Best Water Softener for Oklahoma City, OK — 17 Things to Know BEFORE You Buy!

Written by Craig "The Water Guy" Phillips

1. The Local Water Problem in Oklahoma City, OK

Every month, Oklahoma City homeowners unknowingly flush $847 million down their drains. That's the collective cost of hard water damage across the metro — from scaled water heaters struggling to heat efficiently to laundry loads requiring triple the detergent to achieve basic cleanliness. Your Oklahoma City home sits at the center of this expensive problem.

Oklahoma City's municipal water supply registers 7.2 grains per gallon (GPG) of hardness — a measurement that places it squarely in the "hard" classification on the water quality spectrum. To understand what 7.2 GPG means for your home, think of your plumbing system like your body's circulatory system. Just as cholesterol builds up in arteries and restricts blood flow, calcium and magnesium minerals at 7.2 GPG create scale deposits that coat the inside of your pipes, water heater elements, and appliance components.

Oklahoma City draws its water primarily from Lake Hefner, Lake Overholser, and the North Canadian River — all surface sources that naturally pick up dissolved limestone and gypsum minerals as they flow across Oklahoma's mineral-rich geology. At 7.2 GPG, your water contains enough dissolved calcium and magnesium to form visible scale rings inside your coffee pot within two weeks of daily use. This same mineral concentration is simultaneously attacking every water-using appliance in your Oklahoma City home, 24 hours a day.

The financial stakes extend far beyond inconvenience. Oklahoma City homeowners dealing with 7.2 GPG hard water face measurable increases in energy bills, soap and detergent costs, appliance replacement schedules, and plumbing repair frequency. Over a decade, the cumulative "hard water tax" for a typical Oklahoma City household approaches $3,200 — money that could fund a kitchen remodel, family vacation, or college savings account instead.

2. What 7.2 GPG Does to Your Oklahoma City Home

At 7.2 GPG, calcium carbonate scale forms a chalky white coating on your water heater's heating elements within the first six months of operation. This scale acts like a thermal blanket, forcing the heating elements to work 15-20% harder to transfer heat through the mineral barrier. For an Oklahoma City household using a standard 40-gallon electric water heater, this translates to an additional $180-240 per year in electricity costs compared to a home with soft water.

The scale formation process accelerates dramatically when water temperature exceeds 140°F. Inside your water heater tank, dissolved calcium and magnesium ions precipitate out of solution and bond to metal surfaces in concentric rings. Like tree rings marking years of growth, these scale layers mark months of 7.2 GPG hard water exposure. By the 18-month mark, Oklahoma City water heaters operating without a softener typically show 25-30% efficiency loss and require element replacement or full tank replacement.

Your Oklahoma City home's plumbing faces a similar mineral assault. Galvanized steel pipes, common in Oklahoma City homes built before 1980, develop measurable diameter reduction within 7-10 years at 7.2 GPG hardness. The scale doesn't form uniformly — it creates irregular bumps and ridges that catch debris and restrict water flow. Copper pipes fare better but still accumulate scale at connection points, valve seats, and anywhere water temperature fluctuates.

Appliance manufacturers recognize the 7.2 GPG threat level explicitly in their warranty terms. Tankless water heater companies like Rinnai and Navien require annual descaling maintenance for water above 7 GPG — failure to comply voids the warranty entirely. Oklahoma City homeowners purchasing a $1,500 tankless unit without addressing the 7.2 GPG hardness essentially forfeit manufacturer protection from day one.

The soap and detergent waste at 7.2 GPG hardness is both visible and measurable. Calcium and magnesium ions react chemically with soap molecules to form an insoluble precipitate — the gray scum ring around your bathtub. Instead of creating cleaning lather, roughly 40% of your soap is wasted in this mineral reaction. Oklahoma City households typically use 2.5 times more laundry detergent and 3 times more dish soap compared to soft water areas.

For a family of four in Oklahoma City, this soap waste adds up to approximately $320 per year in extra cleaning product purchases. Dishwasher detergent pods that last 30 days in soft water areas disappear in 12 days at 7.2 GPG hardness. The minerals also prevent fabric softener from coating clothing fibers properly, leaving laundry feeling stiff and looking dingy despite multiple wash cycles.

Oklahoma City residents frequently report skin and hair problems that correlate directly with 7.2 GPG hardness exposure. Calcium ions form microscopic deposits on skin that disrupt natural moisture barriers, leading to increased dryness, irritation, and eczema flare-ups. Hair becomes dull and brittle as mineral deposits coat the hair shaft and prevent conditioning agents from penetrating. Children and adults with sensitive skin notice the most dramatic improvement after installing a water softener.

The annual "hard water tax" for Oklahoma City households at 7.2 GPG breaks down to approximately $480 in extra energy costs, $320 in soap waste, $180 in premature appliance depreciation, and $120 in additional plumbing maintenance — totaling $1,100 per year in preventable expenses directly attributable to water hardness.

3. Oklahoma City's Specific Contaminant Profile

Beyond the 7.2 GPG hardness baseline, Oklahoma City residents are also contending with chloramine and fluoride — each of which interacts with water hardness in its own way. Understanding how these contaminants behave in hard water is essential for choosing the right treatment approach for your Oklahoma City home.

Chloramine in Oklahoma City Water

Oklahoma City switched from chlorine to chloramine disinfection in 2004 as part of EPA compliance with Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule. Chloramine is a more stable disinfectant than chlorine, maintaining residual protection throughout the distribution system more effectively. However, this stability makes chloramine significantly harder to remove from water compared to chlorine.

At Oklahoma City's 7.2 GPG hardness level, chloramine interacts with scale deposits inside pipes and water heaters to accelerate corrosion of rubber seals and gaskets. The combination of mineral scale and chloramine reduces the lifespan of washing machine inlet valves, dishwasher door seals, and toilet tank flappers by 30-40% compared to soft, chlorine-treated water.

Oklahoma City residents often notice a distinctive "medicinal" or "band-aid" odor from their tap water, particularly during summer months when chloramine concentrations are highest. Unlike chlorine, which dissipates when water is left uncovered overnight, chloramine persists indefinitely at room temperature. Standard activated carbon filters remove chloramine slowly and inefficiently — catalytic carbon is required for effective chloramine removal.

Chloramine levels in Oklahoma City typically range from 1.5 to 4.0 mg/L (well below the EPA maximum of 4.0 mg/L), but even these levels create taste and odor issues that homeowners want to address. The SoftPro Elite HE water softener alone does not remove chloramine — Oklahoma City residents seeking chloramine reduction need a whole-house catalytic carbon system paired with their water softener.

Fluoride in Oklahoma City Water

Oklahoma City has fluoridated its water supply since 1956, maintaining levels at approximately 0.7 mg/L as recommended by the CDC for dental health benefits. Fluoride is added as hydrofluorosilicic acid at the water treatment plant and remains stable throughout the distribution system.

The interaction between fluoride and Oklahoma City's 7.2 GPG hardness is primarily aesthetic rather than functional. Fluoride does not react with calcium and magnesium ions to form scale or interfere with soap effectiveness. However, some Oklahoma City residents prefer to remove fluoride from their drinking water due to personal health preferences or concerns about cumulative exposure.

Water softeners, including the SoftPro Elite HE, do not remove fluoride through the ion exchange process. The fluoride ion has different chemical properties than calcium and magnesium and is not captured by standard softening resin. Oklahoma City residents who want both soft water throughout their home and fluoride-free drinking water need a two-stage approach: whole-house water softening plus a reverse osmosis system at the kitchen sink.

Oklahoma City's fluoride levels are consistently well below the EPA maximum contaminant level of 4.0 mg/L and the secondary standard of 2.0 mg/L. The city tests fluoride levels daily and publishes results in annual water quality reports available to all residents.

4. Why Most Oklahoma City Homeowners Pick the Wrong Softener

Walk through any Oklahoma City home improvement store and you'll find water softeners priced from $299 to $2,999 — a range that confuses homeowners into making decisions based purely on upfront cost. This price-focused approach leads to four critical mistakes that leave Oklahoma City families with inadequate systems that can't handle 7.2 GPG hardness demands.

Mistake 1: Buying on Price Alone

A $399 "contractor grade" softener from a big box store typically offers 24,000-grain capacity with basic timer-based regeneration. For an Oklahoma City household at 7.2 GPG, this undersized system exhausts its resin capacity every 2-3 days, triggering constant regeneration cycles that waste salt and water while delivering inconsistent soft water quality.

The resin exhaustion math is straightforward: a family of four using 300 gallons per day at 7.2 GPG creates 2,160 grains of hardness demand daily. A 24,000-grain system reaches capacity in just 11 days — but efficiency drops dramatically in the final 20% of capacity, meaning practical exhaustion occurs around day 8-9. Oklahoma City homeowners frequently report "hard water breakthrough" where soap stops lathering and scale reappears between regeneration cycles.

Mistake 2: Confusing Softeners with Filters

Oklahoma City residents often assume a water softener will solve all their water quality concerns, including the chloramine taste and odor issues common throughout the city. Water softeners use ion exchange to remove calcium and magnesium minerals — they do not reliably remove chloramine or fluoride.

This confusion leads to disappointed Oklahoma City homeowners who install a $1,200 softener expecting comprehensive water treatment, only to discover their water still tastes and smells of chloramine. Oklahoma City residents dealing with both 7.2 GPG hardness and chloramine concerns need a two-stage approach: ion exchange softening plus catalytic carbon filtration.

Mistake 3: Ignoring Grain Capacity Math

Proper sizing requires actual calculation, not guesswork based on family size alone. The formula for Oklahoma City households is:

[Number of people] × 75 gallons/day × 7.2 GPG = daily grain demand

For a 4-person Oklahoma City household:

4 × 75 × 7.2 = 2,160 grains per day

Weekly demand equals 15,120 grains, requiring a minimum 32,000-grain capacity for optimal 5-7 day regeneration cycles. Oklahoma City homeowners who skip this calculation often end up with undersized systems that regenerate every 2-3 days, wasting salt and shortening resin life.

Mistake 4: Overlooking Salt Efficiency

At Oklahoma City's 7.2 GPG hardness level, water softeners regenerate approximately 52 times per year — significantly more often than systems in soft water areas. An inefficient softener uses 15-18 pounds of salt per regeneration cycle, while a high-efficiency model like the SoftPro Elite HE uses only 6-8 pounds for the same grain capacity.

Over 10 years of operation in Oklahoma City, this efficiency difference compounds to 2,600-3,120 pounds of salt savings — worth $780-$936 at current Oklahoma City salt prices. The efficiency gap becomes even more significant when factoring in the time and effort required for monthly 40-pound salt bag loading.

5. The SoftPro Elite HE: Built for Oklahoma City's Water

After evaluating Oklahoma City's water hardness of 7.2 GPG and the presence of chloramine and fluoride in the local supply, one system consistently rises to the top for Oklahoma City homeowners: the SoftPro Elite HE Water Softener. This recommendation isn't based on marketing claims or price comparisons — it's based on how well the system's engineering matches Oklahoma City's specific water chemistry challenges.

Salt-Based Ion Exchange for 7.2 GPG Performance

Salt-free "water conditioners" marketed as softener alternatives do not actually remove hardness minerals — they only attempt to change calcium carbonate crystal structure through template-assisted crystallization. At Oklahoma City's 7.2 GPG hardness level, these systems cannot prevent scale formation or eliminate the soap-wasting mineral reactions that cost Oklahoma City households hundreds of dollars annually.

The SoftPro Elite HE uses true cation exchange resin to physically replace calcium and magnesium ions with sodium ions. This process reduces water hardness from 7.2 GPG to under 1 GPG throughout your Oklahoma City home — the only method that delivers genuinely soft water at this hardness level. The ion exchange is complete and permanent until resin regeneration, ensuring consistent performance even during peak usage periods.

Demand-Initiated Regeneration (DIR) Technology

At 7.2 GPG, resin capacity exhausts faster than in soft-water cities — making regeneration timing critical for Oklahoma City households. Traditional timer-based systems regenerate on fixed schedules regardless of actual water usage, leading to either hard water breakthrough (under-regeneration) or salt and water waste (over-regeneration).

The SoftPro Elite HE's microprocessor-controlled DIR system tracks actual grain consumption and initiates regeneration only when resin capacity drops to optimal levels. For Oklahoma City households with 7.2 GPG water, this prevents the common problem of hard water breaking through during high-usage periods like laundry day or when hosting guests.

NSF/ANSI Standard 44 Certified Resin

NSF certification verifies that the ion exchange resin meets strict performance standards and does not leach contaminants into treated water. For Oklahoma City residents already managing chloramine and fluoride in their municipal supply, knowing the softening process itself doesn't introduce additional contaminants is essential for overall water quality confidence.

The certification also verifies consistent hardness reduction performance over the resin's entire service life. Oklahoma City's 7.2 GPG hardness creates heavy daily demand on softening resin — certified resin maintains effectiveness longer than uncertified alternatives.

Multiple Grain Capacity Options

The SoftPro Elite HE offers 32,000, 48,000, 64,000, and 80,000-grain capacity models, allowing precise sizing for Oklahoma City households at 7.2 GPG. Using the proper sizing formula for a 4-person Oklahoma City household:

Daily demand: 4 people × 75 gallons × 7.2 GPG = 2,160 grains

Weekly demand: 2,160 × 7 = 15,120 grains

With 20% safety buffer: 15,120 × 1.2 = 18,144 grains

The 32,000-grain model provides optimal 7-day regeneration cycles for this usage profile, while the 48,000-grain model accommodates larger Oklahoma City households or high-usage periods.

10-Year Warranty Protection

At Oklahoma City's 7.2 GPG hardness level, softening resin processes over 788,000 grains of hardness minerals annually — significant workload that stresses system components over time. The SoftPro Elite HE's 10-year warranty provides Oklahoma City homeowners with protection during the years of highest hardness-related stress on the system.

The warranty covers both parts and labor, addressing the reality that Oklahoma City's hard water environment may require component replacement or repair during the system's service life. This warranty protection is particularly valuable for Oklahoma City residents who understand their 7.2 GPG water creates more demanding operating conditions than softeners face in moderate hardness areas.

For Oklahoma City households dealing with 7.2 GPG of water hardness and the compounding presence of chloramine and fluoride, the SoftPro Elite HE is not a comfort upgrade — it is infrastructure protection for your home.

6. How to Size Your Softener for Oklahoma City

Proper sizing for Oklahoma City's 7.2 GPG hardness requires precise calculation, not guesswork based on family size alone. Follow this step-by-step process to determine the correct SoftPro Elite HE grain capacity for your household:

Step 1: Count all household members, including children and any regular guests who shower and use water daily in your Oklahoma City home.

Step 2: Multiply household members by 75 gallons per person per day. This accounts for showers, dishwashing, laundry, cooking, and general water usage typical for Oklahoma City families.

Step 3: Multiply your household's daily gallon consumption by 7.2 GPG to calculate daily grain demand. This step is critical — Oklahoma City's specific hardness level directly determines how quickly your softener resin becomes exhausted.

Step 4: Multiply daily grain demand by 7 days to determine weekly grain consumption. Weekly calculations provide a more accurate sizing basis than monthly averages.

Step 5: Add a 20% buffer to account for high-usage days such as laundry day, houseguests, or seasonal irrigation needs common in Oklahoma City.

Step 6: Match your calculated weekly grain demand to the appropriate SoftPro Elite HE model:

• 32,000-grain model: Handles up to 26,667 grains weekly (optimal for 3-4 person Oklahoma City households)

• 48,000-grain model: Handles up to 40,000 grains weekly (optimal for 5-6 person households or high water usage)

• 64,000-grain model: Handles up to 53,333 grains weekly (optimal for large Oklahoma City families or homes with irrigation)

Example calculation for a 4-person Oklahoma City household:

4 people × 75 gallons/day = 300 gallons daily

300 gallons × 7.2 GPG = 2,160 grains daily

2,160 grains × 7 days = 15,120 grains weekly

15,120 grains × 1.2 buffer = 18,144 grains weekly capacity needed

Result: 32,000-grain SoftPro Elite HE provides optimal performance with regeneration every 5-7 days — the sweet spot for salt efficiency and consistent soft water delivery in Oklahoma City.

7. Installation in Oklahoma City: What to Know

Oklahoma City does not require licensed plumber installation for residential water softeners, but the city does require a plumbing permit for any work involving connection to the main water line. Most Oklahoma City homeowners choose professional installation to ensure proper placement, adequate drainage, and compliance with local codes.

The SoftPro Elite HE must be installed after your main water shutoff valve but before your water heater — this placement ensures all water entering your Oklahoma City home's distribution system is softened while maintaining access for system bypass during maintenance. The unit requires a 110V electrical outlet within 3 feet and a drain connection capable of handling 40-50 gallons of regeneration discharge.

Oklahoma City's municipal water pressure typically ranges from 45-65 PSI throughout most residential areas — well within the SoftPro Elite HE's operating range of 20-80 PSI. Homes in northwest Oklahoma City near Lake Hefner may experience higher pressure that requires a pressure-reducing valve upstream of the softener. Your installer should verify pressure before connection.

For Oklahoma City's 7.2 GPG hardness level, use evaporated salt pellets exclusively. Evaporated pellets contain 99.6% pure sodium chloride with minimal insoluble residue — critical for maintaining brine tank cleanliness at Oklahoma City's high regeneration frequency. Solar salt crystals leave more residue and can cause bridging issues in systems that regenerate every 5-7 days.

At 7.2 GPG consumption rates, Oklahoma City households use approximately 15-20 pounds of salt per week. Check salt levels monthly and maintain at least 3 inches of salt above the water line in the brine tank. Oklahoma City's humidity can cause salt bridging — a hard crust that blocks proper dissolving during regeneration cycles.

8. Maintenance Schedule for Oklahoma City Homeowners

Oklahoma City's 7.2 GPG hardness creates higher maintenance frequency compared to soft water areas — but following this schedule prevents problems and maximizes system life. The maintenance intensity is proportional to hardness level: Oklahoma City systems work harder and require more attention than those in 3 GPG cities.

Monthly Tasks

Check salt level monthly — consumption at 7.2 GPG is moderate to high. Oklahoma City households typically consume 60-80 pounds of salt monthly, requiring regular monitoring to prevent salt depletion during regeneration cycles. Add salt when the level drops to 3 inches above the water line.

Inspect for salt bridges by gently probing the salt surface with a broom handle. Oklahoma City's humidity combined with high regeneration frequency creates conditions conducive to bridge formation — a hard crust that prevents salt from dissolving properly.

Verify the bypass valve remains in the "service" position. Accidentally switching to bypass eliminates soft water throughout your Oklahoma City home until corrected.

Every 3 Months

Clean the brine tank interior by removing undissolved salt residue and wiping down walls with a damp cloth. At Oklahoma City's 7.2 GPG hardness, the system regenerates approximately 13 times per quarter — accumulating more residue than systems in soft water areas.

Test post-softener water hardness using test strips available at Oklahoma City pool supply stores. Properly functioning systems should deliver water under 1 GPG — if hardness creeps above 2 GPG, the resin may need cleaning or replacement.

Annual Maintenance

Complete brine tank cleaning with full salt removal, interior scrubbing, and fresh salt loading. Oklahoma City's mineral-heavy water creates more brine residue than soft water cities, making annual deep cleaning essential for optimal performance.

Conduct a resin bed performance audit by testing hardness at various taps throughout your Oklahoma City home. If post-softener hardness exceeds 1 GPG consistently, consider resin cleaning treatment or professional evaluation.

Check regeneration cycle timing and salt dosage settings to ensure they remain optimal for your Oklahoma City household's current water usage patterns.

Every 5 Years

Evaluate resin replacement needs based on performance testing and visual inspection. Oklahoma City's 7.2 GPG hardness processes significant mineral volume annually — resin degradation occurs faster than in moderate hardness cities.

Oklahoma City residents should establish a baseline hardness reading before installation and retest 30 days afterward to confirm the system meets performance expectations.

9. Frequently Asked Questions for Oklahoma City Residents

9. Is Oklahoma City's water at 7.2 GPG dangerous to drink?

No, Oklahoma City's 7.2 GPG hardness poses no health risks — calcium and magnesium are essential minerals that actually contribute to daily nutritional needs. The World Health Organization recognizes these minerals as beneficial for cardiovascular health. Oklahoma City's water quality consistently meets all EPA safety standards for drinking water.

The 7.2 GPG hardness creates property damage and increased costs rather than health concerns. The real danger is to your Oklahoma City home's plumbing, water heater, and appliances — not to your family's health.

10. Will a water softener remove chloramine from Oklahoma City water?

No, the SoftPro Elite HE water softener does not remove chloramine through the ion exchange process. Softeners specifically target calcium and magnesium minerals — chloramine removal requires catalytic carbon filtration.

Oklahoma City residents wanting both soft water and chloramine removal need a two-stage system: the SoftPro Elite HE for hardness plus a whole-house catalytic carbon filter for chloramine. Standard activated carbon removes chloramine slowly and inefficiently — catalytic carbon is essential for Oklahoma City's chloramine-treated water.

11. How much salt will I use per month in Oklahoma City at 7.2 GPG?

Oklahoma City households typically use 60-80 pounds of salt monthly at 7.2 GPG hardness. The exact amount depends on water usage — larger families or homes with irrigation systems use more salt due to higher grain consumption.

Using evaporated salt pellets, expect to spend $18-24 monthly on salt for your Oklahoma City home. High-efficiency systems like the SoftPro Elite HE use 30-40% less salt than basic timer-based units, saving Oklahoma City families $200-300 annually.

12. Does Oklahoma City require a permit to install a water softener?

Oklahoma City requires a plumbing permit for water softener installation when connecting to the main water line, but homeowners can obtain permits without using licensed contractors. The permit fee is typically $45-65 and ensures installation meets local codes.

Many Oklahoma City residents choose professional installation despite the DIY option — proper placement, drainage, and pressure considerations are critical for optimal performance at 7.2 GPG hardness levels.

13. Why does soft water feel slippery in the shower?

Soft water feels slippery because soap actually works properly without calcium and magnesium interference. In Oklahoma City's 7.2 GPG hard water, minerals react with soap to form insoluble scum instead of cleaning lather. You're accustomed to soap not working effectively.

With soft water, soap creates genuine lather that cleans thoroughly and rinses completely. The "slippery" sensation is your skin without calcium deposits and soap residue — it's actually cleaner and healthier than the "squeaky clean" feeling from hard water soap scum.

14. How quickly will I see results after installing a softener in Oklahoma City?

Oklahoma City residents notice immediate improvements in soap lathering, but complete scale removal takes 2-6 months depending on existing buildup. Shower doors and fixtures show improvement within 2 weeks as new scale formation stops.

Water heater efficiency improvements at 7.2 GPG become measurable within 30-60 days as existing scale gradually dissolves. Laundry and dishwashing improvements are immediate — detergent effectiveness increases dramatically from day one.

15. Can the SoftPro Elite HE handle Oklahoma City's water without a separate filter?

The SoftPro Elite HE effectively handles Oklahoma City's 7.2 GPG hardness without additional filtration for hardness-related problems. However, Oklahoma City residents concerned about chloramine taste and odor need supplemental catalytic carbon filtration.

For comprehensive treatment, consider the SoftPro Elite HE for hardness plus a whole-house catalytic carbon system for chloramine removal. Fluoride removal, if desired, requires point-of-use reverse osmosis at drinking water taps — no whole-house system removes fluoride cost-effectively.

16. Final Verdict for Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City's hardness of 7.2 GPG demands professional-grade treatment — this isn't a "nice to have" comfort upgrade but essential infrastructure protection for your home. The combination of hard water minerals with chloramine disinfection accelerates appliance wear and increases maintenance costs beyond what many Oklahoma City homeowners realize.

The chloramine and fluoride in Oklahoma City's supply compound the hardness problem in specific ways: chloramine accelerates seal degradation when scale is present, while fluoride remains stable regardless of softening treatment. The SoftPro Elite HE addresses the foundational hardness issue while being honest about what it cannot do — chloramine and fluoride require separate treatment approaches.

Based on 15 years of evaluating water treatment systems across diverse municipal supplies, the SoftPro Elite HE consistently delivers the reliability, efficiency, and performance Oklahoma City's 7.2 GPG water demands. The demand-initiated regeneration prevents hard water breakthrough during peak usage, the high-efficiency design minimizes salt consumption at Oklahoma City's regeneration frequency, and the 10-year warranty provides protection during the demanding early years of operation.

Check current SoftPro Elite HE pricing and available grain capacities for Oklahoma City households — the 32,000-grain model handles most 3-4 person families optimally, while the 48,000-grain unit accommodates larger households or high water usage patterns.

Like the Oklahoma Land Run that built this city in a single day, installing the right water softener creates immediate transformation — but unlike those original settlers who dealt with whatever water they found, today's Oklahoma City homeowners can choose to protect their most valuable investment from preventable hard water damage.