What Is the Purpose of Water Softener?
The water pumped into your home from a well or through the city water supply often contains trace amounts of minerals like calcium and magnesium. When water is high in mineral content, it's considered to be "hard" water. Hard water can cause problems with your plumbing and has an effect on the way substances dissolve into it. Using a water softener, you can remove these minerals as water enters your home and eliminate the issues of hard water. Does this Spark an idea?
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Function
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According to Lenntech, water softeners "are specific ion exchangers that are designed to remove ions, which are positively charged" and "mainly remove calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+) ions." In some cases, water softeners also remove iron from the water.
Benefits
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Along with removing minerals that can clog up your plumbing, water softeners have also been known to aid people with dry skin conditions. Soap and other substances dissolve faster and more easily in softened water, so it won't build up in your pipes or drains. Water softeners help do away with water spots that stain your sinks, tubs and toilets. Softened water is also generally safe to drink.
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Longevity
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A quality water softener will last you a long time. According to Lenntech, "A good water softener will last many years. Softeners that were supplied in the 1980s may still work, and many need little maintenance, besides filling them with salt occasionally." In some cases, you can even take your water softener with you if you ever decide to move.
How It Works
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Using rock salt, solar salt or evaporated salt, water softeners remove the positively charged ions from the water, namely calcium and magnesium. Of course, in order to keep your water soft, the salt in the water softener needs to be replenished regularly. Lenntech writes, "To guarantee a satisfactory production of soft water, the salt level should be kept at least half-full at all times."
Warning
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Softened water is more likely to absorb metals from your piping since it's a stronger solvent than hard water. According to Triangular Wave Technologies, "Lead in soldered joints and copper in pipe are particularly vulnerable, and these are two of the heavy metals which shouldn't be present in significant amounts in your drinking water." However, this is only a problem if your home's water system is made up of lead piping. Lenntech warns, "Lead pipe systems have to be replaced before softened water can flow through them."
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References
- Photo Credit tap image by BlueMiniu from Fotolia.com
