A water softener addresses one of the most prevalent and devastating water problems which is water hardness using the water softening process. Water softening is a process of removing hardness from the water by a process called ion exchange which removes the calcium and magnesium minerals from water and the water becomes soft and usable. Millions of people suffer from hard water problems caused by water hardness. Some of these problems are:
- Stiff, scratchy clothing and bedding, and ruined laundry equipment
- Spotting and filming on glasses and dishes
- Soaps and detergents that don’t lather well
- Poorly performing household appliances
- Abnormal corrosion of household appliances
- Chlorine or sulfur smells from water
- Poor taste and smell from water
- Poor aesthetics from water
So now, you are aware of how devastating the hard water problem is. This hard water is causing your home to lose significant amounts of money. It’s causing you to spend more money on things like soap, shampoo, detergent, household cleaners, and even facial cleansers, all of which are less effective when used in hard water. You’re also probably spending extra time in the shower or in the bathtub each day to get clean. Your clothes are likely fading much faster than they should in the washing machine. And you’re probably experiencing high levels of mineral buildup in your faucets, showerheads, and water heaters. Here you can learn more about the best water softeners by visiting: https://watersoftenershub.com/best-water-softeners/.
What is a water softener and what does it do?
A water softener is a whole-house filtration system that removes hardness-causing calcium and magnesium minerals from your water through a process called ion exchange.
A water softener addresses one of the most prevalent and devastating water problems is the hard water problem. Water hardness is the result of dissolved calcium and magnesium. These minerals come from many different sources. The chief source is the breakdown of naturally occurring minerals within the groundwater that is your water supply. Water hardness, as it is used in this article, is generally expressed as the amount of calcium and magnesium present in the water. The amount of calcium and magnesium in the water is expressed in grains per gallon (GPG). The grains measurement is one-tenth of grain (0.1) of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) or magnesium oxide (MgO); in other words, one grain per gallon equals about 58.5 parts per million (ppm).
How does a water softener work?
Water softeners are made up of 3 basic parts: an ion exchange resin, a brine tank, and an electronic control unit. The ion exchange resin is the heart of the softener. It’s what does all of the actual softening of water. All of the water that enters the house flows through the resin. The resin contains thousands of tiny plastic beads that are negatively charged.
These beads are negatively charged because they are immersed in a solution of sodium chloride (salt) and sodium polystearate. The salt solution is known as brine. When hard water passes through the resin, the calcium and magnesium ions in the hard water are attracted to the beads. The calcium and magnesium ions are then exchanged for sodium ions. This exchange leaves the water soft and free of hardness minerals. The soft water then flows into the home’s plumbing system.
Difference between a water softener and water filter
A water softener is a whole-house filtration system while a water filter is used for the drinking water. The water softener removes the hardness of the water by removing the calcium and magnesium minerals from water using a process called ion exchange.
Water filters work to trap and block particles and in some cases bacteria from passing through a pore in a barrier or a membrane. The speed of the water flow depends on the size of the pore or membrane. As a general rule, if a typical human hair can fit through the pore then the water flow will be relatively slow to allow water molecules to pass through.
Guide to choosing a water softener
If you’re looking to soften your water, there are a few things to keep in mind. If you’re replacing an existing water softener, the new unit will need to be sized to match the capacity of the old unit. You’ll also need to make sure your new water softener uses the same brine tank type as your old system. And if you are installing the water softener for the first time, then you will have to make sure that the capacity of the water softener is equal to the amount of water stored in the water tank.
In the end, we hope you enjoyed this blog about water softeners. Water softeners are a great way to keep your household water clean and healthy and we hope that our article helped you find one that is right for you.
