What is a Water Softener & how does it Work?

Are you confused about the working of a Water Softener & what it actually does?

It helps you get rid of hard water but what is hard water and why you should get rid of it?

To get all your answers to keep reading this post till the end.
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What Exactly Is A Water Softener?

A water softener is a filtration system that works to remove high calcium and magnesium concentrations that produce hard water. When water passes through a Water Softener, the system filters away these hard water minerals, and the softened water exits the system to flow through piping.

What Is Water Hardness?
Hard water has significant levels of minerals, specifically calcium and magnesium. Calcium and magnesium bond easily with other metals due to their chemical structure. These bind form into something visible over time, such as the crusty residue on your shower head!

In fact, the moniker "hard water" comes from the hardened mineral deposits that this type of water leaves behind. These deposits can build, obstruct, or even damage pipes over time, causing significant plumbing issues. Hard water deposits can accumulate in boilers and hot water heaters, reducing efficiency and increasing operating costs.

To cut a long tale short, hard water can have long-term harmful impacts on whatever surface it passes over, through, or on.

How do water softeners Works? 

Water softeners work by removing calcium and magnesium from the water through a process known as ion exchange. The hard water runs through a bed of spherical resin beads as it enters the mineral tank. These sodium-ion-charged plastic beads are typically constructed of polystyrene.

The resin beads are anions, which means they are negatively charged. Calcium and magnesium are cations because they have a positive charge. Because opposing charges attract, the minerals' negative charge is drawn to the resin beads' positive charge.

The beads take hold of the mineral ions and remove them from the water as the hard water travels through the resin. The sodium ion is released when the bead seizes the mineral ion. As the water goes through the mineral tank, the resin column removes all of the hardness, and softened water flows into your home. 

What exactly are the parts of a water softener?

A control valve, a mineral tank, and a brine tank are the three components of a water softener. These three operate together to remove minerals from hard water, monitor water flows, and clean the system on a regular basis via a regeneration process. 

Mineral Tank

The mineral tank is the chamber that softens hard water. The hard water is fed into the tank via the water supply line. Water penetrates through the layer of resin beads, depositing calcium and magnesium ions that harden the water. The water softly exits the tank and goes via your pipes to your domestic appliances.

Control Valve

The control valve monitors the flow of water via the mineral tank and into your home. The valve contains a meter that measures the amount of water that enters the mineral tank. The resin beads exchange sodium ions for hardness ions as hard water runs through the mineral tank.

Brine Tank

The brine tank contributes to the regeneration of the water softening system. It is a smaller tank located next to the mineral tank. The brine tank contains a highly concentrated solution of salt (or sometimes potassium) to restore the positive charge of the resin beads. 

Salt in the shape of pellets or blocks is manually added to the brine tank. These disintegrate in the water at the tank's bottom.

When the control valve detects that the resin's softening capacity is dwindling, the heavy brine solution is pulled from the tank and flushed through the resin in the mineral tank. If the salt in the brine tank runs out, the water flowing through the unit will no longer be softened.

What do water softeners get rid of? 

Water softeners purify hard water by removing calcium and magnesium ions. The minerals that cause water hardness are calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+).

Furthermore, the ion exchange process will attract and destroy any positively charged ion (also known as a cation). Other minerals, such as iron and manganese, may be included.

Is it okay to drink soft water? 
It is safe to consume soft water. When the resin beads grab hold of the hardness minerals during the ion exchange process, they release sodium into the water.

However, the quantity of sodium in softened water is not harmful and is significantly less than what is commonly assumed. If your water is somewhat hard, say five grains per gallon (around 86ppm), you're just adding 37 milligrams of sodium each quart.

That amounts to less than 2% of the recommended daily salt consumption. A slice of white bread contains approximately 170 milligrams of sodium, while a slice of pizza contains approximately 640 mg. So, in comparison, the sodium added by water softeners is insignificant.


How Do You Determine Whether You Need A Water Softener?
Look for the following indicators of hard water in your home:

• The mineral-like crust that has accumulated around your faucets or around your shower head
• Soap scum accumulates in your sinks and on your shower walls.
• Clothing that is stiff after a load of laundry
• After showering, you may experience irritated or dry skin, as well as dull hair.

Spencerswater offers you Water Softener at the best price. Please check our Service Area before ordering.

Our Service Area includes: Niles, Elkhart & Edwardsburg.