Water Softeners - The Source of Life

Water is the source of Life, as we all know, and we cannot live without it. Until we don't have water, we are not really aware of how necessary it is, and in how many ways we use it. We take water for granted, and, even more to the point, we take the quality of our water for granted. Every water supply is different. Water can be more or less contaminated, may contain more or less minerals, and may have particular additives as a result of the treatment process.

If you live in an area where the water has high mineral content, that water is said to be 'hard'. If this is the case you may consider installing a water softener. The minerals found in hard water accumulate inside the pipes which carry it, change its flavor, and produce different results with, for example, limited lathering of soap or shampoo. There may also be noticeable residue left behind after using hard water, in the form of soap scum or spots on washed glassware.

INSTALLING A WATER SOFTENER

Water softeners work by reducing the concentration of hardening metals. Different softening methods include the use of salt crystals, no-salt filters, nano technology, and magnetic filters, to produce a process called ion exchange, in which the heavy ions of calcium and magnesium are replaced by lighter sodium or potassium ions.

The best water softener for each home is the one that adapts to the specific needs. If the residents of the home are on a low-salt diet or have high blood pressure, using a salt filter is not recommended. Salt-free water softeners are also best if the damage to pipes in the home is already advanced, because it helps to de-scale the pipes. Magnetic water softeners work best in apartments and small homes where there is insufficient room to install a large filter.

Hard water is not dangerous. Remember, however, that water softeners do not purify the water of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other contaminants which can be harmful if consumed. Use a water filter for this purification.

Water Softeners - The Source of Life

INSTALLING A WATER SOFTENER

Electronic Water Softeners

Well if you are surprised with the popularity of electric water softeners you don't need to be as they are gaining more and more popularity with every passing day thanks to the advantages they provide to their consumers. It is the use of technology that has made them more popular and preferable as compared to traditional salt based water softeners. The use of electromagnetic waves instead of salts allows them to perform their work amazingly and accurately. Also these are the devices that don't require maintenance and you will not have to bear continuous salt which is something for sure to release a lot of pressure from your pocket.

They are the type of water softeners that usually comes with a warranty of 5 to 20 years and does not require as much maintenance as you need to give to other traditional softeners. All you need to do is to get them installed and they are all set to operate.

A WATER SOFTENER

There are also many magnetic type softeners which are available in the market today. What makes them so popular is their ability of being flow independent. With magnetic type softeners you needed to make sure that the water lines are refitted and the flow of the water is slow enough just to make sure that the ions are regularly mixed up.

This however is not the case with the electric type water softeners. They only get installed at one particular portion of the pipe which ensures that you will not have to maintain or refit your water pipe lines. This procedure is a lot more less costly compared to their magnetic counterparts.

Technology has really advanced as there are now also electric water softeners that are available in the market which are even programmed to send varying electromagnetic pulses, which play an important role to soften the existing balance in your water pipes.

They are programmed to work such as they will travel through your pipes and will balance the amount of precipitates that needs to be there in your water. They indeed make sure you get a great and a whole lot more efficient water flow in your whole water pipe system.

You may hesitate to get them installed because of the fear that they might effect other electromagnetic appliances in your home but don't worry they don't do so as they only operate in a very limited and specified range just to ensure this doesn't happen.

Electronic Water Softeners

A WATER SOFTENER

How To Operate Home Water Softeners

Home water softeners are now standard home appliances throughout Ireland and other nations with hard water. Since it is a common home appliance, it will be to your advantage to know how to operate one. This saves you the trouble of calling in a pro to help you use or trouble shoot your softening system.

Most home softening systems follow similar operations and installations with just a few differences. Generally, all softeners will have compartment where you place the salt/sodium or potassium. They also have a brine tank, resin tank, a main valve, and a bypass valve.

A WATER SOFTENER

The main valve distributes softened water throughout your plumbing system, and a bypass valve is used when you do maintenance work so you do not have to shut off the water in your home. The brine tank is where you place water to be softened. Softening systems also have a control panel.

To start using home water softeners, you will need to fill the brine tank with water. The amount of water will depend on the size of your softening appliance. Check the manual for the recommended water level. If you've lost the printed manual, you can go online to search for the online version from the retailer's website.

Now, decide if you will use sodium or potassium to soften your water. Sodium is more common and less expensive than potassium. But people with heart problems kidney disease and high blood pressure are recommended to use potassium to soften their water. Too much sodium or salt is bad for people with heart and kidney disease.

If you decide to use potassium instead of salt, be careful about putting too much. Just pour in one bag of potassium in your softening system. Putting too much potassium can actually do the opposite and make your water harder, forming a bridge over the water that interrupts the softening process. If this happens, get a stick to break the bridge in the machine.

The next step is to go to the control panel and set the date and time. You should also set the correct hardness level of your water to make the machine work more efficiently. If you do not know your water's hardness level, you can get a test kit at a hardware store and test your water yourself. If your water has a lot of iron in it, raise the hardness level by 5 for every 1ppm.

You can also set the recharge time automatically. Set your home water softeners to recharge in the middle of the night when everyone is asleep and unlikely to use water. To recharge properly, the unit needs a specific amount of time to recharge without anyone using the hot water.

Softeners that work automatically will save you the trouble of manually recharging your appliance every now and then. Make sure that your valves are open and that sufficient water flows to the tank. If trouble persists, call your retailer or manufacturer to take a look.

How To Operate Home Water Softeners

A WATER SOFTENER

The Real Whirlpool 30000 - Grain Water Softeners

It is always good for homeowners to know that they can find water softeners like Whirlpool 30000 in the market. Good to deal with your hard water problems and provide for your soft water needs, this softener really brings in a lot of specifications as we will see them here. It is ideal for households where there are 1-4 people. Good for knowing that you can have your soft water necessities provided for in those settings without having to be worried about your water softeners capacity. There is a high flow rate of up to 1 in. high flow valve enabling you to have a long demand with no problems in the flow volume.

It only recharged when it is necessary with its salt saving technology. The good thing is that it not only saves salt but water as well. The control display features are embedded with demand initiated regeneration technology, balancing the water flow indicator and the low salt indicators so you can know when it is your turn to do the work. This saving space single tank design enables for a lot of loads of materials and resources so you don't have to be constantly worrying about replacements and replenishing. It is a very good softener that comes equipped with many necessary specifications most especially for those who don't want too little not want too much.

A WATER SOFTENER

They are very good in these case scenarios and is a very reliable product which delivers what is promised. It has a warranty of 1-year full parts and labor, 3-year limited electronics and 10-year limited tanks.

So if you want to rest easy you can always remember on those good quality warranties and good performance of your Whirlpool 30000 water softener to provide you with what you need in all case scenarios, for you and your family.

The Real Whirlpool 30000 - Grain Water Softeners

A WATER SOFTENER

Cleaning Tips For Residential Water Softeners

If your water softener system is not working efficiently or seems to be malfunctioning, then it could mean that the machine needs cleaning. It doesn't necessarily mean it is broken nor needs repairs. Residential water softeners have a number of components that get dirty over time.

Why Softening Systems Malfunction

A WATER SOFTENER

There are also other causes for these machines to malfunction or work less efficiently. Some of these reasons could be caused by inputting the wrong settings on the control panel. Maybe you indicated the wrong hardness level. It is also possible that the softening machine needs more sodium to soften the water.

If dirt and lack of cleaning is what's causing your machine to work less efficiently, then the problem probably lies in the brine line or in the injection system. You will have to open up your softener and check these parts to see if they indeed need cleaning.

You will need some basic cleaning tools to get rid of dirt clogging up your brine line or injector. Some things you will need to get residential water softeners cleaned are: canned pressurized air, turkey baster, wrench, warm water, a large paper clip, and soap.

Cleaning the Injector

Turn your softening system off and remove the electrical plug from the socket. Switch to bypass mode by turning on the bypass valve. This is done so that water stops flowing through the softener while you clean it. Gently remove the softener's injector cap at the back of the machine, near the top part.

Remove the injector filter behind the cap. Take the filter to the sink and wash it with warm water and soap. Afterwards, clean the injector nozzle. Use the canned air to get dust and dirt out of the nozzle. You can use the end of your paperclip to get more dirt out while you spray the nozzle with pressurized air.

Return the injector filter to its original place and secure it to its normal position over the nozzle. Screw back the cap to its place on the machine and gently return the injector cap on the filter. Tighten the cap till it is secure.

Cleaning the Brine Line

To get the brine line cleaned follow the first steps of cleaning the injector by switching off your machine and pulling the plug out of the electrical socket. Switch the machine to bypass mode as well. Unscrew the brine lines from the injector casing with a wrench.

Once the brine line is removed, inspect the inside of the line for residue that could be clogging your line. Clean the inside of the brine line by squirting water in it with a turkey baster. Once cleaned, return it to its original position. Switch the softener back on and test it.

Observe how the machine performs over the next few days and watch out for signs of hard water. If you still notice that your softening system is still not working right, then you should consult with a plumber or a company that specializes in residential water softeners.

Cleaning Tips For Residential Water Softeners

A WATER SOFTENER

How Do Softeners Convert Hard Water to Soft?

Water Softeners work to convert hard water into soft water. Hard water has minerals like calcium and magnesium which are positively charged ions. The presence of positive charged ions is what causes calcium and magnesium to dissolve less easily in water. As a result of the high concentration of minerals, water tastes "salty" even though there is no sodium present.

Water Softeners not only work to remove excessive calcium and magnesium but also to remove iron, lead, radium, copper, and sediment.

A WATER SOFTENER

The main principal that softeners operate on is the ion exchange. Water softeners all have a resin tank which contains the ion exchange brine tank and the control head which is the mechanism that determines when the regeneration process is to take place.

In the resin tank are resin beads which contain sites that hold sodium or potassium ions. The positively charged hard water ions are attracted to the beads and exchange themselves with the sodium or potassium ions. The process continues until there are no more sites for the exchange to take place and the resin is considered exhausted and must be "regenerated". During this process, the sodium or potassium brine solution is rinsed throught the resin leaving the calcium/magnesium and other hard water minerals to be bumped off and discarded down the drain.

Many concerned about salt intake in their diet will worry if the sodium exchange in the water softening process will have an ill effect on their health.

The FDA definition for sodium in drinking water is: sodium free=up to 28 mg,very low sodium=28 to 197 mg and low sodium=197-789 mg.

The amount of sodium in water exchanged by a water softener is considered a trace amount and will not be harmful for anyone wishing to limit their sodium intake.

10 grains of hard water ions per gallon will be exchanged to 78 mgl sodium, 15 grains exchanged for 119 mgl sodium and 20 grains for 158 mgl sodium.

Potassium chloride salt subsitute is also widely available but a bit more costly than sodium.

You may have heard the term grain capacity when considering a water softener and wonder exactly what it means and how to calculate it.

Grain capacity = how much hardness the softener will remove before it requires regeneration.

1.0 cubit foot of resin = 30,000 grain capacity

1.5 cubit foot of resin = 45,000 grain capacity

2.0 cubit foot of resin = 60,000 grain capacity

Depending on your family's daily water use and how hard the water is will determine the grain capacity required. It is suggested to purchase a water softener with the grain capacity to allow for regeneration no less than 3 days apart.

How Do Softeners Convert Hard Water to Soft?

A WATER SOFTENER

Picking The Best Water Softeners Based On Water Usage And Hardness Levels

Using the best water softeners can prevent expensive household problems such as clogged pipes and plumbing fixtures, dry skin and hair, stiff laundry, and cloudy glassware. These machines can make home appliances like shower heaters and coffee makers last longer and work more efficiently. They can also prevent ugly orange or brown residue from staining your bath tubs, sink and bathroom tiles.

All these problems are caused by too much calcium, iron and magnesium in your water. The ions in these elements cause water to become hard. To be able to select the best solution to eliminate hard water, you have to find out the hardness level of your household water. You can do this by calling in a water treatment company or testing your water yourself with a hard water test kit found at hardware stores.

A WATER SOFTENER

Getting the right size is also an important factor in picking the best water softeners. The size of your water treatment system is determined by the amount of softening sodium beads you will need to effectively eliminate hard ions. This is calculated by balancing the level of your hard water number to the amount of sodium beads you need to swap the hard and soft ions.

It can be confusing to calculate the exact amount of softening ions you need but to cut the long story short, an average household consisting of 4 people will need about 32,000 grains of water softener. This is based on a water hardness level of 10 grains which is the average water hardness number in developed countries. Be aware though that the level of hard water may differ in various locations and water sources.

The best water softeners for specific households are also determined by personal habits of the home owners. So, one softening system may not be best for all types of people. Some people are better off getting an automatic recharging unit that recharges ions by time or by using a meter. This is convenient if you do not want to keep recharging the machine yourself. Other people with varying degrees of water usage are better off using a manual recharging softener.

Another factor that determines which softener is best is dictated by health issues. The most common and affordable type of softening system uses sodium to remove hard water. But sodium contains salt which can be bad for people with high blood pressure, a history of stroke, heart or kidney disease. For people with salt restricted diets the best water softeners would be potassium based softening systems.

Before purchasing a softening system for your home, it would be wise to consult with a professional water treatment company. This way, you won't risk buying the wrong kind of softener. The pros can gauge what types of softeners are best for each household based on an accurate hard water test and water usage habits of the home owners.

Picking The Best Water Softeners Based On Water Usage And Hardness Levels

A WATER SOFTENER

Water Softeners - Their Uses

In principle water that contains concentrated deposits of calcium and magnesium it is termed hard water. Hard water blocks pipes and you will find it difficult to dissolve soaps in hard water. This is why it is necessary to soften the water. This process of treating hard water is called softening and to do this it is passed through a resin bed in which there is an interchange of positive and negative ions take place. Water is softened by utilizing water softening devices that are intended to get rid of the chemicals that are responsible in making it hard.

There are various water softener devices in the market today and it depends on the need of the user to determine what type of device would be best suited for his requirements. Typically water softeners are grouped into five types; manual, semi-automatic, automatic, demand initiated regeneration and off-site regeneration.

A WATER SOFTENER

Automatic softeners are the most commonly used. The device is fitted with a timer that sets off the recharging and all other steps that have to be carried out. All you have to do is to add the required quantity of salt and set the timer. They generally have three tanks, two that are for the softening process and the third is the brine tank. As one tank is softening the water the other is doing the recharging.

The advantages of water softeners is that soft water extends the life of appliances like dish washer, washing machine, water heaters, electric kettles and any other device that needs water to function. Softened water reduces water spotting on any surface and clothes last longer. But the down side of water softening that it contains a strong content of sodium that may not be suitable for the plants and lawns.

If you have intentions of investing in a water softening device you only have to search the internet to get details about the various companies that manufacture and supply such equipment. Compare prices and go for something that is reasonable and gives you good value for your money. Some of the good water softeners are from Fleck, GE, Kinetico, Cole and Massey, Rainsoft, Calgon etc. Of course you could even talk to friends and relatives who already own one and get their reviews on the brand that they are using.

Water Softeners - Their Uses

A WATER SOFTENER

How To Use Residential Water Softeners The Healthy Way

You should shop around for residential water softeners if you discover white residue on your plates and glassware. This is a sign that your tap water is hard and contains a lot of minerals that cause many household problems. Other problems that these lead to are stained bathroom tiles and tubs, stiff laundry, and dry skin. Sometimes it can also cause your coffee maker and shower heater to malfunction.

Hard water can also create problems with your plumbing and make your pipes clog up. Even your shower head in the bathroom won't produce a nice spray if hard elements have already blocked your shower fixtures. Once your pipes are clogged up, you will have to replace them. This could become a major problem that will cost you a lot of money. It is not a joke to have pipes all over the house replaced.

INSTALLING A WATER SOFTENER

You can save yourself a lot of expensive problems if you install a softening system in your house. There are units that can soften water in your kitchen faucet or shower only, and there are larger residential water softeners that can soften water in your entire home. The latter choice might be more practical if you have more than 1 bathroom and need to use treated water for your laundry and dishwasher.

When shopping for a softening system, consider the health issues of people in your household too. The most common softening ingredient used by these machines is sodium. Sodium beads are placed inside the units that replace hard elements with soft ions. Sodium is easy to find and is the most affordable option. The disadvantage of using sodium is the negative effect it can cause to people with heart and kidney problems.

If someone in your household suffers from heart disease, has high blood pressure or has kidney stones, you should consider using residential water softeners that use potassium instead of sodium. Potassium does not contain salt unlike sodium beads. People with heart and kidney disease should not ingest salt that is found in sodium softeners.

If you still want to use sodium as a softening ingredient due to its affordability and practicality, then have a plumber create a water pipe for your kitchen that does not pass through your softening system. People in your household who have salt restricted diets can get water from this outlet.

You can also cook using this untreated water. The rest of the household can benefit from soft water but you don't have to drink it if you can't take in sodium.

How To Use Residential Water Softeners The Healthy Way

INSTALLING A WATER SOFTENER

Pros And Cons Of Commercial Water Softeners

Commercial water softeners filters damaging hard water through sodium or potassium ions that removes hard minerals like calcium and magnesium among others. The calcium and magnesium deposits can damage your home's water pipes and appliances. Hard water also makes your skin dry and your hair look limp because of soap and mineral residue.

Getting a water softening system for your home or business can save you a lot of money in plumbing repairs and appliance breakdowns. Although these systems can give you several benefits, there are also disadvantages to using these devices. Depending on your requirements, you can decide if getting a softener will be more beneficial to you or not.

INSTALLING A WATER SOFTENER

Here are some pros and cons to having commercial water softeners installed in your home or business:

Pros

Softened water can make your pipes last longer. Hard water leaves deposits in your faucets, pipes and shower heads requiring you to replace them every few years. The deposits are also visible which can look quite unappealing to the eye. The cost of replacing your home's water pipes and fixtures can go as high as ,000 to ,000.

Another advantage to getting softened water is you get cleaner and softer laundry. Hard water makes it hard for detergent to do its job, so you end up using more soap, otherwise your whites may start to look gray. At the same time, hard water makes it difficult to rinse off soap from laundry and dishes, and even on your body and hair when you bathe. You end up using more water or you will end up with stiff laundry and water spots on your tableware.

Household appliances like the laundry washer, dish washer, coffeemaker and water heater will last longer if you use commercial water softeners. Mineral deposits from hard water build up in appliances to form a hard scale which makes your appliances less efficient. Soft water will decrease appliance breakdown and even make them more energy-efficient.

Cons

A disadvantage to softened water is health related, so you also have to consider this factor. Softened water contains large amounts of sodium which is a salt-based mineral. This may be a disadvantage to people with existing heart problems like stroke, high blood pressure and other circulatory diseases.

Softened water is also not advisable for watering plants and gardens. The salt produced by commercial water softeners cuts off the flow of water into plant cells and can cause your plants and lawn to literally die of thirst.

Another disadvantage to using a water softening system is the cost of buying the device and maintaining it. Installing one in your home can cost from 0 to up to a thousand dollars depending on the type of system your household needs. You will also be tasked with refilling the system with salt regularly. Softeners can also raise your energy bills as they run on electricity.

Given the pros on cons of getting commercial water softeners installed in your home, you can now make an educated assessment if it will be advantageous for you to have one or not. What some people do, is to provide a separate pipe line that skips the softener system for watering plants and to get drinking water without any sodium.

Other people also get water softening systems that don't need to be turned on 24/7. The automatic function collects softened water in a tank and then turns off the machine after you have enough softened water for your household, therefore saving electricity. If you consider the cost, it might be cheaper to install commercial water softeners than to replace pipes and appliances often.

Pros And Cons Of Commercial Water Softeners

INSTALLING A WATER SOFTENER

Why Water Softeners Need Salt

Many people have water softeners in their homes. Many of you that do don't understand how a softener works. Sure, it allows you to use less detergent in the laundry and your soap lathers much better in the shower, but how does it work?

Hardness in water is actually calcium. Hardness is also a few trace minerals like magnesium and iron, but the majority of this hardness is calcium. Calcium, when dissolved in water forms what's called a cation. That is, it takes on a positive charge.

INSTALLING A WATER SOFTENER

All this calcium is what makes soap harder to lather, which makes it undesirable in your water for cleaning purposes. Many people who live in areas with very hard water will install a water softener to take out all the hardness.

A water softener is simply a vessel filled with thousands and thousands of little beads called an ion exchange resin. The resin will remove the calcium from the water in a process called ion exchange. This process can remove the calcium in your water only by substituting another element in its place. In this case, the element is sodium.

The salt you add to your softener is actually sodium chloride. When introduced into water, it dissolves into two compounds: A positively charged sodium atom and a negatively charged chloride atom. As the water passes through this resin, the resin takes a calcium ion and gives up a sodium ion.

The end result is a concentration of sodium ions in your water in place of the calcium ions, and sodium ions do not contribute to hardness in your water.

Eventually the resin becomes depleted of all of it's sodium ions so it must be replenished. This is what happens when your softener system goes into backwash. If flushes out all the calcium to drain and replenishes all of the sodium lost to the ion exchange process.

This is why your softener needs salt and why you must keep replacing it.

It's a good method for making nice soft water for cleaning, but remember: The calcium is replaced with sodium on a 1:1 basis. This may mean that you end up with a large amount of sodium in your water which is not good for people with hypertension and heart disease. If you do install a softener, it is in your best interest to have the plumber bypass the lines to your kitchen sink so you can use this water for drinking and cooking without high concentrations of sodium.

Why Water Softeners Need Salt

INSTALLING A WATER SOFTENER

Water Softeners

Water softening is probably the most popular of all water treatment technologies. Although there is much mis-conception about how a water softener works, the end result of a proper application is always the same. Water softeners bring most families a much higher quality of household water. Mineral deposits are eliminated. Water spots on shower walls and glassware, gone! Laundry comes out cleaner and softer. No more soap deposits left in the clothing causing itching and rashes. The total overall quality of the water improves, and truly does feel "softer".

When is a water softener needed? Just about any time the water comes from a ground water source such as a dug or drilled well. About the only time one can argue against the benefits of water softening is if the water is drawn from a surface supply such as a lake. Even rivers generally pick up mineral content as they flow over the ground and become "hard water".

INSTALLING A WATER SOFTENER

Water hardness is measured in grains of hardness per gallon or liter. It can also be measured in PPM with 17.1 ppm per one grain of hardness. Water over 7 grains hard begins to benefit from the effects of water softening. At 10 grains the effects of softening are readily noticeable. At 15 grains of hardness rush out and buy a water softener, you will be pleased you did.

David's believe-it-or-not says the most common complaint I have heard about the effects of soft water are: No 1-the dishes are very slippery when wet (true) and No 2- my hair has gone all pouffy! (true again-the mineral deposits are gone!)

How does a water softener work? Does a water softener leave salt in my water? Let's get this straight once and for all. A water softener works on a system called "ion exchange". For every grain of hardness (calcium/magnesium) your water softener takes out of the water-IT MUST REPLACE IT WITH AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF SALT. Let me repeat this. The softener exchanges the calcium with salt. The calcium is actually a salt as well, so I should properly say that the calcium salts are replaced with sodium salts. If the softener works perfectly, the exchange would be exact but this is not possible. There is always more salt left in the water than the amount of calcium it removed. The ratio of exchange used to be terrible, and still is in some older model systems. But many newer technologies incorporate systems of rinsing that reduce the left over salt in your water to very acceptable standards. The exchange can be measured with a TDS meter which every salesman should carry, or he is not testing your water properly. The increase in TDS from your feed water to your product water will identify how much excessive salt is left behind. An efficient softener leaves less salt behind than in one gallon of water than is found in one piece of white bread.

A water softener should not be installed where a sodium restricted diet is recommended. Although I would suggest that the softener still be installed if the water warrants the application, and a reverse osmosis unit be placed in the kitchen to remove the salt, and all other impurities, for cooking and drinking water. Water softeners will often remove small amounts of iron from your water. But this will increase the salt used, and the salt left behind. Larger amounts of iron, over 1mg/ltr will cause excessive salt use, and eventually foul the bed of the softener. A water softener should not be used as the primary means of reducing iron in water.

Another consideration in softening is your septic system. Water softeners rinse large amounts of salt into your drain water. If you are on a septic system, as many rural systems are, you will damage the cement holding tank and salt will harm vegetation in the area where the septic is located. Potassium Chloride is a suitable replacement under these circumstances, or if you just want to be more environmentally conscious in your water treatment application. Potassium is far less corrosive and does not have as much negative impact on the environment. Potassium is also often recommended as a sodium replacement for people on salt restricted diets. (although my preference where health concerns are an issue, is the application of a reverse osmosis after the softener).

Saltless Water Softeners? RUBBISH! There are no saltless water softeners which have been tested and certified. But lots of them have been tested and discarded as rubbish. The Water Quality Association is an organization which is there to inform and protect the public in regards to the water treatment industry. To my knowledge they have tested many electronic, electric, or magnetic devices and found that none of them remove one grain of hardness from water. Some of these devices will reduce scaling, the effect of mineral deposits sticking to surfaces, but none of them remove anything from the water. Once again, I see this as dealerships and sales people who just want to get the sale, so they give the customer what the customer wants. A magic wand. Well I can supply you with magic wands for .29 so don't pay more than that for any magic wands. I am sure these statements will ruffle some feathers, but until I see the WQA certifying a saltless water softener, I will stick to my statements.

If you install a water softener in your home, and keep it for six months to get used to it, you will not likely ever be without one. I have had mine for 14 years now. Yup, the same one. Make a wise purchase and you will have a long lasting piece of equipment.

I have said many times, " a wise and educated consumer makes wise choices". Your water, your health, your responsibility.

Water Softeners

INSTALLING A WATER SOFTENER

Protect Your Appliances With The Best Water Softeners

Fed up with hard water stains on your sink and bathroom? How about endless maintenance bills on your dishwashers and washing machines due to clogged pipes and harsh chemicals in the water? Hard water may not seem to be that much of a problem when you hear about them, but wait till you experience all the havoc it can and then you will realize how much of a pain it is.

Everybody who uses tap water at home is not safe from the effects of hard water since pretty much the community water supply is, by nature, hard water. The only way for us to dodge the bullet and stay away from its damaging effects is by installing the best water softener on the market today. If you are counting the number of bad effects of hard water to our homes and health, then that's exactly the same number of solutions a good system can give.

INSTALLING A WATER SOFTENER

Although the best water softener is not that cheap, investing on these kinds of things will prove to be beneficial in the long run as there will be fewer bills to pay whether if it's for cleaning, maintenance and repair, or keeping everyone in the family healthy. For those who are dealing with a tight budget, there are quite a few alternatives to water softeners like filters that are attached directly on the faucet instead of an entire system. Some of the advantages of these systems are reducing if not completely eliminating the hard water spots, soap scum, and crystal deposits on the tubes and pipes of the house. Soft water is also known to have good effects on fabric softening and color care, and will also leave your body silky soft without the slimy feeling after taking a bath or shower.

The demand for an apartment water softener is increasing as more and more people are opting to live in apartments due to high prices on real estate. Apartments, especially old ones, are known for their dreaded hard water supply hence any person that is particular to health issues and cleanliness will get a lot of mileage out of having an apartment water softener.

There are a lot of companies claiming they have the best water softener on the market today; among these is the aquaguard water softener which has good reviews all over the net. There are a lot more brands, so if you are planning to get one, make sure to do your research and pick one that best suits your needs and your budget.

Protect Your Appliances With The Best Water Softeners

INSTALLING A WATER SOFTENER

Water Softener Reviews - How Do Water Softeners Work?

As you know, water softeners are devices that use chemical methods to reduce the hardness of water. With a good water softener in place, one can drastically remove hardness factor of the water and successfully transform it into soft and usable water. The hardness factor of water would give you a tough time with cleaning, washing, removing soap from objects and maintaining your health. If you remove the hardness from the water well enough, then the soft water produced in the process would be as good as any other natural soft water.

The problem that many of us face is that the water we receive from the authorities is often hard. Quite often the limits of permissible calcium, magnesium and iron are crossed. And more so, it also depends on the particular geographical area. If the water available in your geographical area is known to have excessive metals and minerals in it then in all likelihood you re receiving hard water at home.

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Usually the water softening devices used in houses use a filter and a brine tank. The salt mixture comprising of the brine removes the minerals from the water using sodium ion replacement technology. The sodium ions are induced to replace the Fe+, Ca+ and Mg+ (iron, calcium and magnesium respectively) ions. These replaced ions stay back in the tank while the cleaned water moves through the water supply pipe of your home.

Clearly, you need to maintain the brine tank by flushing out the used up salt and adding more brine. So the maintenance option of the water softener has to be a good one for the overall system to remain effective over a long period of time. The water softening systems are somewhat expensive - might cause from a few hundred dollars to a thousand-odd dollars. If you plan to install a water softener at home, then it is recommended to go for good quality ones from reputable dealers with a reasonable warranty.

Water Softener Reviews - How Do Water Softeners Work?

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Home Water Softeners to Treat Hard Water

Do you know the source of your home water? If you have a home of your own, chances are that you do know where your water comes from. In this case, you are sure that you are the only person who could treat any hard water. Those who live in rental homes could easily evade this cost, and let the landlord incur it. In fact, some of you live in some regions that receive readily softened water. If you are in no position to consume soft and fresh water, you have to act. This explains the existence of home water softeners. You need them to make water safer and useful in your home.

The main problem with hard water is the minerals in it, including magnesium and calcium. The minerals make the water taste salty. When water has a high mineral concentration, it leaves stains instead of removing them. Hard and salty water stains your aluminum kitchen apparatus. When you try to do your laundry with it, the water does not lather easily. This hard water even causes some white crumbly marks on your toilet and bathroom floors. As you all can see, this type of water is not good for any household use.

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The only way to get rid of it is by using softeners. The home water softeners products are very many in the market right now. These include the electric styles, chemical substances, reverse osmosis and so on. Some of them require an intricate installation process only one time. Before you can buy any of the products, you need to examine the sodium content in it. Soft water, which is safer for drinking and home use has sodium mineral concentration in it. When you buy the softeners, you should make sure that it would not add extra sodium in the water. For some people, too much sodium consumption could be hazardous.

Thus, people who want to install a durable water softening system need to consult an expert. By installing this system, you will not only be protecting your family members from sickness. You will also be prolonging the life of your kitchen gadgets, clothes, bathroom fixtures and flooring. In addition, you will reduce the cost of repairing or unblocking the drainage pipes. Therefore, it is important that you incur one major cost of having someone install the home water softener. If you really want to benefit from these products, simply search for them.

The Internet is the most convenient shopping hub there is. First, consider your budget limits. Some products are just harmless chemicals that you can put in water to soften it. These are good when you want an instant solution, without incurring an extra cost of having an expert install anything. You have to select the chemicals carefully. Read the product description, features and reviews that other users have written. This way you will only pay for a product that will surely deliver good results. Shop from reputable sites, like Amazon. This will ensure that the home water softeners are perfect, and that the shipment is quick and successful.

Home Water Softeners to Treat Hard Water

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How Water Softeners Work

Here's a step by step guide about how water softeners work, but before we discuss that, let's talk about what hard water is and what it does to your household. Hard water causes a number of problems like clogged up drains and shower heads, stiff clothing from the laundry, staining on bathroom tiles, and soap scum on dishes.

Hard water is caused by too much magnesium and calcium dissolved in your tap water. You can improve the condition of your water by installing a home water softener system for the whole house. Some benefits of having soft water is less soap scum and calcium deposits in your faucets, drains and shower heads; soft laundered clothing; and even better skin and hair for you.

INSTALLING A WATER SOFTENER

Here are some information about how water softeners work:

1. Ion Exchange Process - The first step is called the ion exchange process which removes water hardness with sodium or potassium ions. When hard water passes through resin beads, the hard ions are absorbed from the water. The sodium or potassium ions are then released into your water. There is an exchange of ions that cause hardness and softness.

2. Service Cycle - The service cycle is the common system wherein water passes through a valve at the top of the tank then flows through the lower portion of the tank that contains the resin. As water passes through the resin, the elements that cause hardness are collected via the ion exchange process mentioned above. The softened water then passes through slots and a valve that pushes water through your water pipes that release water to your household.

3. Backwash Cycle - The backwash cycle is another procedure that's part of how water softeners work. The water flows through a valve, down to the riser tube and then goes through a collector. This system mixes the resin and gets rid of turbidity and contaminants while filtering water out to a drain during the service cycle.

4. Brine Draw Cycle - This process is the second step of the regeneration cycle. Brine or salt is collected into a valve with the educator and then pushed into the top of the tank. Brine flows through the resin exchange and the hard elements, the sodium part of the hard water is collected in the resin bed. This cycle goes on till the liquid in the brine tank has been processed into the softener tank.

5. Slow Rinse Cycle - This process involves a continuous flow of water through the educator at the top of the tank to the bottom while it passes through the resin. The brine and hard elements are rinsed out of the resin during this process. He water then flows into the lower collector and goes up to the riser through a valve that goes towards the drain.

6. Fast Rinse Cycle - during this cycle, water enters the top of the softener tank and flows through the resin in high-speed. This higher rate of water flow compacts the resin bed and gets rid of the last of the hardness and brine in your water.

7. Refill Cycle - The last step on how water softeners work is refilling the brine tank with water. For every gallon of water, 3 pounds of salt will be dissolved. The air-check ball floats as the water rises and fills the tank. The air-check ball determines the level based on time. The softening process goes on fast rinse at the same time as the refill cycle. After the tank is refilled, the softener goes back to the service cycle.

It isn't easy to understand how water softeners work and your water treatment expert can explain it better when there is a unit at hand. An expert in the field can also tell you how much water you need softened and how big a tank to get for your household. You should consult with an expert first before deciding to buy a particular water softener system.

How Water Softeners Work

INSTALLING A WATER SOFTENER

Water Softeners - Save Hundreds of Dollars With an Easy to Install Device

Reducing the calcium or magnesium ion concentration in hard water is not rocket science and can be easily achieved by installing a water softener. This gets rid of lots of the problems associated with hard water and at the same time reduces energy costs of heating water with pipes full of limescale. So in short, a water softener device can be a great idea to add to your home.

There are some major issues that hard water causes. Firstly, the calcium and magnesium react with soaps and sensitive detergents, hindering their ability to lather and forming the ugly precipitate that will all know as limescale buildup. Presence of these minerals also inhibits the cleaning effect of detergent formulations.

INSTALLING A WATER SOFTENER

Not only this, calcium and magnesium carbonates tend to stick to the surfaces of pipes and heat exchanger surfaces. The scale build-up resulting from this can restrict water flow in pipes. In boilers, the build-up acts as thermal insulation that impedes the flow of heat into the water. This not only reduces heating efficiency, but allows the metal to overheat which, in a pressurized system, can lead to failure.

The presence certain minerals in water can also lead to galvanic corrosion, in which one metal will preferentially corrode when in contact with another type of metal. The use of water softeners can actually aggravate this and cause the heating elements in hot water heaters to corrode more quickly.

Early water-softening devices intended for household use depended on an ion-exchange resin in which "hardness" ions trade places with the sodium that is found in the water softening device. Water softeners are typically used when water is supplied from wells, and I receive correspondence from people all the time asking for help with hard water stains that their water has caused. Public water systems are also susceptible to hard water, although this is much less common.

There are various other ways of treating hard water including water filters, electromagnetic water conditioners and reverse osmosis. In the next article in this series we will look at the pros and cons of several of the available methods to treat water containing high levels of calcium and magnesium which are the cause of hard water stains forming on fixtures and fittings around the home.

Water Softeners - Save Hundreds of Dollars With an Easy to Install Device

INSTALLING A WATER SOFTENER

Shower Water Softeners - Finding the Best Water Softener For Your Home

The water softener market seems to be deluged right now with various products all claiming theirs is the best shower water softener on the market. How do you know which one is really the best? The answer to this question will vary from person to person. What might be best for you is going to be the total opposite of what best fits someone else's needs. Various elements from the price of the water softener to the efficiency and effectiveness of the unit all play a critical role in determining which water softener is best for you and your family.

Kenmore

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Kenmore is known the world over for their outstanding ability to manufacture quality kitchen-based appliances that are easy to operate and convenient to operate. When looking at Kenmore's line of softeners, you will need to select from a full line of various sized devices to find the one that fits your family. Kenmore softeners can range anywhere in price from 0 to 00 depending on the size necessary to accommodate all of the water being used in your house. Kenmore units are very good at removing soap residues, which helps to keep water from becoming hard.

Pelican

This company holds the advantage of creating a shower water softener that is both energy efficient as well as having the ability to not only soften your water but also filter it as well. Pelican specializes in single tank systems that do not rely on electricity to be used. The company is also good at abiding by its warranty, as they give 10-year in-house warranties on most of their systems. Pelican softeners also do not use salt, so there is little-to-no maintenance for the homeowner to worry about.

Culligan

The Culligan name has become synonymous with high-quality water filtration and softening units that provide homes with water that is of the highest excellence. Culligan is able to provide the customer with complimentary salt delivery with the purchase of any water softening product. Their customer service is also a key element to their profitable business, as they make it easy to have your units serviced in a timely manner. Culligan is a trusted name in the water industry, and it is a company that is widely recognized as being at the top of their industry.

Shower water softeners are essential elements for households, especially if your water naturally is accompanied by a large amount of lime or iron. These household devices are key elements in the fight against hard water that could damage everything from your skin to your food. By adhering to some key factors that separate the good water softeners from the bad, you can easily find the right one for you.

Shower Water Softeners - Finding the Best Water Softener For Your Home

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Buying Guide For Brand New Water Softeners

There are certain aspects that need to be taken into consideration when you are in the market for water softeners. Shoppers will need to make sure that they look through these excellent tips in order to save the most money. Be sure to look for something that is full of quality so that there is soft water throughout the house at all times.

Do not forget to note the price that you will be able to afford. Most of these systems are going to be easy on the wallet, but the shopper does need to look around. Find out the size of the system that will fit in the home and it should be fairly simple to move forward from there.

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The actual type and brand needs to be looked into as well. Those who do not take this step are going to end up looking for a fairly long time just to get to the right product. Know the size that you need and the brand that will best suit you and it should work out just fine.

Choosing the water softeners that come with a warranty will help to provide the right peace of mind. These warranties will cover any damages or repairs that the softener needs to have done. The protection plan might come at an extra cost but most shoppers report the cost being worth it. A reputable dealer is going to offer the right plans so be sure to get in touch with them.

Do not worry about the entire installation process. Most buyers have been able to take care of everything on their own. In fact, the installation instructions that come with the softener are easy to read as well as understand. Be sure to read everything over carefully prior to getting started.

Water softeners are a great addition for just about any home. Those who want to make sure that they have high quality water will need to make sure that they take their time with shopping and find the very best model. Start right now and enjoy the soft water.

Buying Guide For Brand New Water Softeners

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Salt-Free Water Softeners

Your salt-based water softener can dump up to 500 pounds of salt into the environment each year, so salt-free free solutions to this environmental problem seem like a good idea. Salt is also damaging to some metals like galvanized pipe and the last thing most people want or need is a major repair on their water supply system. Because of the minimal negative effect on the environment, salt-free water softening systems are at least worth doing some research on before spending your hard earned money.

Types of Salt-Free Water Softeners

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Electric water softeners are said, by their manufacturers, to send an electric pulse through the water that prevents scaling. There is no real claim that it will remove dissolved metals that cause hard water, just that it will reduce scale buildup. Magnetic water softeners are mostly claimed to reduce scale buildup in your pipes. Just wrap a couple of magnets at about 0 each around your pipes and some distributors claim that your plants will thrive better, some diseases will be prevented, and, oh yeah, it will soften your water, too. Well not really soften your water because it doesn't remove any dissolved metals, but make your water feel softer and act softer. Sorry, but the scientific support for these claims cannot always be replicated when discovered by one scientist and the actual studies are somewhat ambiguous and even anecdotal in nature. Electro-magnetic water softeners are just a magnet with an electrical current added. Sort of like combining the two just above. Not surprisingly, these devices are not claimed by most distributors to actually soften your water. Like the other two approaches, this type also only minimizes scale buildup in your plumbing. But the U.S. government has some positive things to say about the potential of this type of system. Catalytic Media systems use a filter media type that chemically alters and/or traps hard water compounds. Ceramic filter types are similar to what backpackers have been using for years and are usually effective to the size of cryptosporidium which is a nasty paramecium that is found in streams where there is also wildlife around. One ceramic filter system insists it is a durable, long-life system because the filter's catalyst is a non-sacrificial type. One could argue that since the introduction of a true catalyst in chemical reactions is for the purpose of enhancing a reaction, how could this really be a catalyst? Or if it is, then what is the chemistry behind the non-sacrificial reaction? Suffice it to say that a ceramic filter of high quality will have a long life but will need some cleaning maintenance and its filtration ability will be limited to its pore size. The ceramic filter's ability to filter viral material might be a major feature for some people. Reverse Osmosis is a non-salt based system that was first developed for the purpose of desalinization of sea water to become pure drinking water. It has considerable limitations, but is easier on the environment than salt-based water softener systems. Reverse osmosis has been a proven solution to providing high quality pure drinking water for about 40 years.

Salt-Free Water Softeners

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