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Archive for the ‘Water Softeners’ Category

5 Signs You Need a Water Softener

Posted by Ken Christopher

The quality of our water is dependent on several factors; where we live, the type of water filtration system it goes through and whether or not it is supplied from a municipal water supply or an underground well. The most common water problem here in the United States is that it is often hard water. Hard water is simply water that has a high mineral content. Not all minerals are necessarily harmful for you to drink, however these minerals can have a negative impact in the home and on the body as well. The following signs can help determine if you have hard water in your home.

  1. Spots on glasses Most hard water contains magnesium and calcium; when the water is heated, as it is to wash dishes, the magnesium and calcium precipitate out of the water and adhere to the surface they are on. This mineral deposit is called scale and it manifests itself as the spots on dishes and the white crusty deposits around the faucet.
  2. Soap scum in the shower / bath Once again it is the magnesium and calcium that are at the root of bathroom soap scum. The calcium and/or magnesium ions in hard water produce a chemical reaction with they come in contact with the fatty component in soap which results in the gray nasty soap scum you see around the bath and shower.

 

  1. You pay too much electricity to run your water heater Hard water has been proven to decrease efficiency in appliances; water heaters, in particular, tend to be at an even greater risk due to their constant contact with water. Scale builds up on the heating elements causing it to work harder and longer in order to heat up the water. This extra work load also causes the water heater to wear out much sooner than it should.
  2. You have limp dry hair If you notice that your hair is constantly limp or dry and frizzy all the time, the culprit is most likely hard water. Shampoo is technically a soap so you have the same chemical reaction going on in your hair as you do inside your shower or tub. The excess filmy shampoo reside will leave your hair looking limp and rather dull. The additional minerals in hard water can also dry out your hair which leads to the dreaded frizz.
  3. You have dry itchy skin The excess minerals in hard water can also cause some severe dry skin which leads to irritation and scaly looking skin. In fact there have been studies done showing that hard water can trigger eczema due to the intense drying out of the skin.

  If you are one of the millions of households that have to deal with hard water on a daily basis, you might want to consider investing in a water softener or salt free water conditioner.  Both of these products will help to eliminate the problems associated with hard water, while saving you money over the long run in appliance maintenance, plumbing repair and even on soap and detergent expenditures.

Best Salt Free Water Softener

Posted by Ken Christopher

Hard water causes a number of problems around the home. Any surface hard water comes into contact with will experience scaling. Soap scum will form when hard water comes into contact with soap, and the minerals in hard water can cause damage to your clothes, skin and hair.

While water softening is a time-proven method to deal with water hardness, there are also great water softeners alternatives that can eliminate the hard water problems you are experiencing around your house. This is especially important for people in areas with brine restrictions in place. These alternatives don’t require the use of salt. Understanding these options can help you determine between a salt versus salt free water softener or a water conditioner system .

Water Conditioners vs Water Softeners

The best salt free water softener is actually a water conditioner and by definition is not a water softener. The best salt free water conditioners eliminate the effects of hard water through a process that is fundamentally different from traditional water softeners. Let’s take a look at how water softening and water conditioning systems function:

Water Softeners

Wondering “How does salt soften water?” Water softeners use a process known as ion exchange to remove hard minerals from water. To do this, water softeners use a tank filled with negatively charged resin beads. These beads have positively charged sodium ions attached to them. The hard minerals in water are also positively charged.

When hard water enters the system, the hard minerals are attracted away from the water molecule and towards the resin beads. The water molecule then picks up the displaced sodium ion to maintain a balanced charge. The water exiting the system is now soft but does contain a small amount of sodium.

There is relatively little sodium in softened water. For individuals concerned with sodium in their water, one of the best options is to install a reverse osmosis water filtration system at a specific sink. Reverse osmosis filtration systems are capable of removing sodium from softened water, as well as many other contaminants you may not want to consume.

Get started today! We specialize in providing the purest water possible!

Water Conditioners

Rather than remove hard minerals from gallons of water, a water conditioner can change those minerals. Using a material known as template-assisted crystallization (TAC) media, a Rayne Spartan water conditioners cause a small portion of the mineral content in hard water to crystallize. These crystals are sometimes called seed-crystals because they begin to attract the other minerals in the water.

By causing these small crystals to form, water conditioners create a site other minerals in the hard water will preferentially attach to. This means instead of attaching to the pipes, fixtures, and surfaces around your home, the hard minerals in conditioned water will bond to themselves in their crystalline form — increasing the flow rate and keeps your plumbing pipes clean.

One thing to note about this process is the crystals formed by hard minerals are tiny. They are so small you can’t see or feel them, but they will still affect the taste of the water. Since some people prefer the taste of water with some mineral content, this can actually be a benefit. For those individuals who prefer to filter the mineral content out of their water, using a reverse osmosis filtration system for drinking water is a good option.

Like water softeners, water conditioners are installed at the main water line coming into your house water filter. This ensures all of the water moving throughout your home is conditioned. With whole-house water conditioning, you’ll completely eliminate the most common hard water problems including faucets scaling and soap scum in your water supply.

Advantages of Water Conditioners

Water conditioners have a couple of features that can make them attractive in certain situations.

At Rayne Water, our salt-free water conditioners also incorporate other types of filtration, allowing them to reduce disinfectants used to treat tap water such as chlorine, as well as chloramines, suspended solids, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and other substances which can give your drinking water a bad odor or taste. For more information, see our guide to Does Water Have a Taste.

Final Thoughts

Although most people use and have great experiences with water softeners, for a variety of reasons you may want to consider salt-free alternatives. Some people prefer the taste of water with minerals, some are concerned about sodium intake, and some live in areas with brine restrictions.

Whatever the reason, the best non salt water softener is in fact not a water softener at all, it is known as a water conditioner. Water conditioners don’t remove hard minerals like calcium and magnesium from water, but rather change it into a crystalline form that doesn’t attach to the surfaces, fixtures, and appliances it comes into contact with. Additionally, see our guide to How to Remove Salt from Water for a detailed explanation.

Water conditioners are an effective and efficient method of dealing with hard water for your entire home. To learn more about water conditioners for your home, please contact Rayne Water today — with us, it’s easy to install.

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Sources:

  1. https://continuingeducation.bnpmedia.com/courses/multi-aia/the-intelligent-scale-solution–template-assisted-crystallization
  2. https://www.water-rightgroup.com/blog/myths-about-water-softeners-8-things-people-get-wrong/
  3. http://extensionpublications.unl.edu/assets/html/g1491/build/g1491.htm

 

5 Home Water Problems You Need to Fix

Posted by Ken Christopher

<![CDATA[Your home’s water affects nearly every aspect of your daily living. Sure, we all know we need drinking water and water to bathe or shower in, but a home’s water goes way beyond that. From a home’s plumbing and fixtures to how your clothes and bedding look and feel, water has a significant impact. Let’s look at 5 different ways your water can have a negative impact on your home and how it can be fixed.

  1. Laundry: Hard water can be damaging to your clothing and bedding. Soap scum is created when the calcium or magnesium ions in hard water react with the fatty component of soap. This soap scum attaches itself to fabric fibers which not only give a grey or yellow appearance to fabrics, it also causes the fabric fibers to become brittle, shortening their durability and lifespan. A water softener will remove the mineral deposits in your water therefore not allowing the formation of damaging soap scum.
  2. Kitchen: Water is a solvent and as such can easily pick up impurities. When we use water for drinking or cooking, we are ingesting not only the water, but any contaminants it contains as well. Water can, and often does, contain Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) which includes minerals, salts or metals dissolved in it. TDS’s can affect the taste and appearance of water as well as cause some serious health concerns if it contains nitrates, arsenic, lead or chlorine to name a few. Drinking water systems such as a RO system or a LINX® Drinking Water System can filter out TDS’s in your drinking water, making it safe and healthy to drink and cook with.
  3. Bathroom: Do you notice that gray ring around your bath? How about the discoloration in your toilet? Does your sink constantly have white spots on the faucet or counter? Odds are, you have hard water. The minerals in hard water can cling to surfaces, causing them to become stained over time; iron especially can cause some really nasty staining. When hard water comes in contact with soap it creates soap scum (remember from the laundry) which clings to the tub and shower and requires a serious scrubbing to remove. A water softener or salt free water conditioner can help with this problem.
  4. Skin and Hair: Studies have shown that eczema can be triggered by hard water. The magnesium and calcium in the water causes the skin to dry out leading to irritation. In order to get a nice rich lather going in hard water, more soap and shampoo is necessary which can also aggravate eczema. Hard water can play havoc on your hair as well, causing it to become dry, frizzy, easily damaged and can even change the color. Installing a water softener or salt free water conditioner can help alleviate these issues.
  5. Plumbing and Appliances: Pipes, hot water heaters, washing machines, dishwashers and icemakers are in constant contact with water. When a home has hard water, scale is produced inside the pipes, hoses and even the appliance itself which can cause a host of problems. Pipes and hoses become clogged, which significantly decreases water pressure and can even cause them to burst. Heating elements can fail if there is an excess scale buildup and can cause leaks or breakage if valves and gaskets are damaged. Overall, hard water has been proven to decrease efficiency in appliances and shorten their lifespan. A water softener or salt free water conditioner can prevent scale buildup and lengthen the life of your appliances while keeping them running at full efficiency

The Relationship between Water and Skin

Posted by Ken Christopher

Men and women spend billions of dollars every year just to look good; in fact the global beauty industry rakes in over $160 billion dollars annually. Americans in particular spend more each year on beauty products than they do on education, crazy! From lotions and creams to the myriad cosmetics that are on the market, it’s obvious that we value our appearance. Surprisingly though, many overlook the cheapest and simplest path to glowing, fresh looking skin. Water! Drinking water is easy, inexpensive and can help clear up blemishes, minimize the appearance of pores and give you a gorgeous healthy glow. It has been estimated that as many as 75 percent of Americans are chronically dehydrated. This is certainly hard on the body and will negatively affect internal organs, but is also affects the appearance of the skin. The skin is an organ just as much as any other organ of the body and it is made up of cells that are predominately water. When the body does not have enough fluid, the skin will become dry, less resilient and prone to excessive wrinkling. Drinking at least 8 cups of filtered water a day will help alleviate these symptoms; many experts recommend at least 12 cups of water per day for women and 15 cups a day for men for optimal hydration. Water can affect our skin in other ways as well. Let’s take a moment to look at what effect hard water can have on our skin. The compounds that make water hard, usually excess calcium and magnesium, can build up on just about every surface they come in contact with. Scale buildup on fixtures and appliances is readily apparent and not only is it unsightly, it can do damage over time. When our skin comes into contact with hard water, it also suffers from this same type of buildup. When cleansers and hard water come in contact with each other, they will form a deposit that can be left on the skin causing irritation and not allowing moisturizers to soak into the skin’s surface as effectively. When a water softener removes calcium and magnesium from water you will notice a significant difference on your skin. It will feel much softer even before applying moisturizer. This softness is how your skin is supposed to actually feel with natural oils being brought to the surface and not inhibited by the buildup of hard water deposits. The cells in your skin will also more readily accept any sort of moisturizer you apply because there is no buildup to block the moisturizer. Before you go spend a fortune on cosmetics, and other skin enhancing products, you might want to evaluate your water habits first. Increase the amount of water you drink each day and make sure that the water you use on your skin is as pure and healthy as possible, enabling you to get the greatest benefit from it.

The Benefits of a Water Softener

Posted by Ken Christopher

Hard water is the single most widespread water problem here in the United States. The United States Geological Survey, the department responsible for collecting nationwide data on water quality and supply, stated that 89.3% of US homes have hard water. So what is hard water? The simplest explanation is that hard water is water with a high mineral content, usually excessive calcium and magnesium.

The quality and hardness of water is dependent on several factors – where the water originated, a home’s geographical location and the type of water filtration process it goes through before it reaches the tap. Not all water is hard enough to warrant a water softener, however if the mineral content is high enough, the benefits of a water softener significantly outweigh the cost of the system. Residential water softeners can easily become one of the most proficient household energy saving options available to homeowners.

The Battelle Memorial Institute recently conducted a study that researched the effect of water hardness on the performance of faucets, showerheads, dishwashers, clothes washers and water heaters. The results conclusively determined that softened water promoted better functionality, efficiency, life expectancy and appearance of each and every component tested. Water heaters, in particular, dramatically benefited from softened water over hard water. It costs 47 percent less to operate water heaters with softened water over hard water; this energy savings on water heaters alone was shown to reduce a home’s carbon footprint by over 14 percent.

Another crazy comparison the Battelle study uncovered was the flow rates between showerheads using hard water versus soft water. Showerheads using hard water lost a massive 75 percent of their flow rate within 18 months as compared to showerheads using soft water. There was almost no decrease in flow rate in showerheads using soft water; they maintained a brilliant luster, full flow and good-as-new performance.

Water softeners also have hair and skin benefits as well. Hard water can leave a filmy shampoo reside on the hair much like soap scum residue in showers and tubs. Soft water deters excess buildup, so hair stays soft and shiny without the dryness and frizz associated with hard water. Soft water also helps skin retain moisture and keeps skin from becoming dry and irritated from the minerals in hard water.

If you are one of the millions of households that have to deal with hard water on a daily basis, you might want to consider investing in a water softener. The benefits of softened water make it one of the best investments you can make in your home.

Signs of Hard Water Easy to Spot

Posted by Ken Christopher

water softener or other water treatment system in your home, you very well may. The majority of households in our region do have hard water and the signs are everywhere. If you’re wondering if you have hard water and do not have access to your water treatment company’s most recent water test results, keep reading! We can help you answer the question right now.

Hard water often causes white scale buildup on dishes, pots and pans and other surfaces. It often leaves a detergent film on newly washed clothes or hair and usually is a pain to deal with. People with softened water often claim that the soft water makes their skin smoother and their hair more manageable. Would this be something you could use? Most people would love improvements like this with a water softener.

Hard water is not dangerous to your health, thankfully, but is simply water that contains a high level of the minerals magnesium and calcium. These minerals make everyday chores difficult and could end up costing you more money in the long run. Dealing with your hard water now could leave you with more time to spend doing things you actually need to do apart from those pesky household chores. Often, people tell us there is a substantial reason to purchase or lease one of our water softeners  simply because they have had enough of the mineral buildup everywhere they look in their home.

Hard water may cause more problems than you noticed. While white film on surfaces and dishes is embarrassing enough, hard water also creates a scale buildup inside your pipes and water appliances reducing the efficiency of your water heater. This means more energy is used to heat water which will result in increased energy expenses. It can also mean clogged pipes and breakdowns in those water appliances. Shortened lifespans mean more money. It is mostly important to protect your home with softened water to prolong the lifespan of pipes and home appliances from scale buildup and clogging.

Water spots, however, as mentioned above are one of the easiest ways to check if you have hard water. If you wash your dishes well and still see the water spots when they air dry, you probably have an abundance of hard minerals. They complicate soap and detergent dissolving in water, and leave behind those water spots. Soap is also less effective in hard water because it reacts to form the calcium or magnesium salt of the organic acid of the soap. Skin washed in hard water is typically reported as feeling scratchy and dry as a result of the soap scum.

There are many benefits to installing one of our water softeners. Mostly the elimination of all of those annoyances listed above but also because the quality of your water may also improve. Although it is minerals that give water the refreshing flavor many people find desirable, our systems also produce great-tasting water thanks to advanced technology and efficiency.  You will instantly enjoy cleaner and shinier silverware and dishware, softer skin and smoother hair, reduced soap needed to clean clothing or skin, reduction in housework, cost savings on detergents, soaps and replacing water appliances, reduced costs for your energy, and less damage to appliances down the road. If you said yes to having hard water, give is a call. We have what you need!

Daily Chores are More Work with Hard Water

Posted by Ken Christopher

There are many appliances out there that can make life easier; vacuums that move themselves, dishwashers and so many more. But there is nothing quite like a water softener to ease the load and the energy and time it takes to clean dishes, glassware, shower heads and shower walls. Living with hard water is exactly that – it’s hard! But it doesn’t have to be. Our water softeners are affordable and effective so you can spend less money on detergents and soaps and less time scrubbing down surfaces which are covered with hard water buildup.

One of the most common complaints that we hear from homeowners is that they just cannot seem to get the buildup off their surfaces in which hard water touches. It is unsightly and to be quite honest, embarrassing when you have guests over. Another complaint is the uselessness that normal amounts of soaps and detergents. Hard minerals react differently to soaps than softened water does. This hardness problem is sometimes defined as “the effect of certain elements which combine with soap to form an insoluble material known as curd.” Does this sound like something you are dealing with? Many people do!

Home cleaning operations can seem impossible. Day after day, hard water leaves soap curd and detergent deposits on fabrics. This dulls colors and gives a grey or yellow appearance to white fabrics. Also hard water soap curd clings to fabric fibers, causing threads to become brittle and shortening the life of the material. Then of course, you deal with those spots! Soap scum rings in the bathtub, cloudy spots on shower walls, spots and streaks on glasses and dishware, scale deposits in all water-using appliances and clogs hot water pipes.

A home water softener can ease the burden of all of this and more. Luckily, hard water isn’t dangerous to humans. It just creates more work, wastes more time and costs more money. Our water softeners come in different shapes and sizes so they’ll meet your household needs and demands each day. Give us a call to learn about water softeners and the different options available to homeowners. After all, you work hard enough – isn’t it time you enjoyed a home that sparkles without all the work?

Why Choose a Portable Exchange Tank System?

Posted by Ken Christopher

Hard water is a widespread problem in our area, and while hard water isn’t necessarily dangerous to drink, it will certainly cause a problem in homes and businesses. Hard water wreaks havoc on pipes, appliances, fixtures, dishes, clothing and even skin and hair. This means that treating hard water isn’t really an option, it is a necessity!

However, this brings us to another problem we face here in California – water shortages. Many areas in the state of California have banned the use of water softeners due to the drought, which is putting some homeowners and businesses in a state of panic. Fortunately, here at Rayne of Irvine we have a solution to the water softener ban – portable exchange units.

Portable exchange units are actually pretty genius; they provide the soft water you need, and as an added bonus, will save you more time and effort than you would think. They provide an environmentally superior way to soften you water while still allowing you to enjoy luxurious-feeling water, protection of your pipes, appliances and fixtures, as well as spot free dishes and soft skin and hair.

Rayne’s Soft Water Exchange Tank Service regenerates hard water in a state of the art facility, without the use of salt in your home. There will be no discharge of salt into the environment, which will help protect what groundwater we have available. The tanks will be delivered to your home or business and picked up when empty. There is no need for electricity or even a drain, and they are completely approved to be used in areas with a water softener ban.

Rayne technicians will evaluate your hard water situation and then set up an exchange schedule that will fit your own unique water needs. One monthly fee will ensure that you always have soft water on hand and without all the environmental impacts and work of a traditional water softener. We also have 24 hour customer service technicians who are available to help if you run into a problem, and we rarely charge for a service call.

Our portable exchange service is available to meet the demands of residential homes, apartments and businesses. We currently service hotels, car washes, dry cleaners and many other businesses with our exchange tank service; businesses love the convenience of not having to worry about fussing with a water softener. So why not do the environment – and yourself – a favor, give us a call and let us show you what we can do for you with our easy portable exchange services.

Water Softeners Change Lives!

Posted by Ken Christopher

There are so many great reasons to own a water softener that you’ll never regret the decision to install one. There are just some appliances on the market that make life a little bit easier because they take on some of your workload as well as making your home a healthier place to live. Two great benefits with just one addition. Anyone living with hard water knows that your expenses are higher and your chores are harder because the buildup from the hard minerals in the water require extra detergents, energy and manual labor to remove.We have a few different models of water softeners here at Rayne of North County to choose from, so no matter what, your home can be fitted with the perfect size and power that your need. All in all, we think you’ll agree with the many other folks living with hard water, and that you will love the life changes that softened water can bring. Many people who buy water softeners report that their hair is softer and shiner, skin smoother and softer, clothes fluffier, and dishes cleaner. Once you get a water softener, you will wonder how you ever lived without it. It’s not only going to make you look and feel better on the outside, you’ll actually be happier with more time to spend doing things you love rather than cleaning and scrubbing anything around the house that your hard water touches.  A recent article from Homesteading Freedom lists 13 reasons to install a home water softener and here are some of our favorites:

There are so many other reasons why a water softener is a smart decision. If you’d like to learn a little more about the myriad benefits they offer, check out the rest of the article here.  We also have plenty of information about our water softening products on our website.  Give us a call when you’re ready to start saving time and money!

Choosing Local Means Choosing Knowledge

Posted by Ken Christopher 
            <![CDATA[<img class="size-medium wp-image-658 alignright" src="https://waterspotsblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/town-582871_1280-300x225.jpg" alt="town-582871_1280" width="300" height="225" />Whether you’re new to the <a href="https://www.raynewater.com/ventura/">Ventura, California</a> area or you’ve lived here your whole life, unless you have researched and read water quality report after water quality report, it's a good possibility that you have no clue about the quality of the local <a href="https://www.raynewater.com/ventura/">drinking water</a>. We can help! Choosing a local business means choosing knowledge – you can feel confident that your local business knows about the area, and it's particular strengths and weaknesses. Generic <a href="https://www.raynewater.com/ventura/">drinking water companies</a> know what makes good water, but do they have any idea about the quality of your specific tap water, groundwater, water reserves, drought updates or what the most common contaminates in your water is.

Supporting your local businesses means a lot to them – and your community – for many reasons. One of those reasons is because local businesses are experts on the local area. This local knowledge benefits both the business and the consumer. According to a recent article from Independent Business, some of the most important reasons to buy from a local business include local character and prosperity; community businesses deserve some economic advantages over those not in your community. Another reason is for community well-being. Local businesses help sustain town centers, link neighborhoods and neighbors and often contribute back to the local causes within the community. You’ll also be keeping dollars in the local economy and help your neighborhood businesses thrive with your patronage. As local business make money, they also tend to give back to the community which in turn benefits their residents. Local businesses also provide jobs and wages for community residents. It almost makes you wonder why anyone would choose anything other local for their purchases! Whether you’re looking for a water filter or a water softener, no one knows Ventura drinking water like we do. This means we are experts on recommending and tailoring your drinking water system perfectly to meet the demands and requirements of your home or office. Every region of the country has unique drinking water needs. Don’t let a bigger corporation sell you a home drinking water system, how do they even know what product is right for your family? We have been in the business since 1928, being the oldest continual water conditioning name in existence. Our National Corporate Offices are also right here in California. Contact us today to learn more about our home drinking water systems and let us show you what a local water company can do for you. Choose local, choose the best.