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How a Home Water Softener Works
A home water softener is a water treatment device that can reduce or remove chemicals that make drinking water hard through a process called ion exchange. This process allows your hard water to be safe to drink; and also the softened water will be gentle on home appliances and laundry. Water hardness is caused by excess calcium and magnesium.
What is water hardness?
Water hardness is the presence of high dissolved sodium, magnesium, and calcium concentrations in water.
There two types of hardness: temporary hardness and permanent hardness. Temporary hardness can be removed by boiling the water. Permanent hardness can only be removed by water softening. Hardness is measured in parts per million or grains per gallon. Soft water range between 0 – 1 grains/gal; a very hard water is 10.5 grains/gal and over. Water will begin to show signs of hardness when the level is over 1 grains/gal.
How do you know my water is hard?
If you get your drinking water through public water supply, you may receive an annual report from the water authority updating you on your water quality. Public water authorities or suppliers in the United States are required to send an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) to their customers. This report will show information about test results the water supplier has performed; the concentration level of each chemical detected; health effects of these contaminants; and where source water is taken from. This report will also tell you whether your water is hard. You can also purchase a water hardness testing kit to test for your water hardness level. If you prefer, you can hire a water testing laboratory to perform the test for you.
Generally, you will know that your water is hard when you begin to notice the following signs: - Scales forming in your shower heads, boiler, bottom of steam irons, dishwashing machines and pipes.
- Flows in your pipes are restricted resulting in low flow through faucets. Hardness chemicals become deposited in pipes and over time will restrict flows.
- Excessive scum in your bath tubs. Soaps cleaning ability is diminished when minerals that form hardness thicken the soap forming scum around the tub.
- Dishes and glasses becoming potted when dry.
- Your hair fee sticky when washed with hard water.
Why Water Softening?
Hardness is one of the drinking water problems. Hardness can be removed with a reverse osmosis filter, home water distillers, or ion exchange process. Reverse Osmosis (RO) water filtration process is pressure-driven. RO water filters work best at high-pressure flows. The pressure forces the water across the membrane of the reverse osmoses water filters leaving the harmful organics and pathogenic bacteria behind. This process depends on the pressure of the water in your pipe.
Contaminated water in a distiller is heated to a boiling point in a closed chamber and then vaporized. The vapor is collected in another chamber where it is condensed, cooled and can then be dispensed through a faucet from the storage tank, or from a pitcher. This process requires a lot of electricity but very effective in separating harmful chemicals from drinking water. Some softeners use electricity while some use the waterpower.
The cost of electricity used will depend on the number of people in a household. The cost will also depend on the level of water hardness—the harder the water the higher the frequency of regeneration. A cost comparison of the different technologies can help in deciding which treatment method to use. However, ion exchange process seems to be the best way to treat hard water.
Types of water softeners
A salt-based softener is what we’ve been discussing here which involve the use of salt to soften hard water. There are also salt-free softeners—meaning no salt is used to remove hardness in water. Salt-based softeners leave a lot of salt in the softened water. Due to health effects of the possible high sodium concentration in drinking water some people may opt for the saltless type. A salt-free softener is also called a descaler. It does not soften water like the traditional type. However, it prevents mineral deposits in pipes—only if the water does not sit in the pipe for too long.
One highly effective water softener is the Morton Salt water softener. It is demand-controlled whole-house water-softening system. It is one of the latest space-saving softener technology with a nice compact design. You'll enjoy better lathering soaps, whiter and brighter laundry, and clean spot-free dishes. Its 27,000 grain capacity is ideal for larger households with just about any water hardness level.
This highly rated softener system is available at Walmart.com for $399.96.
How water softeners work
 Water can be softened in two different ways either by adding a water softening powder after it's is drawn from the faucet or by the ion exchange process. The reaction between the powder and the impurities is quick.
In the typical whole house water softeners, the water to be treated, which contains calcium ion (Ca2+) and Magnesium ion (Mg2+), is passed through a bed of small plastic beads called zeolite covered with sodium ions. As the water flows past the sodium ions, calcium and magnesium ions then displace the sodium ions. The sodium ions are released from the beads and the calcium and magnesium ions take the place of the sodium ions—ion exchange.
The salt must be replenished periodically. Water softening will no longer take place when all the sodium ions have been exhausted. Therefore, backwashing must take place in order to recharge or regenerate the resin beads. The system is backwashed to loosen resin and to flush out any impurities that may have collected on the beads and the calcium and magnesium ions are released into the backwash water. Some systems are designed for automatic regeneration. The frequency of regeneration depends on the hardness of the water, amount water to be softened, and the size of the softener. The wastewater generated during the recharge phase of the water softening process mixes with other household wastewater that enters the sewer system, or a septic tank.
Softener operations can be automatic, semi-automatic, or manual depending on the type of resin regeneration. Automatic softeners will regenerate on a predetermined cycle either by a clock or the amount of water used. In a semi-automatic operation, regeneration is is operated manually; and in manual softener operation, backwashing, and rising, almost everything is done manually.
Recharging or regeneration has some benefits - To make the beads available to remove chemicals which cause water hardness.
- To prevent a leakage which can occur when certain sodium to hardness ratio is exceeded thus degrading the effluent quality.
Types of water softener salts
Rock salt is a natural mineral which is mined from underground salt deposits. It contains between 98% and 99% sodium chloride; its composition includes calcium sulfates making it highly insoluble.
Solar salt is also natural mineral that occurs through evaporation of seawater or brine sources. Solar salt has a high sodium chloride content of about 99.5%; it is also insoluble in water.
Evaporated salt is found through mining of underground salt deposits of dissolving salt. Evaporated salt has high sodium chloride content between 99.6% and 99.99%. It’s also insoluble in water.
Benefits of water softener - Water softener benefits are mostly economical. After installing a water softener, you will discover a reduction in the amount of soap and detergent being used.
- Other benefits are health-related. You will drink healthy water due to the removal of calcium and magnesium.
- Water conservation is one of the benefits of water softener. It is an environmentally friendly way to use a device that will save water and save the bottom line.
How to Instal a water softener
Best way to install is to connect it directly to the water supply. The water softening system is installed in the main water pipe that enters the house. Water softeners are generally separated from the water line being used for outside activities such as lawn and garden.
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