Water Softeners
A Refreshingly Smart Choice
What Are Water Softening Systems?
The terms "water softener", "water softener systems", "salt-based water softener", and "soft water systems" are phrases that are used to describe a group of water softening systems that can help soften water.
"Hard Water" is water with a high mineral content that often causes scaling and appliance damage.
Water that we use for our daily lives contains minerals like calcium and magnesium.
You may be thinking, "what does a water softener do" or "how does a water softener work"?
Good question.
A water softening system treats hard water by exchanging mineral ions with sodium ions to create a softer feel and prevent scale buildup.
You may not be aware that soft water has certain benefits. It cuts down on incidences of eczema and psoriasis, especially in children, and it eliminates scale build-up on your sinks and in bathtubs.
Now that you know what a water softener is, next is to find out what a water conditioner is.
What Does A Water Softener Remove
A water softener removes more than hardness minerals
| Contaminant | Water Softener Removes? |
|---|---|
| Arsenic | ✔ |
| Chromium (hexavalent) | ✔ |
| Nitrate | ✔ |
| Nitrate & nitrite | ✔ |
| Uranium, combined (pCi/L) | ✔ |
| Barium | ✔ |
| Chromium (total) | ✔ |
| Manganese | ✔ |
| Molybdenum | ✔ |
| Radium, combined (-226 & -228) | ✔ |
| Strontium | ✔ |
| Vanadium | ✔ |
What Are Water Conditioning Systems?
The terms "salt free water softener", "saltless water softening systems", "salt free water softener systems", and "water softener alternatives" are phrases that are used to describe a group of water conditioning systems that can help to condition the water.
A water conditioning system is a catalytic media conditioner, they are also known as a salt-free water softener or water softener alternative. These types of systems do not use ion exchange to remove the hardness minerals like their salt-based counterparts.
Ok, so a water conditioner does not remove the hardness minerals, Then what does a water conditioner do?
Alternately, the water is processed through catalytic media using a physical process called Template Assisted Crystallization (TAC). The minerals' form is changed to a hardness crystal that does not stick to surfaces. These systems do not actually soften the water, they simply condition it.
How Do I Know What Size Water Softener I Need?
To determine the correct water softener size for your home, multiply the number of people in your home by the gallons of water they use each day. The average daily water consumption is 80 gallons per day. Next, multiply that number by the grains of hardness in your water supply to figure out how many grains need to be removed daily.
A family of 4 needs about 320 gallons of water per day. If the hardness of your water is 10 grams per gallon, then the daily softening requirement is 320 X 10 = 3200 grains.
Most water softeners are designed to regenerate once per week. If your daily water softening requirements is 3200, you will need a water softener with a capacity of 22,400 grains (3200 * 7). When you start searching for what size water softener you need, you will notice most sellers have 24,000, 32,000, 48,000, and 64,000 grains.
From the example above, this family might get a 24,000 grains water softener, but that will use a lot of salt. Instead, a 32,000 grains water softener will use less salt and be cheaper in the long run.
Identify Your Water Softening Needs
According to the United States Geological Survey, 89 percent of U.S. geography has hard water. It varies from area to area based on multiple factors like proximity of the sea, industrial dumping, etc. If you live near areas where industries dump the waste chemicals into the water there are high chances of chemical contaminants in it.
Why Do You Need A Soft Water System In The First Place
A soft water system is a device that most people across the United States need. It all comes down to the type of water families use, municipal water. In general, municipal water contains a number of minerals that render water to be "hard". This type of water contains a large amount of dissolved calcium, magnesium, iron, and a number of other particles. What's so bad about hard water? Hard water leads to a number of domestic inconveniences and often some diseases. Hard water forces you into conducting more and through maintenance of your faucets and pipes.
Benefits Of A Soft Water System
Scale Or Lime Scale Reduction
- Scale or limescale is a hard, chalky layer formed from Calcium and Magnesium bicarbonate. It deposits on utensils, kitchen sink, bathroom wall, and faucets. Water softeners reduce the build-up of scale and prevent the fading of anything that comes in contact with water.
Increased Lifespan Of Water Using Appliances
- Due to hard water, layers of calcium and magnesium eventually accumulate inside various water appliances like a water heater, dispensers and shower outlets. This affects the performance of these appliances and reduces their lifespan drastically. Soft water helps in preventing the accumulation of these minerals and prevents clogging which increases their lifespan.
Better Hair And Skin Care
- Bathing in hard water readily affects your skin and hair. After showering you will have traces of calcium and magnesium on your skin and hair which can cause rashes, dryness, and skin irritations. Soft water is soft on your skin and hair and it helps keep the moisture within.
Better for you and the environment
Our water softeners use a minimal amount of salt or no salt at all to treat the water in your home, preserving this precious resource.
By removing unwanted minerals from your water or reducing the hard water scale, you are taking an important step toward a cleaner, safer lifestyle. With Water Filter One's water softeners you will see and feel a noticeable difference in your water, and in your overall health!
How To Choose A Water Softener
The following are some guidelines when selecting a water softening system. These should give you a better idea of what to look for and how to adequately address your water softening needs.
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Capacity - If you had decided to go with a salt-based softener then the resin capacity is your main focus. You will need to find out how much water on average your household uses. This usually depends on how many family members live in the house. The larger the capacity, the less frequently the water softener will regenerate.
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Available Area - Most households will be fine with a mid-grade water softener. The available area will dictate what water softening equipment you buy.
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Bypass Valve - Another important component is the bypass valve. It allows the water to bypass the actual softener.
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Regeneration Setting - The resin will regenerate after a certain amount of water has been used. You decide on the number. With a timed softening system, the device will regenerate every few days based on how much water you would use.
Benefits Of An Ion Exchange Water Softener (SALT)
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Soft Water - A Salt-based water softener will remove the hardness mineral ions from your home's water.
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Metered Head - All of our salt-based water softeners come standard with an easy to use metered head.
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High Capacity Resin Tank - All of our salt-based water softeners come standard with a high capacity resin tank.
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Backwash - All of our salt-based water softeners only backwash as needed. This keeps down water waste.
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Warranty - All of our salt-based water softeners come with a limited lifetime warranty.
Benefits Of A Water Conditioner (NO SALT)
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Zero Water Waste - By naturally conditioning your water without salt, our conditioner wastes zero water!
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Prevents Scale Formation - Our water conditioner prevents scale build-up to 99.6%.
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Minimal Maintenance - Our water conditioning system requires minimal maintenance.
Get The Best Water Softener System Or Water Conditioner
A water softener and a water conditioner are both great choices!
Since you think you may have hard water, and you are looking for an effective solution to deal with it, then perhaps the best choice for you depends on whether or not you want to remove the hardness minerals. If you want to remove the hardness minerals then the best choice for you would be our water softening equipment.
If conditioned water with it's eco-friendly features sounds like the system for you then our water conditioning equipment is what you are looking for.