Culligan Blog

The Fountain of Youth: How Hydration Can Help You Age Gracefully

It’s never too late to take some simple steps toward rejuvenating your health. And Culligan would like to remind adults that proper hydration is not only an easy way to boost anti-aging; drinking clean, fresh filtered water can also help you lead a healthier lifestyle.

Skip the Cosmetics Counter, Reach for Your Water Glass

Perhaps skipping the cosmetics counter all together isn’t necessary, but increasing your daily water intake remains one of the best ways to keep your skin looking young. When your body is properly hydrated, your skin can focus on healing wrinkles, lines and cracks that may appear as we age. Whereas dehydration may cause the skin to go into “survival” mode – using as little moisture as possible and prioritizing the healing of scrapes and wounds. Best of all, hydrated skin can actually boost the effectiveness of anti-aging cosmetics.

Soften Your Skin and Hair

Many women may notice changes in their hair’s texture and condition as they age; hair can become drier, coarser and more brittle than before. This is due in part because the body’s production of sebum, a natural lubricant, slows down as we get older. However, maintaining a diet rich in anti-oxidants, calcium, vitamins A, E and C, as well as Omega-3 Fatty Acids and drinking at least 64 ounces of water a day can help combat this hair-raising issue.¹

Additionally, eliminating the use of hard water can dramatically improve the appearance of hair and skin. Hard water contains high amounts of calcium, magnesium and iron – which can cause clog your skin’s pores and leave your hair limp and lifeless. Switching to soft, treated, conditioned water will leave your skin feeling softer and smoother. Your hair will be silkier and bouncier.

Pump Up Your Metabolism and Maintain a Healthy Weight

Did you know that lean muscle tissue contains approximately 75% water? That’s why proper hydration is so important to maintaining muscle tone, which in turn increases the body’s fat burning capacity.²    

Zero calorie water can also be a secret weapon to maintaining a healthy weight.  A recent study found that middle aged and older people who consumed just two cups of water before a meal ate 75 to 90 fewer calories.  Why? Water fills up your stomach, helping you feel satiated faster. And, replacing sugary soda beverages – which can contain calorie-rich high fructose corn syrup – with water is another way to help keep those extra pounds at bay.

Filter Out Exposure to Harmful Impurities

Filtering your tap water is not only  a simple step toward a healthier lifestyle, it can actually decrease exposure to harmful impurities.³   Advanced reverse osmosis home water filtration systems – such as the Culligan Aqua-Cleer® Drinking Water System – can reduce lead, radium, aesthetic chlorine, arsenic and other toxins, like hexavalent chromium. These drinking water systems provide access to fresh, clean, great-tasting water right from your tap – at the cost of just pennies per day.   

¹ http://www.hairfinder.com/tips/aging-woman.htm

² http://reviveyourlife.com/inspiration-and-wellness/the-h2o-factor-hydration-supports-healthy-weight-loss/

³ Impurities are not necessarily in your water

Concerned about that funny chlorine smell in your drinking water?  

While chlorine may conjure visions of swimming pools, did you know that it has been widely used as a disinfectant for drinking water since the early 1900s? In fact, chlorine has not only revolutionized water purification it has been hailed as the major public health achievement of the 20^th century! ¹

Today, chlorine remains the most widely used chemical for water disinfection to ward off waterborne diseases (for example, typhoid, hepatitis and cholera).²  But recent hoopla about water disinfection byproducts (DBPs) – which can make their way into the water supply – can lead to concerns about tap water safety.  To help consumers sort the facts from the myths, let the Culligan Man answer  some top consumer questions:

1. What is a disinfection byproduct?

DBPs form when disinfectants used to treat drinking water react with naturally occurring materials in the water. Trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids are the primary byproducts that result from the use of chlorine as a disinfectant.^1,2

2. Are there actions being taken by federal and local agencies to monitor or reduce DBPs?

The EPA has regulated the presence of DBPs since 1979 to address potential health risks posed by chlorinated water. ¹ And, in some communities, the EPA has even required water utilities to reduce the amount of DBPs by switching to alternative disinfectants such as chloramine. ³

3. How do I know if my drinking water contains DBPs?

If you have concerns, you can turn to a couple of easy to access, reliable resources.  Obtain a free copy of your Consumer Confidence Report from the EPA to see exactly what is in your local municipal water supply and how it is being treated before it reaches your home or simply review your annual water quality report that you receive from your local water utility.

4. What can I do to limit DBPs in my home’s drinking water?

Consider adding a household drinking water filtration system for an extra level of security.   Culligan’s patented water filtration technology – including systems like Aqua-Cleer® – can be customized to reduce impurities⁴ in your water like aesthetic chlorine, lead, radium, and cysts.     

¹ http://www.cdc.gov/safewater/publications_pages/thm.pdf

² http://www.epa.gov/dclead/disinfection.htm

³ http://www.digtriad.com/news/local/article/184191/57/Disinfectant-Change-Cou

⁴ Impurities are not necessarily in your water.

Can a Water Softener Really Make Your Other High Efficiency Appliances More Efficient?

The major appliances in your home – refrigerators, washing machines and dishwashers – consume a hefty portion of your monthly utility bill.  That’s why many savvy homeowners have switched to high efficiency appliances that use half the energy of older models and can cut costs by up to $2,000 per household¹. 

Recent Study Exposes Hard Water Drains

But consumers who’ve invested in high efficiency, water-using appliances may unknowingly be cancelling out their benefits if they don’t have soft water.  Imagine purchasing a brand new, high efficiency washing machine only to have to de-lime it due to scale and deposit build-up after only 30 days!  That’s what a recent Water Quality Association study found, along with the effects of untreated hard water on other home appliance like water heaters.²  According to the report, using hard water also caused…

• Premature failure of tankless water heaters due to scale plugging in the downstream plumbing after only 1.6 years of use;
•  24% loss of efficiency in gas storage tank water heaters;
•  Shortened lifespan of the heating element in electric water heaters due to scale buildup that raised the operating temperature.

 Soft Water Boosts Equipment Performance

In contrast, the same study found that soft water can actually improve the performance and lifespan of these appliances².  That’s good news for homeowners who don’t want to see their investment in high efficiency units go right down the drain.  In fact, soft water can actually make these appliances even more efficient.  The report showed that by using soft water:

• Gas storage tank and tankless household water heaters maintained their original factory efficiency rating over a 15-year lifetime;
• Tankless water heaters running on soft water can help recover the cost of a water softener and operating supplies in just one year;
• Reducing washing machine water hardness is 100X more effective at stain removal than increasing temperature or detergent dose.  Detergent can be cut by 50% and temperatures run as low as low as 60ºF with the same stain-banishing benefits!

Smart Softening Leads to Savings

If you’ve made the investment in high efficiency appliances there’s one way to make sure the energy and money savings start flowing: installing a high efficiency water softener, like the Culligan HE Water Softener.

The Culligan system cuts energy usage by up to 46% and operating costs by 60%³ - while also ensuring you’re getting the most from your other high efficiency appliances.

Contact your local Culligan dealer today to determine your water softening needs, visit www.culligan.com or call 1-800-CULLIGAN. 

¹ Natural Resources Defense Council: http://www.nrdc.org/air/energy/fappl.asp

² Water Quality Association “Softened Water Benefits Study”

³ Versus a time clock regeneration softener

Heavy rains and the recent visit of Hurricane Irene have caused flooded basements and crawlspaces in several regions this summer. In some cases, homeowners’ water conditioning equipment and drinking water systems have been exposed to flood water. Unless the equipment was inundated with flood water there is little cause for concern. However, the equipment should be examined carefully – and safely – before resuming use.

• Use caution when approaching any electricity-using equipment while there is still water on the floor; better to leave it alone until the floor is dry.
• If youw water softener or drinking water system appears to have been immersed in flood water, it should be inspected by a qualified technician before using it again - control circuit boards and other electrical components that have been immersed may need to be replaced.
• Any electrical outlets that were under water will have to be inspected and may need to be replaced.
• For partial immersion – say water rose up the side of the conditioner tank a few inches but the control valve was not touched – the equipment may need only cleaning with soap and water.
• If you have a private well and the well head was inundated you should have the well inspected and tested and your water system sanitized before using the water again; your water treatment equipment should also be inspected, filters replaced, and sanitized separately from the supply piping.

Of course, your local Culligan Man is your best resource for questions about your water treatment systems. He can provide inspections, testing, repair, and replacement. He will also be aware of your local needs and requirements. Additionally, Culligan also provides bottled water delivery services in many parts of the country.