How to Add Salt to Water Softener

Posted November 21, 2021 by Ken Christopher

Tap water is available in various forms of softness, depending on the level of minerals it contains. Water softener systems add salt or potassium to change hard water to soft with various kinds of water softening salts to choose from. First, though, it’s good to know how to add salt to water softener systems.

But before delving into that, let’s first distinguish the difference between a water softener vs water filter. Water softeners remove the calcium and magnesium that cause hard water. Meanwhile, a water filter removes unwanted compounds, which include but are not limited to debris, sand, dirt, sediment, etc.

Though water softener salt made from Sodium Chloride is similar to table salt, the amount you need to soften water effectively is measured in pounds and must be added on a regular basis. In fact, the salt doesn’t even soften the water. Rather, it’s the resin beads that are responsible for changing hard water to soft.

A water softener process is made up of two tanks: the resin tank, often known as the mineral tank, and the brine softener tank. As the water flows in the resin tank, tiny resin beads change out calcium and magnesium found in tap water and replace them with sodium or potassium. This is a process known as ion exchange.

When the resin beads can no longer hold calcium and magnesium, they require to be refreshed, a process where they’re rinsed with a brine solution from the second tank. Brine is the solution made from the salt that’s been added to the tank. It’s the brine that drives the calcium and magnesium ions to be charged from the beads and changed with potassium or sodium ions.

After the resin beads have been rinsed and refreshed, the brine is then flushed with fresh water and the process repeats.

Types of Salts to Add to Water Softener

In addition to knowing the basics of how to add salt to water softener systems, it’s also helpful to understand the different types of salt available for use. There are several varieties, including crystals, pellets, sea salt, rock salt, and potassium chloride. The type of salt that’s added to water makes a difference in how well it softens it.

Purity is a main factor to consider. The purity of salt references what percentage of other materials is present other than salt. Some salts contain less soluble materials and won’t last as long as salts without a high level of impurities. Additionally, a high purity percentage won’t leave as much residue left behind. Plus, pure salt dissolves easier and reduces the likelihood of clogging the system.

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

Salt Crystals

Salt crystals are made by evaporating water from a salt and brine solution. This process leaves behind approximately 99.6% sodium chloride. This type of salt is most commonly recommended for smaller households that don’t use as much water as the average household.

Salt Pellets

Salt pellets are another option for water softening. These are made from refining salt crystals into 100% sodium chloride and are largely considered the best salt option to add to water softeners. Because of their effectiveness, they are often more expensive than other types of salt.

Sea Salt

Sea salt is produce d by evaporating seawater. It dissolves easier than other salts and is typically less expensive. Its purity level reaches up to 99.5%, although sea salt has a higher percentage of impurities when compared to other salt types, which prevents it from dissolving as easily in hard water. This can result in salt bridging or salt mushing, which can ruin your tank if not cleaned properly.

Rock Salt

Although not as pure as other salt types, rock salt is still a solid option. True to its name, it consists of uneven salt pieces that look like rocks. Us ing rock salt as a softening agent leaves behind a residue in the basin, which requires frequent cleaning to prevent buildup.

Potassium Chloride

Finally, potassium chloride is an alternative to salt softeners for those who don’t wish to have salt added to their water source. This is a valuable option for those who have high blood pressure or other health concerns where salt usage mu st be limited.

Signs of Hard Water

Visually, soft water and hard water look the same. However, there are tell-tale signs of hard water that’ll indicate it may be time to add salt, two of which are soap scum and mineral deposits.

Soap Scum

Take a look around your sinks, showers, and counters. Do you notice a film that has built up on the surface? This residue or film is created by the mineral reaction in hard water when mixed with the soap used for cleaning, whether it’s shampoo, laundry detergent, or dish soap. The slimy film can be hard to keep clean and can be breeding areas where mold can grow more easily.

In addition to seeing soap scum left behind, you’ll also notice it’s tougher to get a good lat h er when washing your hands or shampooing your hair. Hard water also makes it more difficult to fully rinse the hair free of shampoo. Because of this, people with hard water often end up using more soap to clean than necessary. A water softener system can help cut down on energy and costs working with hard water requires.

Mineral Deposits

Due to the amount of minerals in hard water, one of the most noticeable signs is the deposit left be hind. Hard water mine ral deposits appear in the form of water stains near the water source (faucets, tubs, sinks, and toilets) and can also start to form crusty deposits around your showerhead, affecting the water pressure quality.

Depending on what types of minerals are found in your water, you may notice different colors of stains. Though mostly white or yellowish, if tap water contains iron, the deposits left behind may appear as a rust color. These deposits are then transferred to and can ruin clothes, dishes, and appliances.

Furthermore, any buildup prevents the flow of water, which affects the cleaning abilities of your appliances as well. As a result, your machines have to work harder, using more energy and water to do a thorough cleaning job.

Benefits of Water Softening

Hard water contains a significant amount of dissolved minerals, specifically magnesium and calcium, which are picked up through rocks and soil from groundwater sources. Depending on where the water source originates and how far it travels before reaching the tap is what makes some city water supplies harder than others. Though these types of natural minerals aren’t harmful to health (when in the regulated amounts), they do leave behind mineral deposits that affect everyday conveniences like doing laundry, washing dishes, and taking showers.

Softening tap water removes minerals and eliminates hard water stains from fixtures, appliances, and clothing. It increases the longevity of the appliances that require water and allows y ou to use less soap and detergent, allowing you to save money. Water softening also contributes to softer skin and hair when bathing.

The type and level of salt needed to soften tap water depend on th e building size, water usage, and water hardness levels. For instance, a smaller home may require nearly two 40-pound bags of salt every two months to maintain water at optimal softness levels. Whereas, larger homes and buildings that have a high level of minerals in the water will require more to achieve the desired water softness levels.

However, using too much salt or the wrong kind of salt for your water may result in a buildup, which can leave behind a residue or begin to form a crust that affects water quality and its effectiveness. Fortunately, you don’t have to determine what’s best on your own. We offer several different water softe ner maintenance solutio ns to meet your specific needs.

Whole House Water Softener Systems

Water softener systems remove hard minerals from your tap water through the ion exchange process, leaving only softened water behind. This process is performed within the resin tank and the brine softener tank. Ion exchange resin beads and water are combined to allow minerals to attach to the beads and be flushed out of the tank by using either sodium chloride or potassium chloride.

The brine tank then recharges the resin tank through the flushing process and is rinsed with salt water from the brine tank. With on-demand regeneration as part of our whole house water softener systems, it saves money and energy, using less water and salt and regenerating the water as needed.

Salt-Free Water Systems

Salt-free water systems are an alternative for people who don’t want to add salt to their water. Though these water systems do not soften the water, they can help to reduce damage from hard water and provide soft water benefits. It’s an environmentally friendly solution that reduces hard water damage, reverses existing scale and corrosion damage, and reduces chloramine, chlorine, and bad tastes and odors commonly present in tap water.

Depending on the quality and goals when using your existing tap water source, there are specific models within each category of water treatment systems. At Rayne Water , we can help you find the specific match of what’s needed for your home or business. There are also hybrid options and alternative water treatment methods to improve the quality of water as desired.

It’s not unusual for a tap to dispense hard water, but when you want to change it for the better, a water softener system can make it more beneficial for everyday use.

Sources:

How To Get Hard Water Spots Off Car

Posted October 20, 2021 by Ken Christopher

Picture a warm, sunny, summer day. You want to take advantage of the gorgeous weather and decide your car desperately needs a bath. You lug the bucket, rags, and hose out to your driveway and spend an hour cleaning your car until it sparkles. The next morning, you look outside and your formerly spotless car is now anything but .

It didn’t rain overnight, so what happened?

The likely answer is you washed your car with hard water that left spots once the car dried. This is where water softening solutions for your home come in handy.

It can be tricky to get rid of hard water spots once they form. You’ll need distilled water, white distilled vinegar, microfiber cloths, and a lot of patience. In this blog, we cover how to get hard water spots off car with a vinegar solution, why you must remove them, and how to prevent them from forming.

Step #1: Wash Your Car… Even if it’s Already Clean

We know—you’re probably thinking why do I need to do this again ? It might be a bit of a hassle but will make the final results shine. One of the reasons you’re seeing spots could be because you didn’t dry your car properly after the initial wash. Furthermore, it’s always best to start any project with a clean canvas.

You’ll need the following materials for a solid, effective wash:

2–3 buckets
Your favorite car shampoo
Water
Cleaning cloths
Microfiber towels for drying

Once you’ve assembled your materials, you’re ready to rewash your car. Make sure that you’re using different buckets for the wheels and the body of the car. Scrub the visible water spots carefully and you may be able to remove many of them. Those that can’t be removed this way will be handled with the vinegar solution you’ll apply in step four.

What Causes Hard Water Spots On Cars?

Before we move on to drying your car, let’s take a quick moment to talk about those water spots. What are they, exactly?

The term hard water simply means water that has higher levels of minerals in it.¹ Typically, magnesium and calcium are the minerals that leave behind residue. If the water spots appear after you wash your car (and it didn’t rain), the cause is likely your water. If you have hard water, you’ll find white buildup on your kitchen utensils, faucets, and yes, your car.

These minerals in your water aren’t harmful to humans, but they can cause your things to break down more quickly—this includes the car paint. So, if you’re using the water from your home to clean your car, you’ll be left with white blotches after the water evaporates and leaves behind mineral traces.

Step #2: Dry Your Car Thoroughly

Not all of the spots on your car are necessarily from hard water. Some may be the result of not drying the car’s surface correctly after washing. If you don’t use a microfiber cloth, you’ll leave swirl marks on the car or even damage the car paint.²

You should start with the roof and work your way down. As the cloth becomes saturated, you’ll need to wring it out or switch to a new, dry towel. This step is tedious but will help eliminate some of the pesky spots that appear when you allow your car to air-dry.

Step #3: Mix a Water and Vinegar Solution

Once your car is dry, take a step back and look for hard water spots. You’ll target these spots with your vinegar and water solution.³ To make the solution, you’ll need:

A clean, empty spray bottle
Distilled white vinegar
Distilled water

Mix equal parts of the distilled vinegar and water in the spray bottle and shake it. Now you have a spot-removing solution. This is also the same solution to use on how to clean stainless sink hard water stains.

Step #4: Apply Vinegar Solution on Spots

Next, you’ll spray the vinegar mix onto the areas where you see hard water spots. This might take a while because you can only cover a small area at a time. After you spray, leave the solution on for 60 seconds.

Step #5: Rinse Off the Vinegar Solution

Then, you’ll need to rinse the solution off. Don’t wipe as this may create streaks. We suggest having a bucket of clean, distilled water handy. You can use a small cup to get water from the bucket and pour it over the area you sprayed with the vinegar solution.

Step #6: Dry Carefully

After you’ve thoroughly rinsed the solution from the car, you can dry the area with another microfiber towel.

Then, you’ll repeat steps three through six for the remaining places on your car that you see hard water spots.

Step #7: Wax Your Car

Once you’ve completed the spot-removal process, you need to wax your car to protect the paint job from the elements. Vinegar removes existing wax so don’t skip this step or your hard work will go to waste.

Alternative Methods to Remove Hard Water Spots

A vinegar solution isn’t the only way to remove hard water spots from your vehicle. There are several products on the market that work with varying levels of effectiveness. Some of the most commonly used include:

Detailing clay – This handy product looks like silly putty and can be used in conjunction with the vinegar solution or on its own for smaller jobs. It picks up microscopic particles from your car’s paint, leaving behind a clean car’s surface.
Spot removal products – There are many products on the market that promise to remove hard water spots from your car. Make sure you wear gloves when using these products as they tend to contain chemicals that can irritate your skin.
Buffing – Another easy method to try is to buff away the water marks with a microfiber cloth. This method is simple but might leave some streaks behind.

As you can see there is no one right method for hard water spot removal. It depends on your preference and the severity of spotting on your car.

Why Do You Need to Remove Hard Water Spots?

It’s important to find a method that you like because hard water marks can damage your car if they aren’t removed. The minerals left behind can soak into the surface of your car’s clear coat on top of the paint. Eventually, this leads to a problem called etching which occurs in several steps, including:

Small, concave marks develop in the paint
Over time, when water hits your car, it goes into the same little holes
This makes these craters get bigger
Permanent paint damage results

When the paint on your car is damaged, the metal base is exposed. This leaves it open for rust and decay which will reduce the value of your vehicle and can cost you a hefty sum in major repairs. It’s far less costly to spend a few hours removing hard water spots than it is to have your entire car repainted.

Can You Prevent Hard Water Spots?

It would be difficult to eliminate the risk of hard water spots on your car entirely—rain, errant sprinklers, and more can contribute to spotting. However, there are a few things you can do to prevent the majority of hard water spots. These include:

Use only distilled water to wash – Distilled water is the steam collected from boiling water that has been cooled.⁴ The distilling process removes nearly all of the minerals from the water meaning you won’t have the spotty traces leftover on your car after cleaning it.
Always dry your car properly – As we covered above, leaving water on your car after washing it can result in spotting. When you dry the car with microfiber towels from top to bottom, you eliminate the water, lessening the chance of mineral deposits pooling and damaging your paint.
Don’t skip the wax – Waxing your car after it’s dry puts a protective sealant over the paint. This will keep pesky spots from appearing and, as a bonus, also protects your car better from other damage such as rain, dirt, insects, and pollutants.
Keep it in the garage – If possible, store your car in your garage to keep water spots from developing when it rains.
Invest in your home’s water quality – If your home has a hard water problem, it might be time to consider remedying it with a water softener or another water conditioning system. This will ensure that you don’t have hard water spots on your car due to the water coming from your hose.

While it’s impossible to prevent hard water spots completely, these actions will help lessen the impact on your vehicle.

Save Time and Energy with Rayne Water

The process to remove hard water stains from your car is time-consuming and frustrating. However, if not done properly, you risk damaging your car’s paint job. Instead of making more work for yourself, prevent hard water stains with one of our water softening solutions.

Rayne Water has been in business since 1928 and we now serve California, Arizona, and Nevada residents. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you enjoy better water. Next time you wash your car, you can look outside the next morning with confidence that that shine will still be there.

Sources:

Penn State Extension. Hard Water and Water Softening. https://extension.psu.edu/hard-water-and-water-softening
The Drive. How to Dry Your Car the Right Way. https://www.thedrive.com/cleaning-detailing/29839/best-way-to-dry-a-car
The Vehicle Lab. How to Remove Water Spots on Your Car: Types Explained https://www.thevehiclelab.com/water-spot-removal/
WebMD. Distilled Water. https://www.webmd.com/diet/distilled-water-overview#1

How to Clean Stainless Steel Sink Hard Water Stains

Posted October 20, 2021 by Ken Christopher

Close-up of a bathroom faucet with visible hard water stains and limescale buildup

Hard water can leave even the best stainless steel sink covered in white streaks and smudges. Those marks are caused by dissolved minerals, mostly magnesium and calcium, left behind after the water dries.

While hard water is safe to drink, it can slowly wear down the shine in your kitchen. You do not have to live with water stains on stainless steel. Water softeners prevent future spots, and common household products can remove existing ones.

A gentle routine is all it takes to keep your sink looking its best. And with the right care, you can enjoy a spotless kitchen and keep hard water stains at bay.

What Causes Water Stains on Stainless Steel?

Pair of kitchen taps with white limescale residue and hard water deposits on the spouts

You rinse a dish and set it in the sink. Hours later, faint white marks start to appear where the water dried. That’s hard water at work. Stainless steel makes every streak and spot stand out. When minerals like calcium and magnesium are left behind, you see cloudy lines around the drain or soap dispenser.

Those stains collect fastest where water sits longest. Kitchens lose their shine, even with regular cleaning. It feels like a losing battle. Knowing how these stains form is the first step.

With the right routine, you can keep your sink bright and avoid stubborn buildup.

Use Kitchen Staples To Clean Your Sink

Anyone who has ever owned a stainless steel appliance or sink knows that it’s not really stainless. Spots, smears, blotches, and more appear with astonishing regularity. Luckily, you can shine up your stainless steel with natural remedies that you probably already have on hand.

A few simple stainless steel cleaners you can use include:

Vinegar
Lemon
Baking soda
Cream of tartar (yes, really!)

Let’s look at each of these and how you can use them to remove hard water spots.

Vinegar

Distilled white vinegar is one of the cheapest and most effective agents you can use to clean many areas of your home, including a stainless steel sink. To remove hard water stains with vinegar, you’ll need to:

Fill a spray bottle with equal parts vinegar and water
Rinse out your kitchen sink with plain water
Spray the vinegar solution all over the kitchen sink
Let it soak for 15 minutes
Scrub the area with a non-abrasive sponge
Wipe with a damp cloth

This should leave your sink sparkling clean.

Vinegar works especially well for water stains on stainless steel because it breaks down mineral deposits like calcium and magnesium, the usual culprits behind hard water marks on stainless steel. A quick spray-and-wipe can help prevent spots from becoming permanent fixtures in your kitchen.

Lemon Juice

If you don’t like the smell of vinegar, try a different, more scent-friendly solution.

Pure lemon juice is also more acidic than vinegar and may be more effective at removing tough stains. You’ll use the same process as you would for vinegar, and will be left with a fresh, clean, citrus aroma wafting through your kitchen.

Lemon’s natural acidity not only fights water stains on stainless steel but also leaves a streak-free shine. Using lemon is an easy, natural way to get water spots off stainless steel, no harsh chemicals needed.

Baking Soda

Like vinegar, baking soda is the natural housekeeper’s best friend. It’s useful for countless applications, including hard water stain and limescale removal. The steps for using baking soda include:

Rinse your sink to remove any debris
Sprinkle baking soda all over the sink
Using a non-abrasive sponge or an old toothbrush, scrub the sink
Make sure you’re scrubbing with the grain of the steel
Rinse the baking soda off

This method can help remove tough, hard water residue without damage to your sink.

Baking soda acts as a gentle abrasive, so it’s excellent for tackling hard water marks on stainless steel while keeping the finish smooth. It’s especially handy for those stubborn stains that water alone can’t budge.

Combination Methods

If you have particularly stubborn hard water stains on your stainless steel sink, you can combine natural cleaning agents to make a more powerful cleanser. The most common is an acid and baking soda. For this method, you’ll need to begin with a rinse of the sink. Then you should:

Spread the baking soda around the sink’s surface
Scrub thoroughly (with the steel grain) to loosen the mineral traces
Spray vinegar or lemon juice over the baking soda
Let sit for as long as it takes for the fizzing to stop (generally a few minutes)
Rinse with clean water
Wipe the sink dry with a microfiber towel

Alternatively, you can use cream of tartar instead of baking soda. This method should remove even the most stubborn stains. Plus, it costs you very little money and is non-toxic. This is also one of the ways on how to get hard spots off the car.

Combining baking soda with an acid like vinegar or lemon creates a fizzy reaction that lifts and dissolves water stains on stainless steel quickly. If you’re wondering how to get water spots off stainless steel without scratching the surface, this combo is safe, affordable, and leaves your sink looking spotless.

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Additional Natural Remedies for Tough Stains

Club Soda Rinse

Club soda isn’t only for cocktails. When water stains on stainless steel refuse to budge, a club soda rinse can restore that mirror shine.

Pour a generous splash of club soda directly onto your sink.

Let the bubbles work for a minute or two, then grab a clean microfiber cloth. Wipe in the direction of the steel’s grain.The carbonation helps lift away hard water marks on stainless steel and leaves behind a sparkling finish.

Finish by buffing with a dry cloth to lock in the shine and keep spots at bay.

Olive Oil or Baby Oil Finish

When you want to give your stainless steel that show-stopping gleam, reach for olive oil or baby oil.

After you’ve tackled the water stains on stainless steel, put a small amount of oil on a soft microfiber cloth. Buff the surface lightly, moving with the grain. The oil forms a thin, protective layer that helps repel new water spots.

It also hides any lingering hard water marks on stainless steel and brings out a deep, rich shine.

Use a fresh cloth for a final polish. This method is gentle, non-toxic, and gives your sink a professional look, every single day.

Bar Keepers Friend or Stainless Steel Cleaner

Sometimes, stubborn water stains on stainless steel need a little extra muscle.

Bar Keepers Friend and similar stainless steel cleaners are made for these moments. Sprinkle a small amount onto a wet sponge, and gently rub the affected areas. Work with the grain to avoid dulling the finish.

Rinse thoroughly to remove any residue, then dry with a microfiber towel.

These products break down hard water marks on stainless steel and tackle stains that homemade solutions can’t handle.

When vinegar and lemon don’t cut it, commercial cleaners provide a reliable, safe option. Just always follow the manufacturer’s directions for best results.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Cleaning Stainless Steel

Old kitchen mixer tap showing rust and hard water stains on a white sink background

Using Abrasive Pads or Steel Wool

Scrubbing hard water stains with steel wool might seem like the quickest fix, but it often leaves your stainless steel sink worse off. Those abrasive pads create fine scratches, inviting even more buildup and dulling the surface.

Choosing a softer approach pays off. A microfiber cloth or soft sponge removes stains without harming the metal. Each gentle wipe protects the sink’s smooth finish.

In the end, patience and the right tool make the difference. Your sink keeps its shine, stays easy to clean, and stands up to daily use without losing its sparkle.

Cleaning Against the Grain

Look closely at your stainless steel sink and you’ll see faint lines running in one direction. That’s the grain. When you clean against it, stains get harder to lift and scratches start to collect.

Tiny marks dull the finish and give hard water stains a place to settle. The solution is simple. Wipe with the grain using a soft sponge or cloth. This gentle technique helps keep the metal polished and prevents new spots from forming.

A little attention to detail brings back the shine. Clean along the grain and enjoy a sink that always looks its best.

Leaving the Sink Wet

After a good scrub, it’s easy to walk away and let your sink air dry. But every drop left behind is a chance for hard water marks to take hold. These stains build up quietly and soon make the surface look tired.

Drying your sink with a microfiber cloth gives it an extra level of care. It prevents stains, preserves shine, and rewards your cleaning effort. Consistency matters.

Make drying part of your routine and enjoy the payoff every time you step into your kitchen..

Why It’s Important to Remove Hard Water Stains

Stainless steel faucet and sink with significant hard water buildup and white mineral marks

Those water stains on stainless steel are more than surface-level.

Over time, they can set the stage for oxidation and rust, threatening the shine and integrity of your sink. Calcium and magnesium deposits aren’t simply an eyesore; when left untreated, these hard water marks on stainless steel attract grime and moisture.

Stubborn spots turn into dull patches, and dull patches can eventually lead to pitting.

This is about hygiene, too. Food particles and bacteria cling to mineral build-up, making regular cleaning essential.

Removing stains helps your sink stay sparkling and extends its lifespan while also keeping your kitchen healthier. Knowing how to get water spots off stainless steel protects both your investment and your peace of mind.

Every polish brings back the brilliance and keeps your kitchen looking fresh, meal after meal.

How to Prevent Hard Water Stains from Forming

Wipe Down the Sink After Each Use

Every time you use your sink, you set the stage for water stains on stainless steel to appear.

Don’t give hard water marks a chance. Keep a towel handy. With a quick wipe after rinsing dishes or washing your hands, you whisk away lingering droplets before they evaporate.

This small daily habit keeps your sink clear of mineral deposits.

No more unsightly streaks. No more dull spots that build up over time. Prevention is easier than constant scrubbing, and it only takes seconds.

A few swipes, and you’ve already started protecting your kitchen’s sparkle.

Use a Microfiber Cloth

The tool you choose matters. Regular towels can leave lint and even scratch the surface, making stainless steel look tired. A microfiber cloth is the secret to that gleaming finish. Its soft fibers lift away residue and water without leaving a trace behind.

Use a dry microfiber cloth after every wash, and you’ll see the difference right away. The shine lasts. The surface stays smooth. This simple switch elevates your cleaning routine and keeps water stains on stainless steel at bay.

Install a Water Softener

Sometimes, prevention means tackling the issue at its origin. Hard water marks on stainless steel usually start with minerals in your tap.

Installing a water softener can dramatically cut down on the minerals responsible for spots and buildup. With a Rayne Water system, you take control of your home’s water quality. These systems reduce calcium and magnesium content before the water even reaches your sink. Softer water means fewer stains, less cleaning, and a brighter kitchen.

It’s an investment that pays you back every day, one spotless sink at a time. Want to know how to get water spots off stainless steel for good? This step might be the answer.

Long-Term Solution: Water Softeners from Rayne Water

What a Water Softener Does

When water stains on stainless steel keep coming back, a real solution starts at the source.

A water softener from Rayne Water removes calcium and magnesium ions, the minerals that cause hard water marks on stainless steel.

The process swaps those minerals for sodium or potassium, leaving your water gentle on surfaces. With softer water, stains don’t stand a chance. Sinks stay brighter, and you’ll spend less time polishing and more time enjoying your kitchen.

Over time, you’ll notice fewer spots and easier cleaning. It’s a quiet, constant defense that makes a visible difference every single day.

Benefits Beyond the Sink

Softened water does a lot for your home. It’s not only about keeping stainless steel spotless.

Appliances like dishwashers and washing machines run better, last longer, and stay free from scale buildup. You’ll feel it too. Softer water means silkier hair and smoother skin after every shower.

Laundry comes out softer, and colors stay truer. Every faucet and fixture in your home benefits.

The savings add up, and your whole house feels fresher. Suddenly, those hard water marks on stainless steel are a thing of the past, and so are countless other household headaches.

Why Choose Rayne Water?

There’s a moment when you pause, looking at yet another water spot on the sink, and wonder if it could be different. Rayne Water has helped homeowners turn that moment into lasting change.

We believe every family deserves water they can trust every day. It starts with understanding your challenges, then building a solution that actually fits. You feel the difference not just in the water, but in the care you get. Our team handles the details, including installation, support, and guidance along the way.

Soon, clean water becomes part of your routine, and stains become a thing of the past. Rayne Water makes the choice simple every time.

What Will You Do About Water Stains on Stainless Steel?

Spotless stainless steel double sink and shiny faucet showing no hard water stains

Those white water stains don’t need to win. A splash of vinegar or a quick rub with baking soda brings back that stainless shine. You might even try a bit of club soda or olive oil for a finishing touch.

Of course, prevention is the real game-changer. Keep a soft cloth nearby and wipe your sink dry after each use. These small steps help protect your kitchen’s look.

If you’re ready for a lasting fix, a water softener tackles the issue at the source. Rayne Water can help you find the right answer, so stubborn stains become a thing of the past.

FAQs

What causes water stains on stainless steel sinks?

Water stains on stainless steel are typically caused by hard water. When water containing high levels of calcium and magnesium evaporates, it leaves behind white, chalky mineral deposits. These hard water marks dull the sink’s finish and become harder to remove over time, especially in areas where water tends to sit, like around drains and faucets.

What is the best natural way to remove hard water stains from a stainless steel sink?

Vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda are all excellent natural cleaners for removing hard water stains. Vinegar breaks down mineral deposits, lemon leaves a fresh scent and streak-free shine, and baking soda acts as a gentle abrasive. For tougher stains, combining an acid like vinegar or lemon with baking soda can create a fizzing reaction that lifts away buildup safely.

How can I prevent water stains from coming back?

The best way to prevent hard water stains on stainless steel is to tackle the issue at its source. Wiping your sink dry after each use helps minimize mineral residue, and using a microfiber cloth prevents scratching. For a long-term solution, installing a water softener reduces the calcium and magnesium that cause stains in the first place, making your cleaning routine easier and your sink sparkle longer.

Sources:

Facts About Drinking Water

Posted October 20, 2021 by Ken Christopher

Apart from breathing, water is just about the most essential element for humans. From making up 60% percent of our bodies¹ to being about 71% of our planet,² water is everywhere, and in nearly everything.

But what do you really know when it comes to facts about drinking water?

Besides the two we already mentioned, this article will guide you through 7 of the most interesting, surprising, and essential facts when it comes to drinking water. Not only will these water facts help you keep your daily fluid intake up, they’ll also lead you to a better way to get cleaner, tastier drinking water.

Read on to discover more than you ever expected about H20.

#1 Most of Earth’s Water is Undrinkable

This may be shocking, but 97% of Earth’s water is actually saltwater—completely unsuitable for drinking water.³ Take a look at a globe and you might realize most of those blue spots are oceans.

Not only that, 2% of the world’s water is undrinkable in its current form. This includes:

Glaciers
Ice caps
Snow

That last 1% of Earth’s water supply is what we use for everything from agriculture to manufacturing to showering. That’s billions of people only tapping into one-hundredth of all the water on the planet.

#2 Drinking Water Comes From Two Sources

There are only two main areas in which we source our tap water for drinking, washing, watering, and a lot more:

Groundwater – Found within permeable rock within the soil (areas known as aquifers), groundwater makes up the vast majority of the planet’s freshwater. In fact, 98% of the world’s freshwater is underground.⁴ This accounts for all the naturally occurring springs, and the water feeding the ground wells. If you want to know more, we’ve also got a guide on “is well water safe to drink.”
Lakes, rivers, streams, ponds – Natural bodies of water filled with fresh water are frequently the water source for major metropolitan areas. These water sources, known as surface water, may account for less of the world’s water supply but are still an essential water source. It’s interesting to note that more than 20% of the world’s supply of surface water is located in the Great Lakes.⁵

Of course, there are some exceptions. The process of desalination (the removal of salt or other chemicals from water), is occasionally implemented to create drinking water, though it’s typically expensive and inefficient. Also, some areas of the planet rely on melting ice for their drinking water, but these situations are comparatively rare.

#3 We Should Consume Two to Four Liters Per Day

If you’re waiting until you’re thirsty to pour a glass of water, you might be missing out on some essential health benefits that come with staying hydrated.

While medical professionals typically recommend 2.7 liters a day for women and 3.7 liters a day for men, these numbers refer to overall water ingested, including from other beverages and food. All in all, about 20% of fluids come from the solid food you eat throughout the day.⁶

While it may be obvious that we require water to live, you might not be aware of all the ways your body uses water for various biological functions. Water is a key component of bodily processes like:

Temperature regulation – Like coolant in a car, water is an essential part of regulating your body temperature and keeping you at an ideal 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit.
Joint cushioning – Water in your body acts as a lubricant and cushion for your joints to assure they continue to be able to move correctly, reducing the chance of pain or injury.
Nutrient transportation – To bring essential vitamins and nutrients through your body, water is essential. Whether in the bloodstream or the digestive system, hydration is required.

The list of how your body uses water is almost endless. As noted above, it’s more than half of your body itself. From saliva to eye tissue, you’re going to need to keep drinking water to feel and function at your best.

If you’re having a hard time meeting your daily hydration needs, it might be because your drinking water isn’t quite up to par. Unpleasant tastes and odors can make hydration harder than it should be. To cut the contaminants and start enjoying water the way it should be enjoyed, look to modern filtration solutions .

**#4 We Use 82 Gallons a Day**

If you’re having a hard time picturing what 82 gallons look like, imagine 82 individual milk jugs—that’s the amount of water the average American uses per day.⁷

That accounts for:

Drinking
Bathing
Laundry
Dishwashing
Outdoor watering

Americans use more water than residents of any other nation, and unfortunately, a lot of that water is wasted due to leaks, inefficiency, and unnecessary over-use. You can conserve water when washing dishes, brushing your teeth, or watering your lawn.

#5 Water Has a Neutral pH

When you drink water, what do you taste? Ideally nothing. That’s partially because pure water has a pH of 7, the absolute neutral between acid and basic.

pH is the measurement used to determine how acidic or basic a substance is. Those terms can be broken down as:

Acidic – Any pH below 7 is considered acidic. Acidity means more hydrogen ions within the water. Orange juice has a pH of 3.9 and has a noticeable acidity to its flavor profile. Just the same, a low pH glass of water can have a noticeable acidic taste.
Basic – If the pH is above 7 the substance is basic, with fewer hydrogen molecules. High pH substances include bleach and lye, items far beyond the realm of human consumption. Water with especially high pH is a serious health danger for human beings, and usually the result of industrial pollution.

Acidity is considered an aesthetic quality by the EPA, so it’s not specifically regulated. Still, the agency recommends drinking water between 6.5 and 8.5 pH.⁸ If your water has an off-putting taste it may be useful to check the pH—it could be the culprit making your drinking experience less than stellar.

#6 Water Makes for a Happy Heart

While you may already think about the benefits of water flushing out toxins from your body, did you know it could help your heart? Research suggests that a steady regimen of daily hydration throughout your lifetime could decrease your risk of heart disease.⁹

Specifically, staying hydrated acts to do the following:

Reduce sodium – Your blood requires a specific level of sodium, and regular hydration can help you avoid your blood sodium levels from increasing above the required threshold. The more water in your system, the more diluted the sodium in your blood will be.
Keep your heart pumping – If your blood sodium is too low, your body will attempt to conserve water. The pumping of your heart can be affected, and as heart function is lowered, cells in the body begin to receive less blood.

In short, proper hydration is a simple way to do something positive for your health every day.

#7 Water Helps You Look Your Best

Water can keep you feeling at the top of your game, and it can help you look at the top of your game too. As you pour your next glass of water, consider the benefits it has for:

Teeth – Fluoride is nature’s cavity fighter and local tap water contains fluoride—fully endorsed by the American Medical Association.¹⁰ Not only that, clean water washes away harmful chemicals and bacteria, and helps produce adequate saliva which can protect you from tooth decay.
Skin – Dehydration can lead to dark circles, increased wrinkles, and rougher textures when it comes to your skin. Get your daily fluid intake up to the medically recommended levels and you can look forward to elasticity, faster healing, and fewer signs of aging.

There’s a direct connection between looking good and feeling good when it comes to hydration—just one more reason to smile after gulping down a glass of water.

**Facts, Figures, and Filtration with Rayne Water**

Now that you’ve picked some information when it comes to our most precious natural resource, you might find yourself getting a little thirsty. Before you pick up your next glass of water, ask yourself if it’s as clean and refreshing as it should be?

If you’re ready to up your water game, here’s another fact to consider—there’s no better way than with Rayne Water .

Our water filtration solutions work for residential and industrial spaces of any size and on any budget. From water softeners to reverse osmosis systems, you can find exactly what you need to make your next glass crisp, clear, and thirst-quenching.

Sources:

USGS. The water in you: water and the human body . https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-school/science/water-you-water-and-human-body?qt-science_center_objects=0#
USGS. How much water is there on Earth . https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-school/science/how-much-water-there-earth?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects
EPA. All the water in the world . https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-08/documents/mgwc-ww-intro.pdf
NGWA. Information on Earth’s water. https://www.ngwa.org/what-is-groundwater/About-groundwater/information-on-earths-water
EPA. Facts and figures about the great lakes.
Mayo Clinic. Nutrition and healthy eating. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/water/art-20044256#:~:text=The%20U.S.%20National%20Academies%20of,fluids%20a%20day%20for%20women
EPA. Statistics and facts. https://www.epa.gov/watersense/statistics-and-facts
Healthline. What pH should my drinking water be? https://www.healthline.com/health/ph-of-drinking-water#acceptable-ph-levels
Science Daily. Drinking sufficient water could prevent heart failure. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210824104113.htm
ADA. Statements on community water fluoridation. http://www.ada.org/~/media/ADA/Member%20Center/FIles/fluoridation_article03_statements.ashx
Everyday Health. New study suggests drinking water could help prevent heart failure. https://www.everydayhealth.com/heart-failure/new-study-suggests-drinking-water-could-help-prevent-heart-failure/

Is Well Water Safe to Drink?

Posted October 20, 2021 by Ken Christopher

Have you been taking a closer look at your drinking water? If you’re one of the 43 million Americans using well water, you might be wondering what’s really in your glass.¹ From visible particles to discolorations to unpleasant smells, several factors might bring you to ask, “Is well water safe to drink?”

The short answer: maybe .

Unfortunately, there are too many considerations to make a general statement about the safety of well water. Every well is different. That said, this article will dive into the details when it comes to contaminants, risk factors, and well water conditioning systems and solutions, so you’ll be able to answer the question for yourself.

Not only will you have a clear picture of well water safety and some facts about drinking water from the well, but you’ll also find the information to guarantee your next glass is clear, clean, and risk-free.

Private Wells vs Municipal Water

Those living in highly populated metropolitan areas typically rely on municipal water treatment facilities. These facilities are monitored and regulated by public officials to make certain the water quality meets the required criteria for public safety and consumption.

This regulation is not extended to those using private wells. There is no EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) oversight when it comes to the health and safety risks of private wells—ultimately, the responsibility falls squarely on the property owner to make sure their well is providing safe water.

That means it’s your responsibility to:

Test your water for contaminants
Maintain the structural integrity of your well
Implement your own filtration system

Water Testing

The best way to get acquainted with what’s in your water is through water testing. While there are at-home kits available, it’s often best to contact a professional.

Local, state, and federal employees are trained and equipped with the best scientific equipment for taking accurate measurements and readings of what’s in your water.

The CDC (Center for Disease Control) recommends well-owners conduct a water test at least once a year.² They can also provide a list of certified labs capable of doing the work necessary to assure your safety. Often it’s as easy as mailing a few small bottles of tap water.

High-Risk Contaminants

Before you can start taking the steps toward cleaner, safer water, you need to know what you’re up against. Anything that isn’t H20 is a water contaminant, and many contaminants have the potential for health issues.

It’s important to note that not all contamination poses an immediate danger to your health. Some are harmless, though they may have the side-effect of bringing an unpleasant taste or smell to your water.

High-risk contaminants that pose serious health risks can be broken down most easily into two broad categories: germs and chemicals.

Germs

Germs are small but mighty. They have the potential for major health risks. While there’s no way to completely avoid these pesky microorganisms, there are a few variations that can cause problems when they enter your drinking water.

Hazardous germs include:

E. coli – A common coliform bacteria capable of releasing a powerful toxin. While this bacteria lives in the intestines of healthy cows and other animals, when it comes in contact with humans, it’s capable of causing several illnesses.
Shigella – A bacteria capable of causing an infection (known as shigellosis). Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. While it’s not typically life-threatening, some people may require antibiotics if they have any underlying health conditions.
Hepatitis A – This virus can cause a very serious liver infection resulting in fatigue, jaundice, and stomach pain. Not only is this virus dangerous, but it’s also highly contagious, even in microscopic amounts.
Salmonella – While most people think of Salmonella bacteria as stemming from contaminated food, it’s also possible to come in contact with the bacteria from contaminated groundwater. Stomach-related symptoms and fever are common when suffering from an infection related to Salmonella.
Norovirus – Another highly contagious virus with flu-like symptoms, Noroviruses are the most frequent cause of foodborne illness. As well, outbreaks of noroviruses are common because it is so easily spread from one infected person to another.

While it’s not pleasant to even think about the possibility of any of these germs in your drinking water, it’s worthwhile to note that all of these bacterial contaminants can be safely removed from your water. Through yearly testing and proper filtration, these germs won’t stand a chance.

Chemicals

As opposed to the infectious organic matter of germs, these chemicals are not alive, and you can’t spread any illnesses simply by ingesting them. That said, they can still pose a health risk if they show up in your drinking water.

The serious chemicals to watch out for include:

Nitrate and Nitrite – This is a chemical compound that has the potential to cause blood problems.
Arsenic – While you may be familiar with arsenic as a common poison, it has, on occasion, found its way into groundwater sources. Arsenic is highly toxic.
Lead – Often lead contamination is caused by water with high acidity dissolving the metal pipes that contain it.
Uranium – There have been links to elevated uranium in drinking water leading to kidney problems. While this element is naturally occurring, found in rocks deep within the earth, it can cause damage over time when levels exceed the small amount that your body can absorb.

Keep these chemicals in mind as you move through the article. They’re the red flags that you can catch early to prevent any potential damage to your health.

Low-Risk Contaminants

It’s not all gloomy. What’s in your water isn’t always life-or-death.

As noted above, not all contaminants are harmful, though that doesn’t mean you necessarily want them in your water. Odd tastes and smells can ruin the taste of your water and leave freshly laundered clothes with a distressing smell.

The following are some of the most common contaminants that won’t harm your health but might harm your enjoyment when it comes to your drinking water.

Calcium
Magnesium
Heavy metals

You might notice filmy build-ups, drier skin, an itchy scalp, and other minor discomforts associated with these contaminants. It may be worth it to make an investment in filtering out these materials as well as the truly toxic ones, for an overall excellent water experience.

Causes of Contamination

Where does it come from? Groundwater contamination can stem from any of the water source but the most common include:

Agriculture – Whether you’re involved in agriculture directly or simply in the vicinity of a farm, your hard water can be at risk from fertilizer, animal waste, pesticide, and any number of irrigation and disposal systems.
Commercial and Industrial – Many commercial businesses deal in dangerous and volatile chemicals that can drain into the soil and then into your well water. That includes paints, cleaning fluids, oil products, and waste from landfills.
Residential – The septic system and sewer lines are common causes of water contamination. When a residential septic system begins leaking into the ground that can mean serious health risks from the resulting harmful bacteria. As well, residential fuel tanks can cause contamination if not sealed correctly.

Water is a powerful solvent. That means it can dissolve and absorb most substances that it comes in contact with—leading to bacterial contamination.

You should also keep in mind that one of the quickest ways to water contamination is through a damaged well. If cracks or ruptures have occurred in your water system, any number of water contaminants might begin seeping into your water. If you’re dealing with a damaged well, you may need to do some structure maintenance before your water is drinkable.

Filtration Solutions

With the full knowledge of what you’re looking at regarding well water safety and bacterial contamination, it’s time to start seeking out solutions.

Water filtration is a broad and diverse field, but the most basic information regarding filtration systems can start pushing you toward understanding what you need to remedy your specific water situation.

Activated charcoal – Perhaps the filtration method you’re most familiar with, activated charcoal can remove sediments, pesticides, and other chemicals. Loose granules of carbon may work to filter larger particles, but smaller organisms are typically unaffected by this filtration system.
Water softening systems – Most notable for their ability to remove magnesium, calcium, and other metals, a water softener can provide a more palatable drinking experience while removing dangerous chemicals.
Reverse osmosis – The most trusted filtration system when it comes to filtering out microscopic organic materials. Reverse osmosis involves a semi-permeable membrane that allows only water molecules to pass through, leaving behind water contaminants and providing remarkably clean water.

These broad categories of filtration are a perfect jumping-off point when looking for a way to ensure you’re drinking water is clean and safe. We just have one more piece of advice to consider as you work to make your drinking water goals a reality.

Never Stress About Safety with Rayne Water

Understanding contamination and filtration are the pillars of well water safety. That said, for something as essential as water, it might be helpful to consult with someone with experience and expertise, before trying to solve your issues on your own.

That’s where we come in.

With nearly 100 years of experience solving residential and commercial water issues, we’d like to think of ourselves as the foremost experts in water safety. Whatever your needs and your budget, we have a specialized water filtration solution to make your water as pure as possible.

Let our expert team at Rayne Water bring you better, cleaner water every day.

Sources:

LHSFNA. How safe is your well water . https://www.lhsfna.org/index.cfm/lifelines/july-2016/how-safe-is-your-well-water/
CDC. Drinking water frequently asked questions (FAQs) .
CDC. Groundwater awareness week .
EPA. Is your well water safe to drink.
https://www3.epa.gov/region1/eco/drinkwater/pdfs/ME-Private-Well-Testing-Brochure.pdf
EPA. Potential well water contaminants and their impacts .
https://www.epa.gov/privatewells/potential-well-water-contaminants-and-their-impacts

Water Filter Solutions: Tannins in Water

Posted September 9, 2021 by Ken Christopher

Funky, tangy, even a bit sour? While that could describe an interesting craft beer, these aren’t the flavors anyone is hoping for in their drinking water. If you’re tasting something slightly foul, as well as noticing yellow tinting to your H20, you’re likely dealing with a particular variation of water contamination.

To put it simply, it’s likely that you have tannins in your home’s water.

Don’t fret, tannin contamination is a common and solvable problem. In this article, we will establish what tannins are, how to test for them, and what kind of filtration options are available to assure your water is clean, clear, and crisp. If you’re looking for a solution for your tannin problem, read on.

What Are Tannins?

Before we can seek a solution to your home’s water contamination issues, it’s important to understand what tannins are and where they come from.

Musty, earthy, and organic, tannins are naturally occurring decomposing materials—think peaty soils and decaying plant matter—that have been dissolved into water.

To get a little more technical, tannins are derived from phenolic (AKA tannic) acids. These acids are found in trees, flowers, and fruits and wind up in the soil, then seep into groundwater through the decomposition process.

You’ve probably encountered tannins outside of your tap water when:

Eating unripe fruit – If you’ve bitten into an apple or pear too early, you may have noticed a tangy, sour taste. You’re tasting the tannins that have been released to protect the fruit from being eaten before its seeds are ready to be spread. Nature uses tannins to make sure plants can reproduce efficiently.
At the bar – If you enjoy a glass of red wine, then you enjoy tannins. The oak barrels where wine is aged contain key tannins that influence the flavor of the wine. As well, beer, coffee, and tea all contain tannins. Some of your favorite beverages are chock full of this unique compound
Admiring flowers – Tannins are responsible for the seasonal changes we witness in flowers and trees. The chemical process that causes leaves to change from green, to orange and red, is the direct result of tannins. You can thank tannins for the fall colors.

As much as you might admire tannins in their natural habitat or in a different sort of beverage, tannins in water are typically bad news for anyone looking to enjoy the simple pleasure of clear glass.

What Tannins Do To Water

After getting familiar with tannins, you may be unsure what this kind of contamination is actually doing to your drinking water. You can think of tannins in your water the way you might think about a steeping teabag. As the tea steeps in the hot water, it becomes stronger and more flavorful. It works just the same for tannins.

Tannin contamination works on a sliding scale, from highly contaminated to barely noticeable levels of tannins in your water supply. Chances are, if you’re tasting tannins, you’re dealing with at least a moderate level of contamination.

Besides the aforementioned taste, the earliest signs of tannin contamination include:

The tint – Is your water looking a little more yellow than you recall? Pure water should be completely clear and transparent, so if you’re dealing with yellow water or brown water, that’s a sign you may have a tannin issue. Test your water supply from multiple sources to assure that it isn’t a plumbing issue before proceeding—your water should look the same when coming out of any faucet, whether that’s from your upstairs bathroom sink or the hose outside.
Stains on fixtures – If you’re noticing a yellowish stain in your tub, sink, or toilet, you’re almost certainly dealing with tannin contamination. Even after a recent cleaning, fixtures can become stained quickly from the organic compound.
Laundry problems – Noticing a yellow discoloration on your recently washed clothing? The washer might not be to blame. Tannins can cause stains on clothes put through the wash cycle.

While tannins may put a damper on your drinking water, they can cause a host of other problems throughout your household. Tannins can make everyday household chores more difficult than they should be.

Health Effects

Natural and organic is good, right? Not all of nature is great for humans—poison ivy, volcanos, mosquitos—but while tannins aren’t inherently harmful to your health, there are possible risks associated with them.

Surface contamination – If you have tannins in your water, that means your water source is being tainted by the soil around it. Frequently an issue with shallow wells or marshy areas, tannin contamination could also indicate the potential for bacteria in your drinking water, which can pose a serious health risk. Bacteria from surface contamination could lead to e.coli, gastroenteritis, and, in the long term, kidney and liver damage.1
Potential for dehydration – When your water is uncharacteristically bitter and earthy, your desire to drink it is most likely going to wane. Nutrition experts recommend men drink 15.5 cups of water per day, and women drink 11.5.² It’s going to be difficult to hit these numbers and maintain good health when every sip of water is unpleasant.

There has been scientific research conducted relating to the possible negative health side-effects of tannins, including possible carcinogenic properties, but as of now, there’s no conclusive evidence.³

Ultimately, the risks associated with tannin-contaminated water, as well as other factors make filtration solutions even more appealing. Finally, what’s best for your health is also the best-tasting solution.

Testing for Tannins

Most frequently, you can assume that your water is contaminated by tannins by the yellow water tint and peculiar taste. Few other water issues produce these effects, though it is possible to confuse tannin contamination with another type of contamination—whether from a different organic compound, heavy metals, or bacteria.

To be certain that you’re dealing with tannins in your water, follow these guidelines:

Buy an at-home testing kit – Several reputable companies offer a simple water test for tannins in your home. These kits vary in price and accuracy—some may range into the many hundreds of dollars and still run the possibility of incorrect results.
Contact a professional tester – When an at-home water test won’t do, or when you want a more reliable reading on the levels of tannins in your water, there are several options for professional testers. Whether they are private certified testers or government employees, a professional tester can bring peace of mind to the treated water process—after all, they do this every day.

It may be superfluous to run subsequent tests after recognizing you have a contamination problem. Often the first step is to dive directly into tannin filter solutions. Though, as we’ve mentioned, tannin contamination can also mean bacterial contamination, so it is recommended that you test for this more serious form of contamination before proceeding to filtration.

It helps to know the exact problem you’re dealing with in order to find the best solution for better water.

Tannin Filtration Options

After establishing the precise contamination problems—whether strictly from tannins or a combination of water adulterants—the path to clean, delicious water leads directly to water filtration.

You’re most likely already familiar with filtration to some degree, perhaps from a pitcher-based water filter, or an attachable filter on your sink. These are considered point-of-use filtration systems, and while efficient for minor filtration needs, if you’re dealing with tannins in your drinking water, you’ll need a point-of-entry filtration option.

Point-of-entry filtration means the filter is attached to the source of the surface water supply, effectively filtering all the water within your home, as opposed to a single faucet. Point-of-entry filtration can vary in size and style but the most common options for a tannin filter system include:

Carbon filtering – The most widely known variation of water treatment . Water passes through activated carbon filters which catch a variety of contaminants as the water flows through. While it may work to lessen the contaminant of your water, this method is one of the least effective in removing organic material from drinking water, therefore it is not our top recommendation.
Water softening systems – A water softener processes water through a chemical process known as “ion exchange.” The minerals and tannins present in contaminated water are extracted and replaced with sodium ions resulting in clean, clear drinking water. Take note that while highly effective at removing tannins, water softening systems are less useful for filtering bacteria.
Reverse osmosis systems – Reverse osmosis (RO) uses a serious amount of pressure to force water through a semi-porous membrane. This membrane traps tannins and other contaminants while letting water molecules through. RO can remove an assortment of contaminants including tannins, making it a great all-around filtration option.

While the circumstances and requirements of filtration are based on your specific needs, rest assured that there are several methods to guarantee clean water in your home. There’s no reason to let tannins spoil the experience of a seriously refreshing glass of water.

Experience Tannin-Free Water With Rayne Water

With all this information about tannins, you might feel excited at the prospect of finally enjoying your drinking water the way it’s supposed to be enjoyed. If you’re ready to start finding the filtration solutions for your future, look no further than Rayne Water .

At Rayne Water , we’ve worked for years to provide unparalleled filtration options for residential and commercial use. Whether you’re dealing with tannin contamination in your home or office or sulfur smell in water, we have the technical expertise, dedicated staff, and filtration systems to fit all your needs.

Visit Rayne Water today and find out about the benefits of truly pure water.

Sources:

Springer. Bacterial contamination and health risks of drinking water from the municipal non-government managed water treatment plants. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10661-018-7054-z
Mayo Clinic. Water: how much should you drink every day . https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/water/art-20044256#:~:text=The%20U.S.%20National%20Academies%20of,fluids%20a%20day%20for%20women
Nation Library of Medicine. Tannins and human health: a review . https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9759559/
Water System Council. Tannins and groundwater .

How To Get Rid of Sulfur Smell in Water

Posted September 9, 2021 by Ken Christopher

*Reviewed by Ken Christopher, Senior Vice President at Rayne Dealership Corporation

That “rotten egg” odor coming from your tap water can really put a damper on, well, everything—from pasta nights to morning showers.

Luckily, while the sulfur smell in well water is an unpleasant odor, it is treatable. In most cases, the smell comes from hydrogen sulfide, a sulfur compound gas made from sulfur bacteria. In this guide, we’ll outline how to diagnose your foul water smell, improve water quality, and rid your house of contamination.

Step #1: Diagnose the Problem

Before you get your tool belt out from the far corner of the coat closet, you must first find out where the stench is coming from. In general, there are two ways to diagnose and figure out how to get rid of the sulfur smell in water:

Compare your hot and cold water – If your cold water smells and tastes fine but your hot water does not, then the problem is probably with your hot water heater, specifically with the anode rod.
Inspect your water source or well – If both the hot and cold water has a rotten egg smell, then it’s safe to assume you have a problem with your water source. There are a variety of options to consider, including shocking the water system with chlorine or peroxide, as well as implementing ongoing chlorination, potassium permanganate, active carbon filtration, aeration, and ion exchange. Or, you can change your water supply entirely.

The solution you choose will depend largely on where the problem is occurring and how much mg/L of hydrogen sulfide is in the sulfur water. While the smell is often an indicator of the presence of hydrogen sulfide, you can also test levels by:

Taking a water sample to a state-certified laboratory
Using a sulfur stick
Implementing a Biological Activity Reaction Test that tests for sulfur bacteria

Alternatively, the issue could also be due to iron bacteria—although it’s less common. This type of bacteria appears on surface waters and deposits “rusty” bacterial cells that can stick to plumbing.

Step #2 Identify if the Smell is Coming From the Water Heater

The foul odor may be emanating from your hot water heater since many types of bacteria thrive in warmer temperatures. Usually, an anode rod works within the water tank to eliminate impurities. However, over time it may become corroded and stop working, leading to sulfur-like smells.

As such, you’ll want to sanitize and inspect the heater to prevent further contamination if you notice a sulfur-like smell coming from the tank.

How to Sanitize the Tank

Sulfur-reducing bacteria thrive in hot water environments like a hot water heater. When these types of bacteria consume sulfur, they can produce high levels of hydrogen sulfide, producing a rotten egg smell.

Once these bacteria are established in the tank, you’ll have to sanitize the tank to remove them:

Step #1: Disinfect the tank – Mix four cups of hydrogen peroxide with forty gallons of water. Fill the tank with this solution, allowing some of it to run through the lines but keeping most of it in the tank. Let it sit for at least two hours.
Step #2: Refill the tank – When ready, turn the household water back on and let your tank refill.

Quick Tip: Servicing your hot water heater on your own is not recommended as it may be dangerous, violate the warranty, or make the problem worse.

How to Inspect an Anode Rod for Corrosion

To stave off corrosion, most hot water tanks are equipped with at least one magnesium anode rod on the inside. This rod, aptly known as the “sacrificial anode,” pulls corrosive ion deposits out of the water, keeping them away from the inner surface of the tank.

However, the rod is not impervious to damage and eventually will corrode beyond the point of functionality, down to a skinny wire. In this corroded state, the rod’s interactions with the sulfates in the water form hydrogen sulfide gas, causing an unpleasant sulfur odor.

Whether or not this is a result of an exhausted anode rod, is something you’ll have to inspect for yourself or with the help of a professional by following these steps:

- Step #1: Turn off the heater’s power – For electric heaters, flip the breaker switch off. For gas heaters, find the knob to the gas line and turn it clockwise to off.
- Step #2: Turn off the water – Make sure the water source that runs to your heater is off.
- Step #3: Open a hot water faucet – The faucet can be anywhere in the house. The point is to relieve some pressure from the water heater.
- Step #4: Drain the tank partially – This will flush some of the water out while also keeping enough water in the tank to keep it in place while dislodging the rod.
- Step #5: Inspect the anode rod – At the top of your hot water heater, find the hex head. You’ll need a socket wrench (1 1/16 inch) to turn it. Turning the wrench will require a bit of leverage and strength. Have someone hold the tank still, if possible. Pull the rod up to inspect it. If it is thin like a wire hanger, it’s time to replace the anode rod. Talk to a professional about replacing it with an aluminum rod. While not impervious to corrosion, aluminum is relatively corrosion-resistant.¹

Step #3: Treat the Water Source

If you’ve inspected your hot water tank with no success or both your cold and hot water have that rotten egg smell, then it’s time to look into water treatment at the source: the well. The sulfur smell in well water can be eradicated with numerous treatment methods.

Quick Tip: Sulfur bacteria is a stubborn nuisance to deep water containers. In preparation for treatment of the contaminated water, it is recommended that you give the inside of your well a thorough scrubbing with a well-cleaning kit.

Option #1: Chlorination or Peroxide Shock

Implementing a chlorination or peroxide shock will disinfect the tank by killing the bacteria present. Both chlorine and peroxide are good options. However, a peroxide treatment will more effectively stave off any unpleasant stenches.

Additionally, when using chlorine, you’ll most likely need to regularly replenish the tank and consider installing an active carbon filter to remove any excess chlorine still in the well.

This temporary solution will last anywhere from one to two months. Although if it works, you’ll know that hydrogen sulfide is the culprit.

Option #2: Continuous Chlorination and Water Filtration

Chlorine can remove medium to high levels (amounts higher than 6 mg/L) of hydrogen sulfide through oxidation. Using a feed pump, chlorine can be added to your water continuously to rid it of hydrogen sulfide.

Rather than a one-time shock, the feed-pump method keeps your well continuously sanitized.

Through oxidation, the chlorine converts (soluble) hydrogen sulfite into (insoluble) sulfur, at which point a water filter can easily sieve it out of the stream before getting into your pipes and home.

Bonus Points: Chlorine also keeps your water supply equipment nice and clean.

Option #3: Potassium Permanganate

Similar to chlorination, potassium permanganate cleans the tank by making contaminants insoluble. These include:

Hydrogen sulfide
Iron
Manganese

The solids are then easily sifted out before ever having the chance to stink up your home.

When implementing potassium permanganate, make sure you replenish the well continuously and perform routine cleaning to backwash the filtration system.

Warning: Potassium permanganate is a poisonous compound and a major skin irritant. When using it, follow the handling instructions carefully and store it in a safe place where little ones and pets can’t get to it.

Option #4: Aeration

Sometimes your water system just needs a little bit of fresh air—if the amount of sulfur in your water is 2 mg/L or lower, then aeration could be the best option for you.

Sulfur bacteria thrive in oxygen-deprived environments. The aeration method uses an aerator to inject oxygen into your water supply, forcefully displacing hydrogen sulfide gas and creating an oxygen-rich environment that is less hospitable to sulfur bacteria.

Quick Tip: When nearby the aeration site, you’ll still be able to smell a sulfur stench. However, ventilation may help reduce the problem.

Option #5: Ion exchange

Using a charged resin, ion exchange is a way of pulling hydrogen sulfide out of the water in exchange for chloride. A salt solution replenishes the resin’s charge after depletion. While the process of an ion exchange water filter is similar to a water softener, it’s not the same.

Quick Tip: Not all resin can withstand sulfides, so it’s important to consult a professional to choose the right option for you.

Option #6: Ozone

A relatively effective, efficient, and safe choice for oxidizing hydrogen sulfide is ozone. No additional chemicals or filtration is required.

Instead, ozone is generated in a container and injected into the water source. The oxidizing effects of the ozone turn hydrogen sulfide into filterable, insoluble sulfur while killing:

Viruses
Bacteria

Option #7: Activated Carbon Filters

Often used in conjunction with one of the other water filtration methods and solutions mentioned, carbon filters are often installed under sinks to treat drinking and cooking water that has small amounts of particles that need to be removed—say, less than 1 mg/L.

The activated carbon adsorbs the hydrogen sulfide after it’s insoluble. On its own, this is an economical choice for people dealing with small amounts of hydrogen sulfide. ²

Quick Tip: This method requires routine replacements of carbon filters, which have varied and unpredictable lifespans.

Step #4: Determine if Your Water is Safe to Drink

The smell and taste of hydrogen sulfide-affected water can be so offensive that many people consider it undrinkable. While the odor might make you think it’s poisonous or toxic, it’s not.

While hydrogen sulfide is lethal in large, concentrated amounts, there is no concern with regard to the amount found in water systems.

Furthermore, the EPA categorizes water contaminated by hydrogen sulfide as a secondary, or merely aesthetic, concern. For reference, the EPA has two standards for water, primary and secondary:

National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR) – The EPA’s primary standards are mandatory and meant to ensure that water is safe to drink. The standards detail the amount of a certain contaminant that can exist in water for it still to be considered safe and not a health concern. The term for these limits is the “maximum contaminant limit” (MCL).³
National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations (NSDWR) – The EPA’s secondary standards relate to cosmetic issues of water (appearance, taste, and smell) and are not considered health concerns, which is why they are not enforceable. The maximum level for these contaminants is called the “secondary maximum contaminant limit” (SMCL). The purpose of secondary standards is to serve as a key for people who might be alarmed by unusual-looking or smelling water in their homes.

Get Back Into the Flow of Things with Rayne Water

Foul-smelling water can disrupt the natural flow of things within your household, but with careful inspection and precision, your water can smell rain-fresh in no time.

If you want to keep your water clean, recruit the experts at Rayne Water.

We offer groundwater and well inspections, so you can stop pinching your nose and start enjoying your life. Wondering why your tap water is yellow or brown? There might be tannins in your water. From sulfur to limescale, Rayne Water is your solution.

Sources:

Kloeckner Metals Corporation. Aluminum Oxidation: Is Aluminum Corrosion-resistant? https://www.kloecknermetals.com/blog/aluminum-oxidation-is-aluminum-corrosion-resistant/
Wellowner.org. Hydrogen Sulfide.https://wellowner.org/resources/water-quality/contaminants/hydrogen-sulfide/
United States Environmental Protection Agency. Secondary Drinking Water Standards: Guidance for Nuisance Chemicals. https://www.epa.gov/sdwa/secondary-drinking-water-standards-guidance-nuisance-chemicals

What are Hard Water Stains?

Posted June 20, 2021 by Ken Christopher

*Reviewed by Ken Christopher, Senior Vice President at Rayne Dealership Corporation

No matter how many times you scrub your shower, you notice rings around the drain. Your faucets are caked in white splotches that come back again and again. What gives?

Stains don’t only come from dirt. They can come from water, too—specifically hard water. Hard water contains insoluble mineral deposits such as magnesium and calcium that can leave behind a stain on surfaces. The two main kinds of hard water stains are:

Soap scum
Limescale

Before you ask “is hard water bad for you,” let’s find out what hard water stains are and what they look like. This article will discuss both kinds of hard water stains as well as methods for eliminating and preventing them.

What Is Hard Water?

Generally, magnesium and calcium account for the minerals in hard water. These deposits are imparted from rocks and soils to rain and groundwater that eventually enter your municipal water supply.

Hard water is called “hard” because it’s difficult to form lather with.¹ But not all hard water is the same; hardness varies by the grains per gallon (GPG) of minerals it contains:

Here is how hardness in water is typically measured :

Soft – Containing less than 1 GPG of dissolved minerals
Moderately hard – Containing 1 – 7 GPG of dissolved minerals
Hard – Containing 7 – 10 GPG of dissolved minerals
Very hard – Containing more than 10 GPG of dissolved minerals

What Do Hard Water Stains Look Like?

Unsightly chalky residue. Disgusting off-white solids. Film. Crust.

These are some of the ways you’re likely to hear people describe hard water stains.

We’ve already noted there are two kinds of stains. These differ slightly in appearance.

Soap scum – Hard water doesn’t mix well with soap. That’s because of an interaction between the minerals of the water and fatty acids of the soap. It’s a common nuisance you’re likely to find in showers and sinks or on bathroom tiles. It’s typically a filmy, off-white substance, though it can also be grey. More than cosmetically undesirable, soap scum is also an invitation for mold and mildew, which appear in other unsightly colors²
Limescale – Also known as calcium carbonate, limescale comes from the heat-related breakdown of bicarbonate ions. That’s why you’re likely to find it wherever hard water and heat mix. If not addressed in time, limescale can build up, resulting in clogged and damaged pipes.³ Limescale appears as a white, powdery residue, especially on metal faucets.

It’s important to know what hard water stains look like. Once you know what you’re dealing with, it’s that much easier to take appropriate action.

How to Get Rid of Hard Water Stains

When hard water evaporates, a mineral residue is left behind, causing a stain. While these stains can require a considerable amount of elbow grease, they’re not permanent. In fact, there are several methods for removing them.

Next, we’ll look at a few homemade cleaning solutions that can remove these stains throughout the house.

Target Most Stains with White Vinegar and Water Spray

You don’t need a special cleaning product to start tackling your unwanted mineral deposits. White vinegar is easy to find and inexpensive—chances are you already have some on hand. Likewise, this spray is gentle on surfaces, so you don’t have to worry about making the problem worse.

While you can use it straight from the bottle, a spray bottle will make the application easier.

To assemble your cleaning spray:

Pour vinegar into a spray bottle.
Dilute the vinegar by half with distilled water.
Spray the hard water stain with the mixture.
Give the vinegar at least fifteen minutes to sit and break down the minerals.
Take a small brush or scrub pad and gently brush the stain.

Not getting the results you want? Repeat the above process, slightly increasing the ratio of vinegar to water.

You can use this spray on just about anything, from kitchen surfaces to your glass shower door. It’s a useful thing to have around the house for cleaning.

Tackle Hard-to-Reach places with White Vinegar and Paper Towels

What about those tricky, hard-to-reach surfaces, like the nooks and crannies of your bathroom, shower head, and sink knobs?

Once again, vinegar is your best friend, although you’ll need to use a slightly different application method.

Dilute vinegar with distilled water.
Soak paper towels in vinegar, allowing them to absorb fully.
Ring out paper towels to keep them from dripping too much.
Set, tie, or snake paper towels on or through the awkward area.
Leave paper towels for at least fifteen minutes to saturate the stained area.

Use Baking Soda to Tackle Tough Stains

While vinegar is ideal for visible, high-traffic surfaces, you don’t need to be as precious with your toilet bowl and sink. Baking soda paste can up the ante for hard water spot-cleaning bathtubs, tiling, and sinks.

Assemble your paste as follows:

In a small container, add ⅓ cup of baking soda.
Sprinkle water slowly over the baking soda, stirring until a paste is formed.
Ensure the paste is sturdy enough to stick to vertical spaces without sliding.
Apply the paste and allow it to sit for at least fifteen minutes.
Thoroughly rinse.

With any luck, your surfaces will be restored to their original hue.

How to Prevent Hard Water Stains in the First Place

These methods are tried and true, but they’re not ideal—not everyone wants to spend their free time making sprays and pastes. And hard water stains are usually not one-time visitors. If yours persist, you may find you’re permanently adding extra vinegar and baking soda to your grocery list!

So what’s the alternative?

Prevention is the best way to ensure you aren’t losing too much time to hard water stains.

Water softeners and conditioners are ideal in that they prevent hard water stains at the source by removing hard water deposits. That way, calcium, magnesium, and other minerals never have a chance to wreak havoc on your sink and shower in the first place.

Stop Scrubbing, Start Softening With Rayne Water

While it’s possible to remove the stains caused by hard water, the only long-term remedy is removing the mineral culprits from your water supply.

There are several ways to remove mineral and other hard water deposits from water. If water hardness is your only concern, a salt-free water conditioner can be ideal. Want to filter out viruses, bacteria, lead, and other particles, too? Reverse osmosis does it all.

Rayne Water offers a range of solutions to meet all of your home water needs. Call us today. We’re happy to answer any questions you have about hard water and the products we offer to treat it.

Sources:

Water Quality Association. Scale Deposits. https://www.wqa.org/learn-about-water/perceptible-issues/scale-deposits#:~:text=Hard%20water%20(or%20water%20hardness,wasting%20properties%20of%20hard%20water/
Florida State College at Jacksonville. Saponification: The Preparation of Soap . https://web.fscj.edu/Milczanowski/eleven/Soap.pdf
Compound Interest. The Chemistry of Limescale https://www.compoundchem.com/2016/03/02/limescale/

Is Hard Water Bad for You?

Posted June 15, 2021 by Ken Christopher

People all over the US use hard water every day. It goes into bagel dough and comes out of showerheads—in short, it’s everywhere.

If you’ve heard your local water supply is “hard,” you might find yourself wondering, is hard water safe to drink?

Using hard water does not pose a direct health risk, nor is drinking hard water bad for you.¹ Even so, hard water causes several inconveniences and hygiene concerns worth considering.

This article will explain the ins and outs of hard water, from its characteristics to its effects to the ways to correct hardness for an upgraded drinking and showering experience.

What is Hard Water?

Water is considered “hard” when it contains high amounts of calcium ions and magnesium ions. As groundwater travels through mineral-rich soil, it picks these ions up along the way.

Water hardness exists on a scale and can range from moderately hard to very hard. The level of hardness corresponds to the grains per gallon (GPG) of minerals that are present in a given sample. On this scale,

Soft water is defined as having less than 1 GBG

Moderately hard water has 1 to 7 GBG
Water with more minerals is defined as very hard

Hard water is common to the US though more prevalent in certain parts of the country than others.² You can also find it on supermarket shelves in the form of mineral water.³ Consult your county’s water report to find out your hardness level.

Hard Water and Health

Calcium is an important nutrient in the human diet—so, could hard water be a good thing?

Not really.

The amount of calcium in hard water is small compared to other calcium-rich foods. A glass of milk, for example, contains around 300 mg of calcium, while a liter of hard water has 80 to 120 mg.
Some studies have suggested that the high mineral content of hard water could be beneficial to heart health.⁴ These studies, however, are inconclusive.

At the same time, drinking hard water isn’t bad for you in any medical or nutritional sense.

However, it can make life difficult in other ways. The mineral deposits of hard water cause a range of problems, from clogging pipes and wearing out appliances to irritating skin and ruining clothes. Next, we’ll explore these issues.

What is the Impact of Hard Water?

Despite what its name suggests, hard water is not actually hard. Rather, the “term hardness was originally applied to waters that were hard to wash in.”⁵

This difficulty is typically manifested in one of the following forms:

Soap scum
Limescale

Next, we’ll take a deeper look at each issue.

The Connection Between Soap Scum and Hard Water

Though clean enough to drink, hard water is less than ideal for cleaning. That’s because hard water and soap do not mix. When a soap’s fatty acids react with the minerals in hard water, unpleasant coagulation occurs.

Here’s what you might expect to experience when combining soap with hard water:

Lower quality of lather – Rather than a light and cleansing lather, hard water and soap produce a filmy, less soluble admixture. As a result, washing with hard water typically requires more soap, as well as more water to rinse it off. As is often the case with hard water, the extra work and waste do not lead to better results. Your skin may not feel as clean after showering with hard water as it does with soft.
Irritated skin (dermatitis) – While hard water does not cause eczema, it can worsen eczema symptoms. The filmy byproduct of hard water and soap tends to stay on the skin even after the shower is over. This clogs pores and can cause acne.⁶
Damaged hair – The mineral deposits of hard water make extra work for your hair. They add weight and block shampoo and conditioner from reaching the hair follicles. The result is weaker, duller hair.
Wasted soap – Hard water reduces the quality as well as the quantity of lather. To get a good lather going, hard water requires extra soap.
Stains – What are hard water stains? That same film left on the skin is often also found in and around your tub or shower head. Soap scum, while sometimes slimy, can also grow hard and stubborn. Besides being a pain to remove, it has the potential to stain the walls and surfaces of your bathroom.
Hygiene concerns – More than a disgusting mess, soap scum is also a welcome invitation for bacteria, mildew, and mold.

Limescale’s Impact on Appliances and Plumbing

Hard water isn’t just bad for your skin and surfaces. It can also affect the more functional parts of your house, such as:

Hot water boiler
Dishwasher
Washing machine
Tea kettle
Plumbing

These sites are most affected by limescale buildup.

Similar to soap scum, limescale is an unappealing byproduct of mineral deposits. Instead of soap, however, limescale forms when mineral-rich water is heated. These insoluble deposits build up over time, clogging pipes, depreciating appliances, and staining surfaces.

What Hard Water Does to Your Clothes

Ever spend an afternoon washing your clothes only to find you need to wash them more? Limescale and soap scum may have joined forces to conquer your best efforts.

Here’s why your clothes don’t get clean:

The water can’t dissolve the detergent – As with soap, insoluble mineral deposits make water a less effective solvent. This results in detergent that water can’t break down.
Mineral-rich water is harder on appliances – Because of limescale, hard water makes washing machines less efficient.

Due to these issues, laundry detergent is likely to stick around even after the wash is over. For people with sensitive skin, this can cause problems. Irritants in detergents are known to cause contact dermatitis, irritation, and rash.⁷

Additionally, hard water renders fabrics dull and unusable at a faster rate than soft water does. You may notice a brittle quality to towels and wash rags when using hard water.

Is it Possible to Soften Water?

While synthetic products and plumbing services exist, hard water can be treated at the source. Water softening systems ensure top performance and lifespan for plumbing and appliances.

There are several methods to consider:

Water softener – This system uses an ion exchange system. It utilizes negatively charged resin beads to attract undesirable ions.
Salt-free water system – This system is technically not a softener. That’s because it doesn’t actually remove calcium buildup or magnesium deposits. Rather, it minimizes the size of the limescale buildup and makes it harmless.
Reverse osmosis system – Also called RO, reverse osmosis pushes water through a semipermeable membrane to filter out particles including minerals.

Water Softeners

Water-softening systems use a method called ion exchange . This method trades disagreeable calcium and magnesium ions for more easy-going sodium ions.

In short, negatively charged resin beads are housed in this tank. Hard water passes through the tank before entering the plumbing.

These beads are coated with sodium ions. The magnesium and calcium have positively charged. This attracts them to the resin-like magnets. The stickiness of the resin holds the ions in place when they get there. The presence of magnesium and calcium knocks the sodium ions out into the stream of water.⁸

Minerals are then disposed of in a “brine.”

Salt-Free Water Systems

Aside from health concerns around sodium intake, some parts of the US have brine laws. These laws prohibit dumping brine, a common function of most water softeners .⁹ You might also be unable to connect your system to an electrical source or to provide a drain for dumping.

If any of these situations apply to you, then a salt-free water system is worth considering.

Salt-free water systems don’t eject unwanted hardness minerals the way that water softeners do. Instead they use a method called template-assisted crystallization (TAC).

Here’s a glimpse at how it works:

Seed crystals – A catalyst generates seed crystals that attract limescale. This arrangement happens at the point of the limescale’s formation, when it is still microscopic.
Microscopic rafts – These seed crystals work like microscopic rafts. Limescale attaches to them. Since the crystals don’t grow, neither does the limescale. Instead, it peacefully floats down the drain before it can ever develop into a problem.
Continuous production – In a salt-free water system, limescale continuously forms, but so do the seed crystals. This means there is never a shortage of seeds for suspending the limescale away from surfaces.
Having it both ways – The result of this process is pipe-safe, appliance-friendly water that is also rich with minerals. Scale is still present, but at a size that is inconsequential.¹⁰

Reverse Osmosis

If you are on a salt-restricted diet, a reverse osmosis system could also come in handy.

RO systems are able to filter a wide range of particles, including:

Minerals
Nitrates
Viruses
Bacteria
Arsenic
Leads

Reverse osmosis systems filter water to be sodium-free.

Stop Flushing Money Down the Drain Thanks to Rayne Water

When hard water mineral deposits are present, your time and money are likely going down the drain as you struggle to get clothing and surfaces clean.

The cost of repairs and the time it takes for daily upkeep are unsustainable. The good news is that these workarounds are also unnecessary.

With Rayne Water, you can avoid hard water altogether. To learn more about tap water conditioners for your home or business, contact Rayne Water today.

Sources:

USGS. Do you have information about water hardness in the United States? https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/do-you-have-information-about-water-hardness-united-states?qt-news_science_products=0#qt-news_science_products
USGS. Map of water hardness in the United States. https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/map-water-hardness-united-states/
Pocono Record. What’s in Your Water? https://www.poconorecord.com/article/20090730/Features/907300322#:~:text=Both%20Fiji%20and%20DASANI%20measured,of%20calcium%20and%20magnesium%20ions.
National Center for Biotechnology Information. Potential Health Impacts of Hard Water. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3775162/
Water Quality Association. Scale Deposits. https://www.wqa.org/learn-about-water/perceptible-issues/scale-deposits#:~:text=Hard%20water%20(or%20water%20hardness,wasting%20properties%20of%20hard%20water.
Real Simple. How Bad Is Hard Water for Your Skin? We Asked Derms . https://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/skincare/hard-water-skin
Healthline. How to Identify and Treat a Laundry Detergent Rash. https://www.healthline.com/health/rashes-from-detergent/
Chemistry Libre Texts. Hard Water. https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Inorganic_Chemistry/Supplemental_Modules_and_Websites_(Inorganic_Chemistry)/Descriptive_Chemistry/Main_Group_Reactions/Hard_Water
Water Technology Online. The Battle Over Brine. https://www.watertechonline.com/home/article/15548321/the-battle-over-brine/
Continuing Education Center. Template Assisted Crystallization. https://continuingeducation.bnpmedia.com/courses/multi-aia/the-intelligent-scale-solution–template-assisted-crystallization/2/

Reverse Osmosis vs Carbon Filter

Posted June 10, 2021 by Ken Christopher

If you’re dealing with poor tasting, cloudy looking and funky smells, you’re probably looking for an easy solution to your water problem. When searching for the right water filtration system, you’re almost guaranteed to come across these two popular options: reverse osmosis unit and carbon filters.

The most common types of water filters , reverse osmosis and carbon filtering both offer a way to treat your drinking water but yield different results.

Does reverse osmosis remove minerals? The short answer is “yes.” And as for carbon filtration? Unfortunately, that’s a “no.”

However, there’s a lot more to understand when it comes to mineral filtration and reverse osmosis. In this guide, we’ll go deep into minerality, the fundamentals of filtration, and the way to determine the best drinking water systems for your situation.

The Fundamentals of Water Filtration

We’ve touched a little on water filters vs reverse osmosis , but it’s important to grasp the fundamentals of water filtration as well.

Before diving into these two methods in more detail, you need to understand some basic facts about water filters:

How Do Water Filters Function? – Filters use chemical, biological, or physical processes to remove harmful contaminants from water. Contaminants can include everything from microbes and bacteria to debris and dissolved minerals commonly found in groundwater.
What are POE and POU? – Point-of-entry (POE) refers to filtration systems attached at the point where the water enters your home or business from the municipal water source. Point-of-use (POU) refers to systems attached to faucets, showerheads, or water pitchers. POE and POU systems offer different advantages depending on your filtration needs.

These facts apply to both reverse osmosis and carbon filters.

Reverse Osmosis 101

A reverse osmosis filter is a great option if you want to filter out every possible contaminant in your water.

While reverse osmosis certainly sounds like a topic from biology class, it’s perfectly understandable when broken down into a few steps.

Reverse Osmosis or RO is a physical filtration process involving a semipermeable membrane typically made of cellulose acetate, polysulfone, and polyamide. The reverse osmosis membranes are solvent resistant, meaning they won’t be damaged or made less effective by water.

RO, in its simplest terms, works like this:

Unfiltered Water Enters The System – Whether it’s a POE or a POU system, the first step is getting the water source flowing through your RO system.
Water Passes Through The Semipermeable Membrane – Through the use of applied pressure, the source water is forced through the membrane. The molecules of the mineral contaminants are larger than the water molecules, meaning those larger molecules are left on the pressurized side of the membrane while purified water moves through it.
A Solute and a Solvent Remain – After adequate pressure has been applied, you’re left with a solute (a brine of wastewater and filtered contaminants) and a solvent (purified water).

In short, the reverse osmosis membrane acts like a bouncer at an exclusive club, water is the VIP, and contaminants are not on the guest list.

What Does Reverse Osmosis Remove?

The process of reverse osmosis has been popular for more than 50 years and was invented more than 100 years ago. Over the course of several decades, reverse osmosis technology has been refined to filter smaller and smaller ions—we’re talking filters with a pore size of .0001 microns.

In case you don’t know how small a micron is, the diameter of a single human hair is on average about 70 microns. So, .0001 microns is quite literally microscopic.

That means a reverse osmosis system can filter out minerals, dissolved solids, and much, much more.

A modern Reverse Osmosis filter is capable of filtering out:

Protozoa
Heavy metals
Microorganisms including viruses and bacteria
Fluoride
Some hydrocarbons

Most importantly, for this guide, RO filtration is the best way to make sure your water is mineral-free. In a 2009 study, it was shown that “Reverse Osmosis (RO) removed more than 90-99.99% of all the contaminants including minerals from the drinking water supply.”¹

Minerals just can’t make it past the membrane.

What About Carbon Filtering?

As we mentioned earlier, you most likely stumbled across carbon filtering when researching water filtration options. You may even already own a water pitcher with a charcoal filter, or have one attached to your sink. You might be asking, is this capable of removing minerals as well ?

Unfortunately, the answer is no.

What you’re looking at is a carbon filter, one of the most common types of water purification and filtration systems for residential use, and likely the method you’re most familiar with. After all, carbon POU filters are affordable and can certainly improve taste.

Despite its commonality, carbon filtering is not always ideal, though it’s important to know why.

Carbon filtering involves the use of Granular Activated Carbon or GAC. GAC is made from oxygenating carbon to create a highly porous, black material with a large surface area. Water passes through the carbon particles, which filter out impurities and contaminants.²

Activated carbon filters out:

Chloramine
Tannins
Chlorine and chlorine byproducts
Hydrogen Sulfide
Most Pesticides and Herbicides
VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds)

What Carbon Filters Leave Behind

Because some water may remain in the filter, GAC filters require cleaning and replacement. If left unattended, the stagnant water has the potential to grow bacteria which is not only a little gross but a potential health risk.

It’s also important to be aware of what activated carbon doesn’t filter, including:

Minerals
Nitrates and Nitrites
Large amounts of heavy metals
Microorganisms including viruses and bacteria
Fluoride
Some hydrocarbons

GAC is highly effective for some materials, but smaller molecules can pass through it. While carbon filtering is a sensible choice for some filtration needs, it ultimately isn’t the best option if you’re looking to remove minerals from your drinking water.

Hard Water, Simple Science

The facts are simple: if you want to remove minerals, only an RO water filter will do.

So, is minerality really the source of your water woes? To make a decision, you’ll need to understand water hardness.

Determining the hardness of water might sound like figuring out the wetness of sand, but don’t fret, hard water simply refers to water with a high concentration of minerals in it.

The most common mineral contaminants in drinking water are Calcium and Magnesium. Typically, these are found in groundwater that has percolated through layers of chalk, gypsum, or limestone.
The water is a solvent (meaning it dissolves substances) and leeches out relatively small particles of minerals from the larger deposits, effectively becoming contaminated.

Water hardness is determined by a ratio of milligrams of calcium carbonate to liters of H20.³

0-60 mg/L is considered soft
61-120 mg/L is considered moderately hard
120-180 mg/L is considered hard
Above 181 mg/L is considered very hard

If you’re staring at a glass of tap water trying to determine the level of hardness, you might have a hard time figuring it out. The mineral content of your drinking water is typically invisible to the naked eye, though sometimes you can see a slight discoloration.

There are a few ways to test water hardness , but most often it’s easily detectable by taste, touch, or smell.

The Problem With Minerals

It’s important to note that mineral contaminants in your drinking water do not pose a serious health threat.

That said, they often do:

Create an Unpleasant Drinking Experience – Most people want a glass of water to be thirst-quenching, refreshing, and essentially tasteless. When drinking hard water, you’re likely to taste the mineral impurities, resulting in a bitter or even salty flavor. In addition, the smell from hard water is often compared to rotten eggs making for a less than ideal glass.
Leave Stains or Deposits – Limescale build-ups from hard water are fairly common. The mineral content of the water leaves a residue on sinks, floors, and just about anything else that might get wet. It can also pose a problem for laundry, leaving stains on clothes or requiring more detergent for a proper wash.
Cause Dryness and Irritation – Mineral contaminants can affect the pH balance of your tissues, leading to dry skin, brittle hair, and dandruff. If you have sensitive skin or an already dry scalp, hard water can be a major discomfort.

If these issues sound familiar, an reverse osmosis system is the best option to safeguard your water.

From Hard to Easy

If you’re tired of funny tastes, spotted silverware, and stains on your clothes and fixtures, it’s time to consider a water softener or a reverse osmosis water filtration system. Experts agree you should be drinking 2-4 liters per day, so why settle for less than excellent?⁴

There are certainly a lot of benefits to reverse osmosis at a personal and a commercial level, and with the right system, you could be pumping gallons of clean, great-tasting water in no time.

Rayne Water: The Bouncers For Your Personal Water Supply

Now that you know a little about Reverse Osmosis process and its mineral filtration abilities, it’s time to put a plan into action, get your feet wet, and dive right in. A reverse osmosis water system provides better water quality, free of harmful contaminants and minerals .

If you’re looking for a smart solution to your water filtration issues look no further than Rayne Water. We’ve been providing water systems to individuals and businesses for over 90 years, and can match you with your perfect system to keep unwanted particles out of your home for good.

Contact Rayne Water today to schedule a water test. We’re here to help provide the purest water for every situation. Check out our products and services, learn more about RO filtration , and remember to stay hydrated!

Sources:

International Water Association. Reverse osmosis and the removal of minerals from drinking water .
Thought Co. Activated charcoal and how it works. https://www.thoughtco.com/how-does-activated-charcoal-work-604294
USGS. Hardness of water. https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-school/science/hardness-water?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects
Mayo Clinic. Water: how much should you drink every day. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/water/art-20044256
FDA. Reverse osmosis . https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/inspection-technical-guides/reverse-osmosis
International Water Association. Reverse osmosis and the removal of minerals from drinking water
Thought Co. Activated charcoal and how it works. https://www.thoughtco.com/how-does-activated-charcoal-work-604294

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Archive for the ‘Older’ Category

Types of Salts to Add to Water Softener

Salt Crystals

Salt Pellets

Sea Salt

Rock Salt

Potassium Chloride

Signs of Hard Water

Soap Scum

Mineral Deposits

Benefits of Water Softening

Whole House Water Softener Systems

Salt-Free Water Systems

Step #1: Wash Your Car… Even if it’s Already Clean

What Causes Hard Water Spots On Cars?

Step #2: Dry Your Car Thoroughly

Step #3: Mix a Water and Vinegar Solution

Step #4: Apply Vinegar Solution on Spots

Step #5: Rinse Off the Vinegar Solution

Step #6: Dry Carefully

Step #7: Wax Your Car

Alternative Methods to Remove Hard Water Spots

Why Do You Need to Remove Hard Water Spots?

Can You Prevent Hard Water Spots?

Save Time and Energy with Rayne Water

What Causes Water Stains on Stainless Steel?

Use Kitchen Staples To Clean Your Sink

Vinegar

Lemon Juice

Baking Soda

Combination Methods

Additional Natural Remedies for Tough Stains

Club Soda Rinse

Olive Oil or Baby Oil Finish

Bar Keepers Friend or Stainless Steel Cleaner

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Cleaning Stainless Steel

Using Abrasive Pads or Steel Wool

Cleaning Against the Grain

Leaving the Sink Wet

Why It’s Important to Remove Hard Water Stains

How to Prevent Hard Water Stains from Forming

Wipe Down the Sink After Each Use

Use a Microfiber Cloth

Install a Water Softener

Long-Term Solution: Water Softeners from Rayne Water

What a Water Softener Does

Benefits Beyond the Sink

Why Choose Rayne Water?

What Will You Do About Water Stains on Stainless Steel?

FAQs

#1 Most of Earth’s Water is Undrinkable

#2 Drinking Water Comes From Two Sources

#3 We Should Consume Two to Four Liters Per Day

#4 We Use 82 Gallons a Day

#5 Water Has a Neutral pH

#6 Water Makes for a Happy Heart

#7 Water Helps You Look Your Best

Facts, Figures, and Filtration with Rayne Water

Private Wells vs Municipal Water

Water Testing

High-Risk Contaminants

Germs

Chemicals

Low-Risk Contaminants

Causes of Contamination

Filtration Solutions

Never Stress About Safety with Rayne Water

What Are Tannins?

What Tannins Do To Water

Health Effects

Testing for Tannins

Tannin Filtration Options

Experience Tannin-Free Water With Rayne Water

*Reviewed by Ken Christopher, Senior Vice President at Rayne Dealership Corporation

Step #1: Diagnose the Problem

Step #2 Identify if the Smell is Coming From the Water Heater

How to Sanitize the Tank

**#4 We Use 82 Gallons a Day**

**Facts, Figures, and Filtration with Rayne Water**