What is a water softener and how does it work?

Hard water is natural ground water that contains high level of minerals. When it rains the water is soft but it collects minerals from the ground.

The Effects of hardwater:

Lessons the ways soaps and detergents work
Allows Rings in the tub
Leaves spots on glasses and dishes
Allows scale build up in coffee pots & pipes
Causes long term damage to plumbing and appliances

What a water softener does:

A water softener reduces harsh minerals and lessens the effects of minerals throughout your water system, appliances, showers, toilets and tubs.

Water Softeners:

Improves the taste of your water
Removes hard water minerals
Prevents scale buildup

A basic overview of how it works:

Water enter the top of the softener tank and flows through resin beads which are negatively charged and attract the positive ions of the water (like calcium and magnesium). The ion stay on the beads and the soft water exits the tank.

A brine solution is used to clean the resin bed. The salt attracts the minerals from the resin and is flushed through the system through the discharge hose.

Other types of water softeners:

Salt-free water softeners that use potassium chloride salt substitute.

Water conditioners or descalers

Reverse Osmosis