WHAT IS WATER SOFTENING?
Water softening is the removal of calcium, magnesium and certain other metal cations in hard water. The resulting soft water requires less soap for the same cleaning effort, as soap is not wasted bonding with calcium ions. The pipes can become encrusted and blocked due to calcification. You could potentially experience a clogged showerhead, lukewarm water, slow drainage, poor water pressure. The scale build up can harm appliances, clog your dishwasher, water heater, fridge, etc. or cause damage that could result in costly repairs.
Using hard water can also cause dingy, faded laundry and spots on your dishes right out of the dishwasher. Showering in it can make your skin itchy and your hair flaky. Residue can form in your toilets sinks, and tubs. Detergents could be disrupted by soap scum, and so one.
Soft water extend the lifetime of plumbing by reducing or eliminating scale build-up in pipees and fittings.
Water softening is usually achieved using lime softening or ion-exchange resins but is increasingly being accomplished using nanofiltration or reverse osmosis membranes.
WHAT IS HARD WATER?
Hard water is water that contains salts of calcium and magnesium principally as bicarbonates, chlorides, and sulfates. Ferrous iron may also be present; oxidized to the ferric form, it appears as a reddish brown stain on washed fabrics and enameled surfaces. Water hardness that is caused by calcium bicarbonate is known as temporary, because boiling converts the bicarbonate to the insoluble carbonate; hardness from the other salts is called permanent. Calcium and magnesium ions in hard water react with the higher fatty acids of soap to form an insoluble gelatinous curd, thereby causing a waste of the soap. This objectionable reaction does not take place with modern detergents.
In boilers, the calcium and magnesium in hard waters form a hard, adherent scale on the plates. As a result of the poor heat conductivity of the scale, fuel consumption is increased, and the boiler deteriorates rapidly through the external overheating of the plates. Sodium carbonate, if present, hydrolyzes to produce free alkali that causes caustic embrittlement and failure of the boiler plates. Water is softened on a small scale by the addition of ammonia, borax, or trisodium phosphate, together with sodium carbonate (washing soda). The latter precipitates the calcium as carbonate and the magnesium as hydroxide. Water is softened on a large scale by the addition of just enough lime to precipitate the calcium as carbonate and the magnesium as hydroxide, whereupon sodium carbonate is added to remove the remaining calcium salts. In areas where the water is hard, home water softeners are used, making use of the properties of natural or artificial zeolite minerals.
Water hardness is measured with five different classifications and can be expressed in mg/litre or parts per million (ppm) or grains per gallon (gpg):
| soft | below 17 mg/litre or ppm (0-1 gpg) |
| slightly hard | 17.1 – 60 mg/litre or ppm (1.1-3.5 gpg) |
| moderatetly hard | 61-120 mg/litre or ppm (3.6-7 gpg) |
| hard | 121-180 mg/litre or ppm (7.1-10.5 gpg) |
| very hard | over 180 mg/litre (over 10.5 gpg) |
Above 121 mg/litre, you may want to consider a water softener.
WHAT IS A WATER SOFTENER?
A water softener is a device for removing calcium and magnesiumfrom water. In doing so, the best water softeners allow your home to have clearer, more refreshing, and high quality water throughout your home. Most water softeners can be separated into two types: salt-based water softeners and salt-free water softener alternatives (also called conditioners, but more on that later). Before we examine the benefits, let’s see how these systems work:
SALT-BASED WATER SOFTENERS
Salt-based water softeners swap calcium and magnesium ions from the affected hard water by replacing these ions with sodium ions from the salt in the system. Within the resin tank of salt-based water softeners, an ion exchange occurs. This exchange reduces the mineral count while increasing the overall salt content of the water.
A byproduct of the ion-exchange process causes the hardness minerals to collect in the conditioning tank of the unit, which requires the system to regularly backwash and flush the hardness minerals down the wastewater drain. The salt within the system must be replaced at regular intervals.
Water softeners come in four different types – offsite, manual, semi-automatic and automatic.
Offsite – the portable exchange unit does not regenerate at your home, a company replaces the cylinder.
Manual – requires manual operation to perform backwashing, brining and rinsing.
Semi-automatic – all functions are controlled automatically, with the exception of regeneration.
Automatic – all functions are performed automatically, including regeneration.
This last type of softener can be controlled by the following systems:
Time-clock – regenerates on a pre-set schedule.
Water meter – regenerates based on volume of water; has two units so one can recharge while other is operating.
Hardness sensor – monitors the hardness of the water and activates regeneration when necessary via a sensor. This system is most costly to buy but will use less water and salt.
Benefits of Salt-Based Water Softeners
The reasons some homeowners choose a salt-based water softener are pretty sweet:
– They effectively reduce hardness mineral ions from your home’s water.
– They save you money on appliance repair, plumbing repair, and detergent that is rendered less effective by hard water.
SALT-FREE WATER SOFTENER ATTERNATIVES (CONDITIONERS)
As we touched on earlier, salt-free water softener alternatives are also called conditioners. This is because they recondition the water, instead of removing mineral ions. By forgoing the ion exchange process, salt-free water softener alternatives generate zero water waste and require less maintenance than salt-based counterparts.
To get technical, the media has calcium carbonate crystal structures on its surface that will attract excess dissolved hardness and remove it from solution by integrating it into the crystal structures on the media filter. The crystals on the media surface grow larger. The movement and friction in the water will cause fragments of these newly grown crystal structures to be fragmented from the media and released into the passing water.
Free-flowing calcium carbonate crystals then continue to travel through a plumbing system as suspended particles and buffer the effects of any changes in the scale potential of the water downstream.
Benefits of Salt-Free Water Conditioners
Salt-free water softeners employ a complicated scientific process to work properly. But they have bigtime benefits – all of which are super easy to understand:
– They have more substantial lifetime savings compared to salt-based softeners by removing the need for refilling salt, making them a more affordable option.
– Beneficial minerals are left intact in your drinking water, while the negative effects of hard water like scale buildup are reduced.
WHERE DO I INSTALL A WATER SOFTENER?
Water softeners are installed where the water line enters the home. A professional installer should carry out the installation. A separate cold line will be required for drinking and cooking purposes if you prefer to not consume softened water.
WHAT DOES A SOFTENER LOOK LIKE?
There are two basic types of water softeners. There is a single upright cabinet style and an upright twin-tank style. Both are approximately 1.5 m in height and about 0.5 m in width.
HOW DO I MAINTAIN MY WATER SOFTENER?
While most softeners need little care and will last for many years – problems may occasionally occur.
To ensure smooth functioning, the water softener should regenerate at least once a week to assure its longevity. If your softener is not working properly, there are several things to watch for.
Check for salt build-up in the brine tank. If a crust has formed, remove it using a vacuum, clean with soap and water, and rinse well.
If your water contains iron, check for iron deposits in the resin bed. If it is present, use an iron-removing product to clean the softener.
Check the resin tank injector. If it is plugged with „dirty” salt, shut off the softener’s bypass plug, run a manual regeneration and then clean the injector and injector screen.
Consider machines that have controls that minimize water use during regeneration. Often, one cycling a week will be sufficient for a family of four.
CONCERNS ABOUT WATER SOFTENERS
Is softened water safe to drink?
A water softener cannot remove microbiological contaminants that cause illness and should only be used to treat drinking water that is considered to be microbiologically safe.
Water softeners replace „hard” minerals with „soft” minerals such as sodium. The fact that sodium chloride (a salt) is used to soften water raises a concern about the potential health risks for those persons suffering from hypertension, kidney disease or congestive heart failure.
As the incidence of hypertension increases and the number of individuals on sodium-restricted diets rises, water softener manufacturing companies have begun to promote the use of potassium chloride as a safe alternative to sodium chloride. However, potential health risks are also a concern where potassium chloride (also a salt) is used to soften water.
Water containing high levels of sodium or potassium should not be used for drinking, making coffee, juice, infant formula or for cooking.
If you do not want this additional sodium or potassium in your diet, or if you are on a medically prescribed diet, a separate cold water line and faucet can be installed which bypasses the water softener. This allows for drinking and cooking with unsoftened cold water.
When should I not use sftened water?
Softened water is not recommended for lawn watering and other outdoor uses as this will lead to more frequent system regeneration and higher costs. The high sodium content of the softened water can also affect the growth of grass and vegetation.
Are water softeners noisy?
Water softeners create very little noise. The only sound you will hear is the movement of water through the unit during the backwash.
Is softened water corrosive?
It has been found that ion exchange softening has no effect on the corrosiveness of water. Water pH, dissolved oxygen content, ammonia, chloride and flow velocity cause corrosion. These factors are unaffected by the softening process.
Will my water bill increase if I use a water softener?
Water softeners are associated with increased well water pumping costs and somewhat higher water bills. The average water softener will need 140 to 400 litres of fresh water each time it regenerates the resin bed. To minimize costs, select a water-efficient model. Check how often the softener backwashes and how much water is used during regeneration. Also ensure that the unit is set to your family-size and needs.
What are the main operating costs?
The purchase of salt for regeneration will be the main operating cost. Salt is sold in large bags and can be obtained from a water equipment dealer, a supermarket or local hardware store. The other cost will be the water and energy required for operation and regeneration.
Will a water softener harm my septic system?
While there have been concerns over a water softener’s impact on septic systems – such as killing the bacteria in septic tanks with salt, overflowing tanks with too much backwash flow and reducing the drainage field’s ability to absorb water – recent scientific studies remain inconclusive.
Salt has been found to have no harmful effects on bacteria and the soil of the drainage field. However, the volume of backwash flow can range from 140 to 400 litres per week or the equivalent of one to two standard filled bathtubs. Recharging the softener not more than once a week should reduce the amount of water entering the septic system.