If you’re less than happy with your tap water, you might find yourself wondering, Do I need a water softener?
Water softeners are one of the most popular solutions for troubleshooting your spouts. In this short guide, we’ll discuss when and why you might need one.
Before we dive in, it’s worth discussing the basics of hard water.1
Water softeners physically remove the minerals from your water. They work through a system of ionic exchange. Overall, soft water can cut energy costs, use less soap, and makes housework easier.
In short, calcium and magnesium ions are exchanged for sodium (salt) ions. Since minerals are completely removed from the water, you’ll no longer have any potential negative effects.
So, do you need a water softener? Below, we’ll look at several telltale signs that it’s time to soften your water.
There are two tanks: the mineral tank (aka the resin tank) and the brine softener tank that facilitate the ion exchange process. The mineral tank does the majority of the water softening when sodium ions from brine solution swap places with the water hardness ions (mineral ions).
After this, the ion exchange resin beads combine with water, which attaches the hardness minerals to the beads. Following this step, the mineral tank is flushed with sodium chloride or potassium chloride, and the covered beads exit.
The saltwater saturates the beads and removes any mineral ions and replaces them with a sodium ion. Finally, the dissolved minerals are flushed and the system is ready to soften water again.
You use water to clean just about everything in your home, from your floors to your dishes to your body. If it feels like most things stay dirty, your hard water could be to blame.
Hard water can cause issues like the following:
Unfortunately, the minerals in hard water react with soap to create scum. Luckily, a water softener system can remove these minerals and, with them, the problem.
Do you find yourself shopping for dryer sheets every other week? No matter how many you include in your laundry, your clothing feels stiff and hard.
If even your coziest t-shirt chafes, the culprit is likely your hard water.
If you have hard water, minerals migrate from your water to your clothing. There’s nothing wool laundry balls can do. You need a water softener.
Is your plumber constantly advising you to patch or replace your pipes?
It’s normal to be skeptical and prudent to get a second opinion. But hard water really can degrade pipes, especially older cast iron and copper pipes. Mineral deposits build up and eat away at the native metal over time, leading to leaks, rust, and eventually, plumbing problems.
Of course, minerals aren’t necessarily the cause of your unpleasant water.
However, water with a different bad taste and evidence of hardness (stiff laundry, etc.) often requires a more extensive treatment solution.
Want better water?
At Rayne Water, we make it our mission to purify your H2O. Whether you’re looking to improve the drinking water systems from a single faucet or upgrade your entire household to avoid the negative effects of hard water, we have a solution.
If you have installed a water softener, you know the benefits of longer lasting appliances and softer hair. But you might need to know how often does a water softener regenerate?
Get in touch today to learn more about the right water softener, water conditioner, or reverse osmosis system for your budget and needs.
We offer water treatment systems in different locations. Whether you are looking for water softener in Ventura or RO systems in Scottsdale, we can help. Contact us today!
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