Water Softner Vs. Water Filter

If your water source (well or municipal water) has above 17.1 parts per million (ppm) of dissolved minerals, it is considered "hard." Water softeners and filters are two different methods of reducing water hardness.

Levels of Water Hardness

Water is considered "soft" if it has less than 17.1 ppm of dissolved minerals. It is slightly hard with levels between 17.1 and 60 ppm. Water is moderately hard between 60 and 120 ppm. It is hard between 120 and 180 ppm and very hard above 180 ppm. Knowing your level of water hardness may help you choose the right treatment.

Water Softeners

Most water softeners use salt (sodium) in a ionic exchange process and trade sodium ions (which don't interfere with soap lathering or clog water lines) for the calcium, magnesium and some iron ions in hard water.

Magnetic Water Softeners

Some softeners place magnets around incoming water lines. Proponents say that while the hardness levels are unchanged, the effects of hard water that lead to clogged water lines are reduced as with ionic exchange softening. There is no solid data either way on these claims.

Types of Water Filters

Three main types of water filters are: pitchers (a filter inside a water pitcher), which are the least expensive method and also filters the smallest quantities; sink-mount (filter is on or under the faucet); and whole-house (filters all incoming water), the most expensive filter type.

Filter Ratings

The size of particles a filter will allow past is usually given in microns (sometimes in angstroms) and the smaller the rating, the more material the filter will trap. At the tightest rating, reverse osmosis filters trap anything larger than 10 angstroms which stops all bacteria, virus and dissolved minerals.

Softener Vs. Filter

A water softener is often the most cost-effective way to soften all incoming water. Depending on the hardness of your water and your budget, filtering only your drinking and cooking water may make more sense.

References

• Lenntech
• Hardwater.org
• Central Wisconsin Groundwater Center (PDF)