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Archive for the ‘Hard Water Solutions’ Category

What is a Water Softener?

Posted by Rayne Water

WQA “Water Quality Association” defines soft water as any water which has been processed in some manner (like a Conditioner) BUT must be able to reduce the total hardness to 1 grain per gallon or less, expressed as calcium carbonate equivalent. The water softener system also needs to be certified S100 by the WQA in order to be a softener. If you are buying a softener, make sure it is WQA-certified S100 or similar standard.
In other words, unless a Water Conditioner actually reduces the total hardness to 1 grain per gallon or less, it cannot be called a Water Softener.
Consumers are advised to be certain that they understand exactly what benefits are claimed before they purchase any water conditioner device.
Only a Water Softener or a Reverse Osmosis/Water Purifier System can get your water below 1 grain of hardness. Only these two products actually soften hard water Period.

Soft, Pure Water in Phoenix — Really.

Posted by Rayne Water

One doesn’t have to live in Arizona very long to realize two things. First, when someone tries to diminish an Arizona summer with the line “it’s a dry heat”, you know they’ve not spent much time working outside your house. Second, Arizona’s water not only comes out of the tap HOT, but also HARD.

Fortunately, Rayne Water has the solution to both. For over 50 years, Rayne has supplied Phoenix with the industry’s best water softeners in Phoenix along with reliable soft water exchange tank service. That means that you no longer have to carry in heavy bags of salt in the summer heat or spend your weekends de-scaling your shower doors. Now, you can enjoy the real comforts and beauty of Arizona.
This luxury doesn’t even have to cost you a fortune. Click here to view Rayne’s current special offers on rentals and purchases, and a special introductory offer on a revolutionary drinking water system.

Are you looking for a water softener in Arizona? Whether it’s a drinking water filtration system in Scottsdale or a Glendale water softener…we have you covered. Rayne of Phoenix services the following areas: Avondale, Buckeye, Carefree, Casa Grande, Cave Creek, Chandler, Coolidge, El Mirage, Florence, Fountain Hills, Gilbert, Glendale, Goodyear, Laveen, Litchfield Park, Maricopa, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Peoria, Phoenix, Queen Creek, Scottsdale, Sun City, Sun City West, Surprise, Tempe, Tolleson, Wickenburg, Youngtown, and Northern Arizona.

Rayne of Phoenix Sets a High Green Standard

Posted by Rayne Water

Rayne of Phoenix for their commitment to being environmentally responsible – and for very simply having a great idea! In the Phoenix Business Journal last week, Rayne of Phoenix revealed the introduction of two patent-pending processes for home and business use. The first product is a home water softener that limits the amount of salt that is allowed to enter the wastewater system, and the other is a drinking water system that, unlike reverse-osmosis, wastes minimal water in the purification process. In an industry that has changed very little over the last 50 years, these two products will be the leading edge into the future. Water softening systems flush water through tanks filled with salt and as a result of a chemical reaction, the sodium changes places with hard-water elements like calcium, manganese, and magnesium. This process, when taking place in tens of thousands of homes using traditional water softeners, creates more than 1 million pounds of salt pollution in Arizona’s groundwater each year. Rayne’s solution? To desalinate the water before discharging it as wastewater. Rayne of Phoenix provides customers Soft Water Exchange Tank Service, which confines tank regeneration to a properly-designed desalination facility so that salt discharge rate is nearly 0% and water usage is reduced by at least two-thirds. Rayne’s second new product, a drinking water system called Linx, is being rolled out as an alternative to traditional reverse osmosis systems. Much like traditional systems, Linx works on an ion-exchange principle, but wastes 90% less water than reverse osmosis. Great job, Rayne of Phoenix! You’ve raised the bar for service, quality, and green living once again. Give us a call if you need a Phoenix water softener system or have any questions about water filtration systems!

Water Softeners – They Make Good Cents

Posted by Rayne Water

Water softeners are a huge asset to American homeowners. These appliances not only soften water, but they also are shown to conserve energy by making appliances more efficient, decrease the amount of harsh cleaning chemicals being used and flushed down the drain, and reduce the abuse other water-using appliances endure.

The Water Quality Research Foundation in partnership with the Battelle Memorial Institute recently completed a study on the energy efficiency impact of water softeners. This study revealed that softened water helps save energy because it doesn‘t cause buildup of scale the way hard water does. Many people only recognize the problem of hard water when they are scrubbing away water spots and calcium buildup on the bathroom faucet. The unseen effects of hard water, however, are much more damaging than those unsightly water spots.

Consider the water heater, one of the largest energy-using appliances in our homes. This study found that water heaters using hard water generate 1 to 2 lbs of scale each year, while those using soft water generate NO scale. It takes just a few weeks to generate hard water scale build up. This buildup makes appliances less energy efficient and shortens their usable life span. Installing a water softener can actually make household appliances last significantly longer and raise their energy efficiency.

The Water Quality Association issued press release on June 3, 2009 that summarizes a study on hard water and shower heads. This study shows that untreated hard water can rapidly lead to clogged showerheads, in some cases as soon as a year and a half of regular use. In the study, after just one week of constant testing with hard water, more than three-fourths of showerhead nozzles became clogged. After the same length of time, showerheads using softened water performed nearly as well as on the day they were installed. Some might argue that a plugged shower head conserves water, but it isn’t much of a shower.

No matter what angle you take in looking at the facts, having a water softener in your home makes good sense and cents. Ask your Rayne dealer how you can save money, conserve energy, and help your appliances last longer.

Study Shows Water Softeners Among ‘Very Best’ Household Energy Savers

Posted by Rayne Water

In a recent study by independent research facility Battelle Memorial Institute, water softener systems were shown to be the key to efficiency of water heaters, major appliances, and plumbing fixtures. The study tested efficiency ratings of appliances over their expected lifespan using both hard and soft water.

Here are some interesting test results:

Gas water heaters maintained their original factory efficiency ratings over the 15-year lifespan when heating with softened water. The same gas water heater lost as much as 48% efficiency with 30 gpg hard water.

Electric water heaters had minimal buildup over their lifespan when heating softened water. Those electric water heaters using hard water had increased incidence of heating element replacement because of the buildup within the storage tank.

Tankless water heaters maintained their original factory efficiency ratings when heating with softened water. The same tankless heaters completely failed to function after only 1.6 years of equivalent hot water usage with hard water. Additionally, the cost of operation was 34% higher with 20 gpg water and 47% higher with 30 gpg water than with softened water.

Showerheads and faucets maintained their ability to work as well as new for their expected life time when used with softened water. When used with hard water, however, showerheads lost 75% of their flow rate within 18 months, and faucets could not maintain their flow rate and were often completely plugged after 19 equivalent days of testing.

Dishwashers and washing machines showed no wear after 240 wash cycles when using softened water. When used with hard water, the appliances required descaling and extensive cleaning.

While it is important to choose energy-efficient appliances, this study shows that using hard water can quickly and drastically compromise their efficiency to the point where they do not actually save energy at all. The best thing you can do? Invest in a water softener to improve the longevity and efficiency of all of your appliances and plumbing fixtures.

Click here to read the entire press release.

Study Shows Water Softeners Among ‘Very Best’ Household Energy Savers

Posted by Rayne Water

hard water. Electric water heaters had minimal buildup over their lifespan when heating softened water. Those electric water heaters using hard water had increased incidence of heating element replacement because of the buildup within the storage tank.
Tankless water heaters maintained their original factory efficiency ratings when heating with softened water. The same tankless heaters completely failed to function after only 1.6 years of equivalent hot water usage with hard water. Additionally, the cost of operation was 34% higher with 20 gpg water and 47% higher with 30 gpg water than with softened water.
Showerheads and faucets maintained their ability to work as well as new for their expected life time when used with softened water. When used with hard water, however, showerheads lost 75% of their flow rate within 18 months, and faucets could not maintain their flow rate and were often completely plugged after 19 equivalent days of testing.
Dishwashers and washing machines showed no wear after 240 wash cycles when using softened water. When used with hard water, the appliances required descaling and extensive cleaning.
While it is important to choose energy-efficient appliances, this study shows that using hard water can quickly and drastically compromise their efficiency to the point where they do not actually save energy at all. The best thing you can do? Invest in a water softener to improve the longevity and efficiency of all of your appliances and plumbing fixtures.
Click here to read the entire press release.

Honey, Did You Run The Dishwasher?

Posted by Rayne Water

How often have you heard that question as your spouse stands peering in at the dishes still in the dishwasher with a puzzled look on his or her face? Many households across America fight with dingy dishes on a daily basis. The cause? Often it’s hard water. There are a few other factors that might need checking as well, but since a large portion of the United States has at least moderately hard water, having a simple water test is a likely place to start.

A recent article from Brainerd, MN caught our eye. It seems that an incredible number of good folks were coming into a local appliance store asking questions and shopping because they felt like their dishwashers were about ready to call it quits. Left unquestioned, Whirlpool and GE would have made a killing off this community. Fortunately, however, the store owner started asking questions and doing a little research. The area is not prone to excessively hard water, but the symptoms all seemed to point that direction – cloudy glasses, water spots on plates, and a haze on every item that came out of the dishwasher.

Probably sounds familiar to most of us on the west side of the country, but it was a shock to these folks. One interesting discussion came from this – how did the town suddenly have noticeably hard water? Could it be the sudden increase in rainfall they’ve had this year? Could it be a change in water source? Or perhaps road construction stirred up minerals that have been in the pipes for years? Turns out it was probably the road construction, but whatever the cause, they are having to pay attention to their dishwashers!

Dishes, perhaps as much as any surface in our homes, are affected by our water. Since most dishwashers are white on the inside, we often don’t notice the hard water minerals building up inside the appliance and think that the problem lies with the appliance’s ability to clean, the detergent’s quality, or our dishes simply not holding up to everyday use. Before you go shopping for a new dishwasher ($$$!) or a different brand of detergent (boring), let’s try an experiment. Take a glass that has the white film on it, and dip it in a little vinegar. Does that take the powdery film away? If so, then you’ve got hard water! What are your options? You can add a little vinegar to every load, you can purchase specially-formulated dish detergent additives, or you can invest in a whole-house water softener.

Regardless of which approach you take, we think you’ll probably not hear that familiar “Did you run the dishwasher” question again. Your glasses will sparkle, your silverware will shine, and your dishwasher will last a good while longer.

Mysterious White Powder Shows Up In American Kitchens

Posted by Rayne Water

Cascade, Electrasol, Colgate-Palmolive. We’re talking dishwasher detergent, white film, and frustration this week. Perhaps you noticed things changed last summer – your dishes started coming out of the dishwasher looking worse than when you put them in – but you weren’t sure why. All over the country, consumers replaced dishwashers, yelled at their water utility companies, and started using vinegar by the gallon to clean away the crusty film. And here, all along, it was just our dishwasher detergent – our new phosphate-free dishwasher detergent.

Phosphates act like a fertilizer. Once they enter the water cycle, they cause extreme algae and aquatic weed growth in lakes, rivers, and streams – to the point where the algae depletes the oxygen in the water needed for healthy fish and aquatic life. While septic systems and municipal water treatment facilities remove the majority of this substance, a small amount still makes it into the environment, and that’s just enough to turn our lakes green, kill the fish, and shut down our beaches.

As of June 2010, 16 states had banned the sale of high-phosphate-containing cleaners. Some areas had made this move as early as 2007, but that only caused residents to drive across state lines or turn to the internet to purchase contraband dishwasher detergent. Now, with the increasing attention and so many states disallowing their products, most of the large detergent manufacturers have changed their formulations, rather than offer different formulas for different states.

The problem is these new formulas simply don’t work as well as the old phosphate-containing detergents. Even one load of dishes through this new detergent can leave a white film so thick it can be scraped off. Phosphates were historically used in dishwashers because they remove hard water stains and grease – the whole purpose of using a dishwasher! Unfortunately, there is currently no satisfactory replacement for phosphate. If you live in an area with soft water, you may not notice the same problems as most of the country because science has been more successful in finding environmentally friendly grease-cutters than water-softening agents. For those of us with hard water, well, we’re left scratching our heads… or our scum-encrusted dishes as it were.

What can we do? Well, many folks report adding vinegar to every load of dishes. Others purchase dishwasher detergent additives with high levels of citric acid. The most satisfying solution is to invest in soft water so that your dishwasher detergent – and all of your other cleaners for that matter – can work better. A whole-house water softener removes the dissolved calcium, magnesium, and manganese before these compounds can get to your dishes and stick. Not only will the detergent work better, you will need to use less of it!

5 Benefits of Filtering Hard Water

Posted by Rayne Water

Water hardness refers to the amount of magnesium and calcium solids in your water supply.1  No matter where you live or work, where you get your water, or how satisfied you are with your overall water quality, home and business owners can all agree—hard water is a nuisance. 

Luckily, there’s a solution to one of the peskiest problems in nationwide water supplies. While hard water cannot be filtered, it can be softened to significantly improve your water quality, protect your plumbing system, reduce your time spent cleaning, and more. 

This article will break down everything you need to know about water softening (which is sometimes termed as filtering hard water). We’ll explore five benefits you can reap when you choose a water softening system and introduce you to a few potential solutions to your hard water woes.

#1 Meet Your Wellness Goals

If you’re new to the science of water softening, you might be worried that hard water could be a sign of a vulnerability in your plumbing system or an issue with your municipal water infrastructure, but hard water is normal and naturally occurring. 

When groundwater—the source of most municipal and all well water—moves through rock underground, it dissolves loose solids that fall away from the rock as it erodes. While numerous compounds can dissolve into groundwater, hard water refers to the concentration of calcium and magnesium only. 

Calcium and magnesium are essential nutrients that your body needs to survive:

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends daily intake values for both minerals—between 200 and 1,300 mg of calcium and between 30 and 420 mg of calcium, depending on your age, sex, and pregnancy status—but ingesting too much of either may lead to unwanted health effects.

Consuming too much magnesium doesn’t pose a fatal health risk—since the kidneys eliminate any excess via urine—but it can potentially cause nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps.

However, overconsumption of calcium is more serious, potentially leading to:

If you see visible signs of hard water in your home or business water supply, you should make efforts to resolve the problem to prevent overconsumption of both magnesium and calcium, since too much of either can make you sick. 

Water Softener Systems starting at only $35/mo. Try before you buy!

How Hard is Your Water?

There are four classifications for water hardness, measured in grains per gallon or GPG  ) of total dissolved solids (TDS):

To determine your water hardness and whether you’re in need of water treatment, you can learn how to test water quality at home or consult with your municipal water supplier. Keep these numbers in mind when assessing the potential health risk of your hard water. 

#2 Prolong the Life of Your Plumbing System and Fixtures

Calcium and magnesium are dissolved solids. Like dust in your air vents, hard water solids in your drinking water can collect in your pipes, which can potentially lead to:

In addition, hard water solids can build up on the insides and outsides of your plumbing fixtures—for example, your kitchen faucet, shower head, and hose spigot. 

Plumbing is a significant utility in your home, and it can be expensive to replace. Homeowners spent an average of $2,280 to $5,120 installing new plumbing systems in 2021.4 In addition, it can be difficult to diagnose internal plumbing system issues before it’s too late. You may not notice a gradual reduction in your water pressure until you have houseguests or a pipe cracks in your warehouse.

Resolving hard water issues before they become catastrophic can extend the life of the plumbing system and fixtures in your home or office, saving you money and protecting your hard-earned investment. 

#3 Reduce Hard Water Stains—And Your Time Spent Cleaning

Calcium and magnesium solids are left behind when water evaporates. If you drip hard water onto the counter while cooking or washing dishes, you’ll likely find small rings of white, chalky residue when you return to the kitchen a few hours later. 

Of all hard water ramifications, stains can be the most irritating. Even if you use chemical solutions instead of water for surface cleaning, spaces like the sink, kitchen countertops, and bathtub will inevitably keep gathering hard water buildup every time you use these high-traffic areas. 

Hard water stains may also collect on dishes, giving your glasses, plates, and silverware an unpleasant, crusty coating and decreasing their shine. 

Instead of succumbing to the endless cycle of hard water stain removal, opt for a permanent solution—softening your water. When you eliminate hard water from your home or business, you can save time scrubbing up calcium and magnesium residue and adopt a more relaxed cleaning schedule. 

#4 Improve Qualitative Water Issues

In addition to its health, infrastructure, and visual impacts, hard water may also cause qualitative issues with your drinking and bathing water. 

High levels of calcium and magnesium can impact your drinking water’s color, taste, and odor, which can also impact your cooking, laundry, and hygiene efforts. Why?

Hard water neutralizes soap.5

In fact, noticeably unpleasant effects while handwashing, bathing, or cleaning may be your first indication that you have a hard water problem. Be on the lookout for the following signs:

Using a water softening solution can improve the color, of your water, thus enhancing your overall drinking water quality. Resolving hard water issues may also improve the cleanliness of your laundry, dishes, and body. Plus, with calcium and magnesium out of the picture, you’ll find yourself using less soap to work up suds. 

#5 Enjoy Secondary Softening Benefits

Depending on the water softening system you use, you could achieve other potential water softening benefits while removing magnesium and calcium from your home or business water supply. 

For instance, if you employ a water purification system that uses a physical media to filter out solids, this system will also usually remove other particles, like:6

Chemical water purification systems utilize chemical reactions to remove contaminants, and some systems may neutralize calcium and magnesium. They can also tackle some or all of the following:

Even if you don’t know which contaminants could be plaguing your home or business water supply, opting to solve your hard water issues usually offers an attractive secondary improvement: reducing the overall total dissolved solids (TDS) in your drinking (and bathing) water. A lack of these components in softened and filtered water may also help keep your skin and hair soft.

What Technology is Available for Water Softening?

Softening hard water is potentially beneficial for your health, plumbing equipment, cleaning efforts, and overall water quality experience. So, what technologies are available for water softening, and what other benefits do these systems boast? 

Some of the available technologies on the market include:

Rayne Water: Providing Clean, Delicious Water Since 1928

Softening hard water is a worthy pursuit. You may lessen the risk of magnesium and calcium overconsumption, reduce the damage of hard water minerals, and generally improve your home or business water experience with a water softener. 

Finding the right water filtration system or water softener for you shouldn’t be a problem. At Rayne Water, we’ve been helping families and business owners choose ideal water purification solutions for nearly 100 years. From reverse osmosis systems to ion exchange filtration to salt-free systems and everything in between, we don’t just provide excellent service—we make every effort to bring the purest, tastiest water possible to your home or business. 

With our team of industry professionals and a long-time reputation for quality, you can trust Rayne Water Conditioning to resolve any water quality issue that comes your way. 

Find a location near you!

Sources: 

  1. US Department of the Interior. Hardness of Water. https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water-science-school/science/hardness-water  
  2. National Institutes of Health. Calcium. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Calcium-HealthProfessional/ 
  3. National Institutes of Health. Magnesium. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/ 
  4. Home Guide. How Much Does It Cost to Install or Replace Plumbing? https://homeguide.com/costs/install-new-house-plumbing-pipes-cost 
  5. US Department of the Interior. Why Does It Take So Long to Rinse the Soap Off My Hands? https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/why-does-it-take-so-long-rinse-soap-my-hands-what-are-hard-water-and-soft-water 
  6. US Environmental Protection Agency. Overview of Drinking Water Treatment Technologies. https://www.epa.gov/sdwa/overview-drinking-water-treatment-technologies#RO 

Are Water Treatment Systems Only for Homes?

Posted by Rayne Water

water filtration system or a water softener to offer its patrons. Public facilities that offer or utilize water (drinking water or within appliances) could reduce their environmental impact, waste less water, conserve their expensive appliances, and reduce harmful contaminants from the drinking water all at once. So again, the answer seems quite simple.
Let’s say, for example, a hospital was looking to provide patients safe drinking water from faucets or drinking water fountains, but had impurities in the water as many areas in this country do. Patients, with their many susceptibilities, needed to be sure they wouldn’t consume harmful contaminants. With a good water filter, kitchens could serve safe drinking water without the expense and waste of plastic bottles. People could feel good about water fountains. Appliances won’t be breaking down from hard water buildup. A simple and inexpensive solution could be to install drinking water systems.
Likewise, hotels could also benefit from some of the related services. From offering sparkling clean drinking water, to saving on hard water buildup, water treatment systems are a great way to get clients into your business and save money in the long run. Hotels utilize constantly expensive equipment – washing machines, pipes, dishwashers, sinks, etc… Hard water can leave mineral buildup which can quickly shorten the life of the appliances, creating both a hassle and a cost. With a commercial water softener at an affordable price, the savings are imminent. Not to mention the increased profits due to people who want to stay in a hotel with safe drinking water at their fingertips!
Farmers who are looking at hydroponic crops can also benefit from the use of a reverse osmosis system. There was a recent article on this very topic that states that farmers grow larger and healthier hydroponic crops by utilizing a reverse osmosis system. They, too, will reduce water wasted while improving the quality of their hydroponic crops.
One last example is, of course, restaurants which use water in a variety of ways and who could immensely benefit from drinking water systems. Restaurants, like hotels and hospitals, have very expensive equipment that they would want to last for many, many years. Hard water mineral buildup can hinder this, should nothing be done. A water softener can reduce this mineral buildup, creating better water and minimizing damage to dishwashers, sinks, and so on. However, one of the biggest benefits with a reverse osmosis system in restaurants would be for the consumers. Just like John Hickey discussed in an article  in the Orlando Sentinel, many people are drinking water when they go out to eat – to watch their wallet and their waistline, kicking sodas to the curb. Most consumers would prefer to know that they are conserving water at the same time that they can enjoy safe drinking water as a beverage alternative. Explore the benefits of a drinking water system or a water softener for your business or corporation today!