What is a Water Softener and Why You Need One
If you happen to have hard water, you will definitely need a water softener to help reduce the problems associated with it.
06/10/2020
Getting a water softener is a bit of a conundrum for many people. After all, how do you truly soften a fluid? The truth is there is such thing as soft water and hard water, the latter of which creates issues with your appliances and plumbing system. If you happen to have hard water, you will definitely need a water softener to help reduce the problems associated with it.
What is a Water Softener?
A water softener is a type of filtration
system that eliminates minerals such as calcium
and magnesium from the water. Water with high
levels of these minerals is referred to as hard
water. While these minerals are considered
generally safe, they do cause clogging in the
pipes and the plumbing system.
This is
even made more complicated when detergents and
soaps are added to the water. The use of a water
softener will significantly reduce the amount of
minerals that cause clogging.
What are the Effects of Hard Water?
Other than causing clogged pipes, hard water
will also make it a bit difficult to dissolve
soap and detergents. Hard water can also
increase
limescale deposits in the water system.
Limescale deposits are hard and chalky. Once
they build up in the pipes (often those that are
used to deliver hot water), they will affect how
efficiently water is delivered and even cause
damage to the pipes. Limescale can also diminish
the function of hot water boilers, tanks, and
even kettles.
Aesthetic issues can also
arise due to the presence of hard water in your
system. It can cause unsightly water spots on
sinks, bathroom tiles, bathtubs, toilet bowls,
bidets, and even dishes and silverware.
Mineral deposits from
hard water will also increase the risk of damage
to appliances such as washing machines. This
will necessitate frequent repairs or costly
replacements. Note that the presence of high
levels of minerals in the water does not
necessarily make it unsafe to use or consume. It
will not likely change the way the water looks,
smells, or tastes. However, it will still
increase the likelihood that your water system
could be damaged.
Signs You Need a Water Softener
1. You notice scale buildup
on your coffee pot, kettle, and other
appliances. The buildup appears chalky, white,
beige, or brown-reddish, depending on the
presence of certain minerals in the water.
2. There are stains on
sinks, tiles, and bathtubs. Chalky stains appear
on surfaces after the water evaporates. When it
does, it leaves calcium and magnesium stains
behind.
3. Light-colored
clothes and fabric appear gray or faded. Without
a whole-house water softener, clothes will feel
scratchy and faded. You will notice that the
fabrics may also seem difficult to wash.
4. The plumbing system requires
frequent repairs. Pipes, particularly steel
ones, are damaged by limescale buildup. PVC and
copper pipes, on the other hand, are far more
likely to resist limescale better.
5. Water pressure is low.
Buildup makes the interior of the pipes
narrower, affecting water pressure.
6. There is water leakage in
and around the valves. Valves that lead to your
dishwasher or washing machine become damaged
from limescale buildup. If you try to shut off
the valves, they will not close completely,
causing water to leak.
How Does a Water Softener Work?
There are several methods used to treat water hardness. By far the most common include ion exchange, reverse osmosis, and distillation. Here's a brief look at how each method works.
Ion Exchange. This method is
commonly used for household water softening. In
this method, calcium and magnesium ions are
removed using ion-exchange resins. The two
minerals are then replaced by sodium ions. The
resins used for this method are made of sodium
ion-charged spherical polystyrene beads. These
ions carry a negative charge while hardness
minerals in the water carry a positive charge.
When water flows through these beads, the beads
attract the mineral ions, essentially
eliminating them and releasing the sodium ions.
Soft water is then distributed through the
faucets.
Reverse Osmosis.
RO forces water through a semi-permeable
membrane to remove hardness ions while allowing
water molecules to pass through. This allows
clean, soft water to be distributed throughout
the plumbing system.
Distillation. The process of
distillation allows water to undergo evaporation
and condensation. During evaporation, hardness
ions are separated from water molecules, so when
condensation occurs, the water no longer
contains calcium and magnesium minerals.
The Process of Regeneration
Even the best water softener that uses the ion exchange method will not last forever. Eventually, sodium resins will be replaced by calcium and magnesium minerals, rendering the resin spent and unable to soften water. When this happens, a process called regeneration is often performed. This is when the water softener is run on a regeneration or alternate cycle. This involves backwashing the resin with a brine solution to flush out the hardness ions that the resins have absorbed. When the regeneration cycle is completed, the water softener can then be used to treat hard water.