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Hard water, soft water: What’s the difference?
Hard water has a mineral content of more than 7 grains per gallon (120 mg/L). It keeps soap from lathering and rinsing off easily and, over time, can leave deposits in appliances or around faucets that can affect their performance. Soft water has a mineral content of less than 7 grains per gallon (120 mg/L), and has none of the harmful effects of hard water.1
What water softeners do for Ontario homes
Home water softeners help remove odours and minerals such as calcium, magnesium and iron from your water. Left untreated, these can affect your skin, the operation of your washing machine, water heater and plumbing system, and the colour and taste of your water.1
How hard is your city’s water?
Find your city on the map of Ontario or the table below to discover how soft or hard your city’s water supply is. If you have hard or very hard water, you should contact us for a free no-obligation water test and water softener price quote.
Water hardness scale
Water hardness of Ontario cities
| City | mg/L | GPG | Classification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Almonte | 393 | 23.0 | Very Hard |
| Arnprior | 51 | 3.0 | Soft |
| Aurora | 128 | 7.5 | Hard |
| Barrie | 300 | 17.5 | Very Hard |
| Belleville | 270 | 15.8 | Very Hard |
| Bracebridge | 11.3 | 0.7 | Soft |
| Brampton | 120 | 7.0 | Moderately Hard |
| Brantford | 306 | 17.9 | Very Hard |
| Burlington | 124 | 7.2 | Hard |
| Caledonia | 119 | 7.0 | Moderately Hard |
| Cambridge | 450 | 26.3 | Very Hard |
| Cayuga | 122 | 7.1 | Hard |
| Chathman | 110 | 6.4 | Moderately Hard |
| Clinton | 80 | 4.7 | Moderately Hard |
| Delhi | 231 | 13.5 | Very Hard |
| Dunville | 119 | 7.0 | Moderately Hard |
| Elmira | 330 | 19.3 | Very Hard |
| Etobicoke | 100 | 5.8 | Moderately Hard |
| Fonthill | 120 | 7.0 | Moderately Hard |
| Fort Erie | 117 | 6.8 | Moderately Hard |
| Galt | 450 | 26.3 | Very Hard |
| George Town | 506 | 29.6 | Very Hard |
| Grimsby | 111 | 6.5 | Moderately Hard |
| Guelph | 370 | 21.6 | Very Hard |
| Hamilton | 120 | 7.0 | Moderately Hard |
| Hespler | 450 | 26.3 | Very Hard |
| King City | 130 | 7.6 | Hard |
| Kingston | 530 | 31.0 | Very Hard |
| Kitchener | 325 | 19.0 | Very Hard |
| Leamington | 110 | 6.4 | Moderately Hard |
| Lindsay | 180 | 10.5 | Hard |
| Listowel | 265 | 15.5 | Very Hard |
| London | 113 | 6.6 | Moderately Hard |
| Lucknow | 209 | 12.2 | Very Hard |
| Markham | 125 | 7.3 | Hard |
| Milton | 129 | 7.5 | Hard |
| Missussauga | 130 | 7.6 | Hard |
| Mitchell | 265 | 15.5 | Very Hard |
| New Castle | 125 | 7.3 | Hard |
| Newmarket | 139 | 8.1 | Hard |
| Niagara Falls | 104 | 6.1 | Moderately Hard |
| North York | 125 | 7.3 | Hard |
| Oakville | 124 | 7.2 | Hard |
| Oshawa | 125 | 7.3 | Hard |
| Ottawa | 30 | 1.8 | Soft |
| Paris | 684 | 40.0 | Very Hard |
| Perth | 265 | 15.5 | Very Hard |
| Peterborough | 120 | 7.0 | Moderately Hard |
| Pickering | 125 | 7.3 | Hard |
| Port Dover | 134 | 7.8 | Hard |
| Port Elgin | 141 | 8.2 | Hard |
| Port Perry | 274 | 16.0 | Very Hard |
| Port Rowan | 111 | 6.5 | Moderately Hard |
| Richmond Hill | 125 | 7.3 | Hard |
| Scarborough | 100 | 5.8 | Moderately Hard |
| Simcoe | 294 | 17.2 | Very Hard |
| St. Catharines | 122 | 7.1 | Hard |
| St. Thomas | 356 | 20.8 | Very Hard |
| Tavistock | 429 | 25.1 | Very Hard |
| Toronto | 100 | 5.8 | Moderately Hard |
| Uxbridge | 186 | 10.9 | Very Hard |
| Vaughan | 129 | 7.5 | Hard |
| Waterford | 216 | 12.6 | Very Hard |
| Waterloo | 350 | 20.4 | Very Hard |
| Whitby | 125 | 7.3 | Hard |
| Windsor | 100 | 5.8 | Moderately Hard |
| Woodbridge | 129 | 7.5 | Hard |
Get a free, no-obligation price quote and a water test
Fill out the form below to receive a call from us to schedule a free in-home assessment, including a water test and price quote.
Why is soft water better than hard water?
Soft water has several benefits your family will experience every day:
Faster household cleaning
Soft water leaves no soap scum to clean from shower heads, faucets or humidifiers – saving you time. Floors, windows and woodwork clean better with soft water, too.
Better-looking clothes
Washing your laundry in soft water is more effective and leaves your clothes brighter, cleaner and softer.
Energy savings
Water heaters can consume up to 22% less energy when heating soft water.^
Cleaner, healthier skin & hair
Soft water washes away more cleanly and is less likely to clog your pores. Sensitive skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis may improve.2
Money savings
Eliminating hard water buildup helps extend the life of appliances and plumbing because soft water is much easier on water heaters and tankless water heaters.
What kind of hard water treatment do I need?
Enercare offers two kinds of water softener units for Ontario homes: standalone water softeners and with water softeners with a dechlorinator unit. Both will soften your water and are easy to maintain, but each offers different benefits.
Benefits of water softeners
- Softens your water and eliminates odour by removing calcium, magnesium, low traces of iron and other minerals.
- Prevents scale buildup on your taps, fixtures and appliances, keeping them performing like new for longer.
- Leaves your hair silkier and more manageable and your skin less dry.
- Prevents laundry from fading and leaves your clothes feeling softer.
- Eliminates spots on your dishes, leaving them sparkling clean, using half the amount of soap compared to washing with hard water.
- Perfect solution for both municipal and well water.
- Uses 80% less salt than traditional water softeners.
- Fully programmable and computerized to measure exact water usage.
- Inexpensive to operate: A 12-volt AC unit uses less than $3/year in electricity.
- Lifetime manufacturer warranty.
Benefits of water softener with a dechlorinator
All the benefits of a water softener on its own, plus:
- Removes chlorine and volatile organic chemicals from your water.
- Chlorine is one of the most common complaints Ontario homeowners make about their water. Enercare’s water softener with a dechlorinator is specifically designed to work in the Canadian municipal water markets and is our #1 water treatment seller.
Should I rent or buy a water softener?
Buying a water softener in Ontario can cost between $2,414 and $2,920, depending on the filter model and installation costs like parts and labour. Renting a water softening system with Enercare Advantage® has a $0 installation cost* and repairs covered for the life of the equipment.**
We have flexible and affordable rental and purchase options to suit your budget.
| Rent with Enercare Advantage® | Buy from Enercare | |
|---|---|---|
| Installation Charges | $0* | Included |
| Repair Costs | $0** | Not Included |
| Ownership | Enercare | You |
| Length of Agreement | Life of equipment | None |
Why choose Enercare for a new water softener in Ontario
When you choose Enercare for your water softener, you get:
Expert installation & service by a qualified technician
Brand-new, high-performance, CSA- or NSF-certified components and equipment all made in Canada
Competitive rental pricing and flexible payment options
No hidden costs: installation is included in the price of every rental**
24/7 support centre to help you book a service call no matter what time it is
Our trained and professional plumbers size, install and maintain your equipment to ensure it works properly. We have the following credentials:
- 18 years in the water purification business
- Serving over 120,000 plumbing customers
- Over 90 plumbers and growing
- Fully licensed through Ontario College of Trades (OCOT)
- Fully licensed under Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB)
- Over 150,000 plumbing related service calls completed annually
What else to consider
Free water quality test
Call for a free water quality test with an Enercare Water Sales Consultant to learn if it’s right for you.
Water treatment options
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