Using a Water Softener Against Hard Water
Do I need a water softener? A water softener is a device that helps in removing the calcium, magnesium, and other metal cations that are part of hard water and converts it into soft water. It’s connected to your plumbing system at a point of easy access, usually underneath your kitchen sink.
Water softeners work using a process called ion exchange. During this process, magnesium and calcium ions from water are exchanged with sodium chloride (aka, salt). This happens via a special resin. The water then goes into a pressure vessel where it moves through resin beads, and the calcium and magnesium are replaced by sodium. The calcium and magnesium ions are then removed in regeneration cycles, leaving behind only soft water.
If you’re wondering why water softeners are becoming increasingly popular in households across the world, that’s mainly due to the negative effects of hard water. Unlike soft water, hard water can have a negative impact on you, your household, and your wallet. Depending on where you live, you could also find contaminants from sewage and industrial waste seeping into your water supply.
Hard water comes in the deposition of scale and scum.
Difficult to form a lather with soap.
The build-up of this material can create blockages in pipework and lead to the premature failure of water heaters.
Due to hard waters composition, it can result in a less effective wash in all household appliances. Whether that’s your kitchen kettle, your sink, dishes, bathtub, and even your clothes.
H3: How Do I Know If I Need a Water Softener?
If the last paragraph didn’t convince you that you should invest in a water softener, maybe a professional will.
One way to know for sure whether or not investing in a water softener will benefit you is to have your current hard water professionally tested. DIY testing kids are widely available online, and in home centers and hardware stores. However, many companies that provide water softeners will usually offer a take-home water softener sampling kit. You can drop the kits off or mail them in to have your water evaluated for a fee.
On top of that, you’ll notice changes around the house. If you detect any of the following, you definitely need to invest in a water softener.
Staining on sinks, toilets, and bathtubs
Dry skin and air
Scale buildup on appliances
Higher utility bills
Your clothes coloring has faded
Brittle glassware
Constant plumbing issues
H4: So Do I Need a Salt-Free Water Softener or a Salt-Based One?
Is there a big difference between the two? What’s better for my home? Just 2 of the questions we get asked on the daily. To put your mind at ease and allow you to be confident in your decision, let’s look at the pros and cons of each system:
Salt-Based Water Softener Pros
A salt-based water softener will remove minerals like calcium and magnesium from your water
A salt-based water softening system will reduce the excess amount of lime-scale build-up
More efficient and longer-lasting appliances as well as fewer repairs and plumbing maintenance
Salt- Based Water Softener Cons
Salt-based water softeners have a small service life
Negative impact on the environment
The water after the softener is not the best for drinking as it contains salt
Takes up space in your cupboard
Requires electrical power supply
You can’t install it yourself, a professional is needed
Excessive use of water up to 7% is wasted for regeneration
Constant service maintenance is required
Expensive salt bags required
Adds a slimy feel to the water - you can check out our last blog post to see why this happens by clicking here.
Salt-Free Water Softener Pros
A high-efficiency system that can help you turn hard water into soft water.
Designed to soften water, remove scale, and prevent future recurrence of scale.
Enhances water heater performance, which gives you big savings on energy expenses.
The system also works well to prevent scale build-up. This increases the lifespan of your piping system and household appliances.
Descalers provide you and your family with healthy drinking water. The device doesn’t remove beneficial minerals from the water. No salt or chemicals are added to the water during treatment. This is useful if you have certain health conditions, such as high blood pressure.
The water softener doesn’t use salt or chemicals, pipes and appliances are spared from corrosion.
Salt-free water softeners are also low maintenance systems. You don’t need to bother with the periodic replacement of salt to keep the system operational.
Most descalers don’t use electricity. This helps to keep your overall costs down. It makes the salt-free water softener a cost-effective choice.
The water softener also promotes green priorities. It is an ecologically sound choice compared to saltwater softeners.
Salt-Free Water Softener Cons
It sets out limitations as it only works in running water. You’re not able to treat stagnant water contained in your boiler or reservoir.
Systems that use salt are typically quicker at showing results versus a salt-free water softener system. This is because filtration in the salt base system starts immediately.
H5: The Conclusion
When looking at the best choice for a water softener, we at Filter Smart always recommend going for a salt-free one, and you now know why.
At Filter Smart, we want you to take back control of the water inside your home with whole house filtration.
Our goal is to help revolutionize the industry by providing you with only top quality, salt-free water softening systems.
Experience water quality like it was meant to be! With Filter Smart, you can now replace your old salt-based softeners or the faucet and shower filters once and for all.
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