[jimbo2012]

Soft water, such as has been produced by a water softening system,
tank lifetimes can be reduced by 50 percent or more (Weingarten and Weingarten 1992).

For example, the A.O. Smith water heater manual acknowledges “artificially softened water is exceedingly corrosive because the process substitutes sodium ions for magnesium and calcium ions.
The use of water softener may decrease life of water heater tank.”

An assessment of homeowners’ insurance claims resulting from water heater failures conducted by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS ) found that water heater failures are one of the top five “water loss” claims, or claims in which monetary compensation is sought as a result of
water damage to furniture, equipment, or the home itself.
Of the 700 water-heater-related water loss claims analyzed, 69 percent were due to leaks in the water heater or to the tank bursting.
The water heater failures cost an average of $4,444 per incident after the deductible was paid

The Battelle study found that for electric storage water heaters, regular flushing to prevent sediment buildup maintains efficiency for the lifetime of the equipment. For gas storage water heaters, cleaning the tank of sediment buildup was not found to restore full efficiency since the burner surface at
the bottom of the tank cannot be completely cleaned.

although Biker1 says he has hard water (12), the water company says it not very hard at all (a 9 on scale of 1-15).

NOTE! if a water softener is not properly adjusted and maintained you may find that higher levels of salt are being placed into your homes water supply.

Here is what Sears says about the effects of salt in drinking water in buildings where a water softener is installed:

Sodium information: Water softeners using sodium chloride for regeneration add sodium to the water. Persons who are on sodium restricted diets should consider the added sodium as part of their overall sodium intake. For example, you would have to drink 3 quarts of softened water to consume 335 milligrams (mg) of sodium. That's equivalent to eating 2 1/2 slices of white bread.


Keep in mind that a water softener is not a water filter. If your water supply is contaminated with bacteria, chemicals, or sediment, the water softener is not designed to remove those substances.

Like a Nova filter