How Do Different Types Of Water Softeners Work?

If you have faced issues with household water supply, you might have done a lot of research on it. If you have concluded from your research that the installation of a water softener may resolve the issue, then you must also know which one is most suitable for your condition. So, for water softener requirements and other plumbing issues, contact Calgary’s most reliable plumbing contractors plumbing contractors immediately.

In this blog, we’ll discuss some of the types of water softeners and their functionality. A water softener removes minerals from the water supply to decrease its hardness. Hard water has a high content of magnesium and calcium in it. The latter is not toxic but dangerous in other ways that may damage your skin, water appliances, clothes, and plumbing fixtures if washed with hard water.

Also Read: Reasons Why You Should Not Fix Plumbing Fixtures On Your Own

A Salt Tank

As the water supply passes through beads, minerals get replaced by salt through ion exchange. This results in the depletion of resin beads, so the system needs to be flushed regularly by a process known as regeneration.

Working

A strong water solution known as brine is created by the addition of salt to the softener. The brine solution flows through the mineral tank containing resins, exchanging the sodium for hard water minerals and rinsing the beads.

Dual Tank Water Softener

It is a very convenient water softener. It consists of two mineral tanks and a standard salt tank. As a result, one tank is always available even if the other is regenerating. Dual tank water softeners never pause the softening or cleaning process, so they offer to soften 24 hours a day seven days a week. Its two cylinders perform the water softening process independently.

Salt-Free Water Softener

A salt-free water softener is very suitable for decreasing your intake of salt for medical reasons. It substitutes the salt with potassium chloride. This system is also known as a descaler or a water conditioner. This system stops the accumulation of harmful deposits in your plumbing pipes and water appliances rather than removing minerals from hard water. This technology works very well on moving or flowing water rather than stationary.

However, salt-free water softeners are not able to remove hard minerals from the water. These softeners can only transform magnesium and calcium by chemical process to stop the precipitation from forming scale. Salt-free water softeners cannot soften the water. They can only condition it.

Reverse Osmosis Water Purification System

The water purification filtration system forces the water through the semipermeable membrane at a very high pressure. In the process, harmful minerals and other particles like nitrates and minerals get filtered out.

Working

A reverse osmosis purification system first removes chlorine and sediments from the water before forcing the water to a semipermeable membrane. This process is completed by using the pre-filters. After the pre-filtered, water passes through a semipermeable membrane to remove the dissolved salts. After passing through the membrane, water is passed through a post filter to polish the water. However, the working of reverse osmosis filters varies with the number of pre and post-filters it may have.

Magnetic Descaler

A full-size water softener cannot easily fit in a small home, as salt-based and salt-free softeners may take up the place. Magnetic water makes this situation easy as it is strapped onto water pipes. In some cases, you don’t have to cut the water line to get it installed. It can easily be plugged into the power supply, requiring electricity. But, some magnetic descalers need to be hardwired.

Like salt-free water softeners, magnetic descalers are not able to remove heavy minerals from the water. Magnetic water softeners only neutralize the heavy minerals. By using a magnetic softener, the heavy minerals are repelled from the water pipes by the resulting magnetic field. It is said that magnetic descalers reduce the effect of hard water by using magnetic fields instead of chemical processes. However, the usefulness of magnetic descalers is unscientific and unproven till now.

About Jack’d Up Plumbing

At Jack’d Up Plumbing , we provide plumbing services to our clients in Calgary & surrounding areas. We specialize in drain cleaning and other plumbing-related services such as water and gas leak repair, bathroom and kitchen plumbing repairs, and installations. We provide prompt, professional, and affordable plumbing services to our residential and commercial customers in Calgary and surrounding areas. Contact us for more information.