You’ve probably been in a situation where the water was too hard or soft. For myself, I’ve taken showers in places where the water feels almost like small bullets ricocheting off my back and I’ve drank water from restaurants that made me feel strangely vacant and empty inside because of how soft it was. Good water, whether for drinking or showering, is somewhere between the two extremes but can be difficult to achieve without a proper water softener system.
WHAT IS IT?
A water softening system is a system used to combat hard water (that is, water filled excessively with minerals and ions) by removing ions such as calcium, magnesium, and other minerals from your water supply before it reaches you. It may not sound like a big deal, but hard water creates a risk for limescale deposits, which can lead to some pretty nasty buildup over time by causing problems in your pipes and lowering the efficiency of your overall plumbing system.
In addition to creating potential problems for your pipes, hard water can also damage your daily life by creating dry, itchy skin, faded clothing, opaque spots on your dishes , water spots on faucets, rings in your tub or spots on the shower floor, and in extreme cases, appliance failure.
TYPES
A typical water softener system for your home.
There are four types of water softener systems that are commonly used in homes: Ion exchange, salt-free, reverse osmosis, and magnetic. Before purchasing any of these systems, it’s a good idea to do some research and figure out what kind of system would be best for your home, needs, and budget, as there are oftentimes single and double tank options to consider. The best water softener will last for years and require little to no maintenance other than filling up the salt (if your system needs it). Below, I’ve made a quick description about the types of water softening systems to give you a bit of a better idea what they do and how they do it. If you’re interested in possibly purchasing one of these systems for yourself, click on the image above to be redirected to one of the most trustworthy plumbing sites online, Plumber’s Stock.com.
ION-EXCHANGE – This works by exchanging ions in the water sodium or potassium ions, removing ions that cause hard water. This prolongs the use of washing machines and dishwashers, but it is NOT recommended as drinking water due to its high sodium concentration.
SALT-FREE – This is probably the most common water softening system you’ll see in American homes. It uses a filter so no chemicals, potassium, or salt is needed, and this means the minerals in the water aren’t affected either. This system works best for water that is moderately hard; for systems with excessively hard water, a salt-free unit may not be enough to adequately soften the water. These systems are sometimes known as descalers.
REVERSE-OSMOSIS – This system uses pressure to remove impurities in the water via a semi-permeable membrane, much like our animal cells do. While this system can remove up to 98% of impurities found in the water, it also removes essential minerals simultaneously, so if you plan on using this system, it’s a good idea to get something that will replace some of the lost minerals and ions.
MAGNETIC – This system uses magnets in or around the water pipes to remove impurities. Unfortunately, this type of system is only good if you plan on using the water for short periods of time, as the water will return to its hard water stage within 48 hours after leaving the magnetic field.
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