Using the water softening process, a water softener solves one of the most pervasive and dangerous water issues, namely water hardness. By eliminating the calcium and magnesium minerals from the water via a process known as ion exchange, hardness is removed from the water, making it useable and soft. Hard water difficulties brought on by water hardness affect millions of individuals. Some of these issues include:
- Chlorine or sulphur odours from
- Chlorine or sulphur odours from water
- Poor taste and smell from water
- Poor aesthetics from water
- Stiff, scratchy clothes and bedding and destroyed washing equipment
- Spotting and filming on glasses and plates
- Poorly functioning home appliances
- Abnormal corrosion of household items
You now understand the extent of the hard water issue. Your house is losing a lot of money as a result of the hard water. You’re having to spend more money on items like soap, shampoo, detergent, housecleaning products, and even face cleansers since they all work less well with hard water. Additionally, you’re definitely taking more time each day to clean yourself in the bathtub or shower. In the washing machine, your clothing are probably deteriorating considerably more quickly than they should. And your faucets, showerheads, and water heaters likely have significant amounts of mineral accumulation.
What is a water softener and what does it do?
A whole-house filtering device called a water softener uses an ion exchange mechanism to remove the calcium and magnesium minerals that cause water to become hard.
One of the most common and destructive water issues is the hard water issue, and a water softener solves it. Calcium and magnesium that are dissolved in the water cause it to be hard. These minerals are obtained from several sources. Your water supply’s groundwater’s degradation of naturally existing minerals is the main cause. The quantity of calcium and magnesium present in the water is often used to describe water hardness in this article. In grains per gallon, calcium and magnesium levels in water are shown (GPG). One grain per gallon represents around 58.5 parts per million, or one-tenth of a grain (0.1) of either calcium carbonate (CaCO3) or magnesium oxide (MgO) (ppm).
How does a water softener work?
An ion exchange resin, a brine tank, and an electronic control unit are the three main components of a water softener. The brain of the softener is the ion exchange resin. It is responsible for all of the water’s real softening. The resin is the conduit via which all water entering the home passes. Numerous thousands of small, negatively charged plastic beads are dispersed throughout the resin. These beads are negatively charged due to their submersion in a sodium polystearate and sodium chloride solution. The word brine refers to the salt solution. The calcium and magnesium ions in hard water are drawn to the beads as it travels through the resin. The sodium ions are subsequently exchanged for the calcium and magnesium ions. The water is now soft and devoid of hardness minerals as a result of this exchange. The plumbing system of the house then receives the soft water.
Difference between a water softener and water filter
While a water filter is used for drinking water, a water softener is a whole-house filtering device.
Ion exchange, a technique used by water softeners to extract calcium and magnesium from water, helps to reduce water hardness.
Water filters function to stop germs and small particles from passing through a hole in a membrane or barrier. The size of the hole or membrane determines how quickly the water flows. As a general rule, the water flow will be somewhat sluggish to enable water molecules to pass through if a normal human hair can fit through the pore.
Guide to choosing a water softener
There are several considerations to make if you want to soften your water. The new water softener has to be sized to match the capacity of the old one if you’re replacing an existing one. Additionally, you must confirm that your new water softener utilises the same kind of brine tank as your outdated equipment. Additionally, if you are installing the water softener for the first time, you must ensure that its capacity matches the volume of water held in the water tank.
We really hope you have liked reading our water softeners blog. We hope that this post has assisted you in selecting the best water softener for your needs. Water softeners are a terrific method to maintain clean, healthy water in your home.
