Overview: Installing a commercial water softener protects your business’s equipment, ensures the quality and taste of your food, and prolongs the life of your pipes — all the more reason to install a water softener! Let’s learn in detail why you should install a water softener at your restaurant.
Picture it: You’re out for a nice dinner with your loved ones. The restaurant is lovely and the ambiance is inviting. But when you’re seated at a table, you’re greeted with a cloudy glass of water or stained utensils to eat your food. You ask your server to change the utensils for you, but they look the same. You may be willing to stick around for the sake of sating your hunger, but it might be the last time you go to that restaurant.
It may sound like a minor detail, but customers do notice and remember these things.
The use of water in a restaurant (and at home) is absolutely necessary — even more so than the use of salt in food! You use water everyday to cook, clean, drink, and so much more.
But what does it mean when you notice a white calcium-like buildup around your faucets or appliances? Or residue on your glasses that makes them look dirty even when they’re freshly washed? Or even worse — your water starts tasting noticeably different? Chances are these problems are caused by hard water!
Hard Water Vs. Soft Water:
You might be wondering — what’s the big fuss? It shouldn’t matter as long as my restaurant’s water is clean. Well, that’s not all that matters. Understanding the difference between these two kinds of water is important if you want to make the right choice for your restaurant.
Hard water is absolutely not good for the health of your equipment and appliances and will leave a bad impression on your customers, especially when their drinks taste funny. Hard water contains unwanted minerals that cause a multitude of problems. If left unchecked over time, the buildup can even cause plumbing clogs and shorten the life span of the expensive machinery of your restaurant, not to mention your pipes. On the other hand, soft water contains little to no trace of soluble materials.
To change your hard water into soft water, your restaurant needs a water conditioning system designed for use on an industrial scale. The answer is a device that extracts the minerals out of the water, known as commercial water softener.
>> Related Reading: Soft water vs. hard water: what’s the difference?
How a Commercial Water Softener Works:
Although the idea of “softening” water may seem like something out of science fiction, it’s actually a well-established and straightforward process. The machine begins by removing the magnesium and calcium minerals from the water and replacing them with sodium ions. Essentially, a commercial water softener functions like a magnet, drawing out the unwanted minerals present in the water and leaving you with softer, safer water.
The entire process happens inside the water softener tank, and with proper, regular maintenance — you’ll enjoy clean, soft water for years.
>> Related Reading: How does a water softener work and why should I care?
Benefits of Commercial Water Softener in Your Restaurant:
Perhaps most importantly, installing a water softener combats water quality problems which may be affecting the taste of beverages you’re serving. The improved flavor and aroma of beverages will ensure that customers don’t avoid your restaurant in the future — but that’s not the only benefit!
Get more out of your appliances — Using a commercial water softener helps you prolong the life span of the appliances you’re using in your restaurant’s kitchen. When the minerals from the hard water accumulate, they end up causing blockages in and around your restaurant’s plumbing system — which can lead to costly repairs and cause your machines to break down easily.
Ask yourself: Are expensive repairs worth it? Or would you rather take a precautionary measure?
Cleans more efficiently — Hard water is notoriously frustrating when it comes to washing dishes. Your restaurant can’t afford low standards of cleaning and hygiene.
Reduce your energy bills — You didn’t see this one coming, we bet! But it’s true: Mineral buildup will cause your restaurant’s appliances to work less efficiently, meaning they’ll require more energy to do their jobs, meaning your energy bills will go up. A commercial water softener will get your appliances humming along smoothly and inexpensively.
In Summary:
Are you debating whether a commercial water softener will be a worthwhile investment for your restaurant or whether you should skip it? As a restaurant owner, your priority should be running your restaurant at the lowest cost possible but with the highest standards. To ensure the best possible level of hygiene in your restaurant, one of your top priorities should be the supply of clean, safe, soft water at your establishment.
Do you still need more information? Do you have questions related to commercial plumbing or water systems? We’re here to help. At NIR, we’re your plumbing experts for new construction, restaurant and retail construction, and remodel construction. Contact us today for a free estimate!
