I've been noticing for a few months that the water comes out really hard, and my coffee maker and kettle are getting damaged faster. I live in an area where the water is quite hard and I'm thinking about getting a water softener, but I'm not sure if it's really worth the expense or if there are cheaper alternatives.
Before you spend money on a water softener, calculate how much it costs you to replace those appliances that get damaged by limescale, because sometimes the softener pays for itself just with that. In your case, if you're already replacing coffee makers and kettles pretty regularly, it'll probably be worth it for you. Ion exchange softeners (the most common ones) aren't cheap upfront, but they last years and you only need to refill the salt now and then - just make sure you check salt refill prices in your area because they vary a lot.
The cheaper alternatives depend on how much limescale bothers you. You can start with a magnetic filter or a reverse osmosis system (though these need other maintenance), but if your water is really hard, those solutions are more of a band-aid. Another option is to descale just the water you use in your coffee maker and kettle with a small filter - less investment, but also less coverage. The important thing is don't trust those cheap ultrasonic or magnetic softeners you see online; most of them don't work the way they promise.
If you decide to install a real one, get quotes from several companies and break down exactly what's included: installation, maintenance, annual salt cost. Some places offer promotions if you ask for included maintenance service. That said, if you live in an area with really hard water and use a lot of appliances, it almost always ends up being profitable in the medium term - we're talking 2 to 3 years to break even just from not having to replace appliances so often.
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