How Do Water Softeners Work?
A water softener presents an effective solution to hard water problems.
Hardness is one of the biggest problems with the water quality in several American households. This is because hard water has high levels of minerals like calcium and magnesium that cause scale buildup on plumbing fixtures and water-using appliances.
Hard water deposits eventually clog and corrode the pipes, leading to expensive repairs and reducing the efficiency and lifespan of appliances. Therefore, treating hard water to eliminate these minerals is essential. A water softener presents an effective solution to hard water problems.
What is a water softener?
A home water softener is an appliance that works to eliminate dissolved minerals responsible for making the water hard. It is usually installed near the water’s main entry point into the house to soften the water used for drinking and washing. Water softening systems use the ion exchange process, where the sodium ions replace the mineral ions.
How does a water softener work?
A typical water softener usually has three components:
A mineral tank or resin tank
A brine tank
Control valve
The water softening process happens in the mineral tank. This tank consists of tiny, porous resin beads covered with positively charged sodium ions. When the water enters the mineral tank and flows through resin beads, the stronger charged calcium and magnesium ions in hard water are attracted to the resin beads. Then they are swapped with weaker charged sodium ions, resulting in soft water.
The soft water exits the tank and runs throughout the home plumbing to be used for different purposes. The primary job of the control valve is to regulate the amount of water that flows into the home from the resin tank.
Regeneration
Eventually, the resin beads get covered with hard water minerals, reducing their ability to soften water. Therefore, these resin beads must be rinsed to remove the collected minerals and recharged periodically to continue attracting and removing the hard water minerals. The water softener uses a process called regeneration for this purpose.
The brine tank contains a concentrated saltwater solution. The brine solution is pumped from the brine tank into the resin tank. The brine saturates the resin, flushes out the minerals from the resin beads, and replenishes them with sodium ions.
After the cycle completes, the remaining water, along with the mineral ions, is sent down the drain and the water softener again becomes ready to soften the hard water. The regeneration cycle frequency usually depends on factors like the degree of water hardness and the amount of water used in the household.
The water softener should have the correct type of salt to ensure proper regeneration. The homeowner should add salt to the brine tank periodically as a part of water softener maintenance to allow it to function optimally.
Choose the right water softener for the home
A water softener helps avoid the harmful effects of hard water on the skin, plumbing, appliances, clothes, and dishes. A local plumber can test the water to identify the hardness level. Based on the results, they can determine if water softening is necessary and recommend the best system for the family’s specific needs.
Adaven Plumbing is a family-owned residential and commercial plumbing company specializing in water heater installation, repair, or replacement, water filtration, water softeners, garbage disposal installation, garbage disposal repair, and garbage disposal replacement. We are licensed and available 24 hours, Monday to Saturday.
