(Newswire.net — December 1, 2021) —
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. Water softeners are most commonly used to remove limescale from household plumbing fixtures, appliances, and fixtures. The device can also be used to help with the removal of bacteria and other contaminants from your water.
Water softeners work by replacing calcium and magnesium ions with sodium ions. The hardness ions are exchanged by an electric current that is generated when a salt, usually sodium chloride, or potassium chloride.
Water softening does not remove iron, copper, sulfur, or manganese which are naturally occurring minerals in most Michigan Water supplies. Blocked or plugged brine tanks require more salt than when they are clean and can prevent your water softener from working at its best. When replacing a water softener, you must match the size of the system with the needs of your household. Water softeners can be used to treat hard water well water, home water softeners, or city water.
What are the benefits of water softeners?
Imagine having hard water in your home. Think about how difficult it would be to keep your home looking clean. Hard water can be so difficult to work with, some people will even avoid using their washing machines as a result. This is because hard water can leave you with several problems, including hard water stains on your faucet and showerhead. The best softeners can help you overcome all these problems when you install them in your home.
How does a water softener work?
Your water softener is the most important part of your home. It works by exchanging calcium and magnesium ions for sodium ions in your water supply. This is accomplished by passing water through a bed of specialized beads that are coated with a resin containing sodium ions. As the water passes through the beads, the calcium and magnesium ions in the water replace the sodium ions on the beads. The resin beads are designed to allow sodium ions to pass through while holding onto the hardness ions. After the water softener exchange process is complete, the water is then supplied to your home’s plumbing. As the water passes through your home’s pipes, the hardness ions are still held in the resin beads in the softener. Eventually, the resin beads become saturated with the hardness ions and must be regenerated to remove the excess hardness. The regeneration process uses either a household electric current or a stream of water to flush the hardness ions out of the resin beads. The hardness ions are then flushed into the wastewater system.
Implementing a water softener
You can have a water softener installed by a professional or you can do it yourself. If you have basic plumbing skills and little time to spare, you can install a water softener yourself. However, if you are not the DIY type, you can hire a plumber to do it for you. Water softeners come in two different types: saltwater and salt-free. Salt-water softeners use salt to remove hard minerals from the water, while salt-free softeners use water-softening resins to do the same.
Conclusion:
Water softeners use ion-exchange resins to remove calcium and magnesium from your water. The hard water that goes into the softener comes out soft, so you can use it for bathing, washing dishes and clothes, and using it in the garden. Water softeners are an essential part of a healthy household.