETTER FOR BATHING?

Many people think that soft water is better for cleaning your body and your home because it doesn’t leave behind any mineral residue like hard water can. But the truth is that neither type of water offers a better or worse cleaning experience.

Ironically, showering with softened water may leave you feeling like there is a residue left behind because the lack of minerals makes your skin feel more slippery. Similarly, you may also find the floors both inside and outside the tub or shower more slippery making entering and exiting more dangerous.

For some though hard water can contribute to dry skin and hair and related side effects like your scalp feeling itchy and an increase in dandruff. The minerals in hard water can also change the pH balance of your skin, this is why those with eczema may not want to shower and wash with hard water. If you have a history of dry skin and related issues, as an alternative to installing a water softener, you may want to talk with a dermatologist about moisturizers and hair products you can use to combat the effects of the hard water.

IS SOFT WATER BETTER FOR YOUR PLUMBING, MECHANICALS AND APPLIANCES?

If your home was built before 1986, and you still have pipes, solder or flux that were not “lead free” then softened water is typically not a good idea since the salt in softened water can increase the lead you may be drinking and be exposed to.

The pipes and valves within major water-using appliances and mechanicals, like your water heater, and whole house humidifiers can become clogged with scale, reducing water flow or causing leaks. Most people with water softeners feel their appliances last longer and they clean better. This can be true of both your dishwasher and your washing machine. Plus if water supply into your refrigerator's water chiller compartment is softened this means that your drinking water and the ice cubes will be softened. Beyond the taste, that many people tend to prefer, softened water typically prevents calcium deposits on the water dispense and in the ice cube maker trays. Even small appliances like coffee makers will be easier to clean and use. Certainly items like shower doors and even commode bowls are easier to keep clean and free of calcium and limestone deposits and scale in homes with water softeners.

IS A WATER FILTER AND A WATER SOFTENER THE SAME THING?

Water softeners do not filter water, they only remove calcium and magnesium minerals to address hard water. In order to remove contaminants like chlorine, salt or lead, so that the water is safer for drinking, cooking, and showering, you’ll need to use a water filter even if you already have a water softener installed.

A whole house water filter will enable you to provide filtered water throughout your entire house, but you can also get clean water through under sink or countertop filters that provide filtered water only in specific areas. Even non-whole house systems have the same contaminant-removing benefits over water softeners. Some options like a reverse osmosis water filtration systems both reduce contaminants and also reduce total dissolved solids that can contribute to hard water.

About Mitch

Mitch leverages his local expertise, combined with his meaningful business and life experiences, and decades of professional leadership and growth in the construction and technology industries to contribute to his success as one of Greater Indy's Top REALTORs.

Mitch is committed to helping change the lives of his clients as they start their next chapter, by making it easier, more enjoyable and more profitable for his clients that design, build, buy, and sell their home, condo, townhouse or investment property!

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Based On Recent Activity In The Area... What's A Property Worth

Conceptually, What Goes Into The Value Of A Property_{Click To} _{Read More}

If you're like most home sellers, you want to sell your home quickly and for the maximum amount of money. However real estate values are not like a ten-dollar bill that is worth $10 regardless of if it’s crisp and brand new, or if it’s twenty years old, dirty and torn. Neither the condition of the bill in your hand, the condition of other ten-dollar bills, nor the location of where you are holding the bill will change its value! If the value of real estate was also this precise and exact, just like the value of a dollar bill, then there would frankly be no need for real estate agents!

Accurately evaluating the value of a house, townhouse, or condominium is a complex calculation that leverages years of experience and expertise like Mitch has, as one of the Top REALTOR's in the Greater Indy area! So let's start at the very beginning - with the RIGHT price! And the best way to find the RIGHT price is to ask Mitch.

If You Are Just Starting To Consider Moving & Haven't Already Identified Your Next Place...
Then See How The Real Estate Market is Today By Any State, City Or Zip Code

1/3 Is About The Property Itself: The Location, Condition, Updates, Bed & Bath Count, Size, Age & All Features

1/3 Is About Similar Places For Sale A Buyer Could Also Buy, At The Same Time, In The Same & Similar Areas

1/3 Is About What Similar Properties, In The Same Or Similar Areas, Have Sold for In The Last 6-12 Months

What is A Current Greater Indy Place Worth

_{For An Even More Precise Valuation Of Your Greater Indianapolis Property, After You Have Completed The 1st Above... Feel Free To}_{Share Additional Details Here}

4 Common Ways To Determine The Value Of A Property, From The Most Accurate (4 stars) To The Least Accurate (1 star)

COMPARATIVE MARKET
ANALYSIS (CMA)
When Done Correctly
It's The Most Accurate
APPRAISAL BY
LICENSED APPRAISER
Value Based On The
Lender's Perspective
INSTANT ONLINE
HOME VALUATION
Easy, Fast, Free, &
Rarely Accurate
SALES PRICE PER
SQUARE FOOT
The Most Widely Used
And The Least Accurate

As A Seller... "I always felt relaxed and like his only client."

I always felt relaxed and like his only client. It is without hesitation that we recommend Mitch Rolsky as a real estate agent for both the buy and sell side.

We have worked with Mitch twice in the purchase of a downtown Indy home and then with the subsequent sale of the same house just over 2 years later. Mitch's guidance allowed us to purchase the home in a desirable location at a price level that was at the lower end of the market range at that time. During the sale of the home, Mitch paid no attention to what the home was sold for earlier but focused on what the market would bear. Mitch focused on selling the value of the home and the location as opposed to price. He knows the market extensively and set a selling price and sales strategy that worked perfectly in a softening seller's market.

We moved because of a career change which forced us to move away during the sales process. Mitch took care of everything from there....in essence, we left our entire belongings in the care of Mitch. Friendly, detailed, trustworthy, knowledgeable and professional are but a few of the attributes of Mitch. Thanks Mitch....

ANNIQUE & MARTY G.

Recent Sales

As A Buyer... "Purchasing Indy real estate virtually from California during covid, was not within my comfort zone."

Purchasing Indy real estate virtually from California during covid, was not within my comfort zone. I needed an agent to patiently show me things as though I was there myself, speak with blunt honesty and find balance between my "desire" list and a stable long term investment.

Mitch doesn't miss a beat! He is highly intelligent, engaged with his clients - stellar communicator with a wealth of wisdom not only through the home buying process, but in life. I always felt relaxed and like his only client, yet knew he was doing much hard work in the background.

I've heard in life that "your realtor is your best friend!" Best friends work for your best interest; he was always right there and always told it like it was....so appreciated!!! He exceeded all expectations and hope to work together again in the future!

KRISTINA & ROBERT O.