How Do Saltless Water Softeners Work

And manganese causes black staining.

How do saltless water softeners work.

How do water softeners work. The only major difference is that things are a bit more automated for electronic softeners. A water softener by definition is a device that reduces hard water dissolved minerals such as calcium and magnesium. Problems a water softener won t fix.

After all the ion exchange process still occurs in an electronic softener. It s not like they haven t always been out there i ve been in the water treatment business for 42 years and i have seen plenty of these types of companies come and go but they are now here en mass. This really isn t the truth. Water softeners are good at removing calcium and magnesium but they don t do anything to remove other minerals and gases that can cause problems in drinking water.

The ion exchange process used by water softeners doesn t work without the sodium ions displacing the calcium and magnesium ions that create water hardness. So here s the scoop. For about the last ten years salt free water softeners have become the dream of many marketing companies. In many cases we are led to believe both work the same and the only difference is that one doesn t use salt.

During the ion exchange process a polymer resin bed attracts hard water minerals and replaces them with sodium ions. A more accurate way to describe them would be descalers since they do reduce buildup in many but not all types of plumbing equipment. Well you ll be happy to know that the answer is a big yes. A no salt water softener does not work as far as softening water goes.

Salt based water softeners use an electronic metered valve mounted atop a fiberglass resin tank that meter water by the gallon and then run a cleaning cycle when the ion resin. Cool but do electronic water softeners actually work. Saltless systems do not remove hardness. A saltless water softener uses potassium in place of sodium.

Water softeners have become more efficient and some use up to 75 percent less salt. Learn how real water softeners work. It is this removal of magnesium and calcium that defines water softening. Water softening involves an ion exchange process which removes both magnesium mg2 and calcium ca2 from water.

With a water softener you also don t need to use as much soap for dishes laundry or bathing as you do if you have hard water. So there s the big question you ve been pondering. A more accurate description of units commonly marketed as salt free water softeners would be a salt free water conditioner or scale inhibitor. The term water softener represents a technology called ion exchange.

Ion exchange removes hard water ions in an exchange for sodium ions. For example ferrous iron is a common mineral and it creates nasty rust stains in sinks tubs and toilets.