IndexPart One: Understanding Hard WaterUnderstanding Water SofteningWhy Go Through the Trouble?When You're Caught Up in the Hustle of Planning a New RV Trip , it's incredibly easy to overlook one detail that can affect both the long-term health of your RV and the short-term enjoyment of your trip. You wouldn't be blamed if you don't keep water hardness in mind when packing, preparing and planning your family trip. Many people have perfectly soft water in their homes and may have never even heard of the term soft water. RV veterans, however, can attest to the value of an on-the-go water softener. Here's a basic summary for anyone not yet familiar with water softeners or water hardness: Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayPart One: Understanding Hard WaterWhen we think about hardness, water is probably the last thing that comes to mind. In this case, however, hardness does not refer to how strong or difficult something is to break. When talking about water, especially drinking or household water, hardness refers to the amount of minerals dissolved in the water. Calcium and magnesium are two perfectly natural minerals found throughout the world and can be detected in almost any type of water (except distilled water, which can actually be unhealthy in pure form, believe it or not)! However, when there is too much calcium and magnesium in the water, this can have a number of negative effects. While hard water is not toxic, it can often have an unpleasant taste and unsightly appearance. The high mineral content excludes other minerals and chemical substances, with the result that the water does not dissolve soaps, salt and sugar properly. Hard water can also be irritating to skin and hair when used for showering; While it's not dangerous, some people may find that it dries out their hair or skin more than is comfortable. Finally, hard water can be harsh on pipes, faucets, drains and filters, leading to a shorter lifespan and more frequent clogs. This tendency is due to the fact that, as hard water dries out, it is more likely to leave behind mineral residues that slowly build up or erode the metal around it. Understanding Water Softening The process of water softening refers to decreasing the amount of minerals in the water. Generally, water softeners focus on calcium and magnesium, but sometimes they also work to remove iron from water sources. They do this by pumping water through a tank that contains specially formulated salts. These salts bind to minerals in the water, allowing the water that is pumped out of the tank to be significantly less mineralized. Water softeners are relatively simple in their construction, and as a result, it is perfectly possible to find portable products like the Go Water Softener. Why go through all the trouble? No matter how experienced an RV enthusiast you become, the unexpected will always be an integral part of the RV experience. While not all unexpected events are fun, many are, and the mystery of the open road is what fascinates so many of us. Being prepared is priceless when such unpredictability is constantly present. In our modern age of relative abundance, it's easy to forget that ideal water isn't always available. This is especially true when you're traveling. There are so many factors that affect water quality that it's simply not wise..