How Does a Water Softener Work?
Hard water can prove detrimental to the home plumbing system, water-using appliances, dishes, clothes, and even skin.
Hard water is one of the most widespread problems with the household water supply that several homeowners encounter. Hard water can prove detrimental to the home plumbing system, water-using appliances, dishes, clothes, and even skin. It can result in scale buildup in pipes, fixtures, and appliances, affecting their functioning and shortening their serviceable life.
The water supply is hard if it has a high concentration of calcium, magnesium, and other dissolved minerals. If the home has a hard water supply, the biggest way to combat its harmful effects, like spotty dishes, limescale buildup, and dry skin, is to call a professional plumber to install a water softener.
What is a water softener?
A water softener removes hardness-causing dissolved minerals from the water supply to soften it or reduce its hardness. Water softeners come in various sizes and styles to accommodate different family needs. Homeowners can choose from varied water softeners like ion exchange, salt-free, reverse osmosis, and magnetic. Among these, ion exchange is the most commonly used water softener.
How a water softener works
A typical water softener has different components, namely a brine tank, mineral tank, and a control valve, that work together to eliminate the unwanted minerals from the water, check the water flow, and use the regeneration process to clean the system.
Hard water enters the water softener’s mineral water tank and flows through tiny, extremely durable resin beads. These beads are charged with sodium ions. The negatively-charged beads attract positively-charged magnesium and calcium ions, removing them from the water.
During the softening process, as the minerals stick to the beads, they displace the sodium-charged ions from the beads (known as ion exchange). As a result, the end product that exits the tank is softened water devoid of calcium and magnesium. This water flowing through the pumping system is ideal for various household purposes.
The water softener regeneration process
Eventually, the resin beads get burdened with minerals and reach their maximum capacity, losing their effectiveness in attracting more mineral ions. At this point, these beads need to free themselves of the minerals to recharge and begin attracting minerals and softening the water again. The process is called the regeneration cycle. The control valve automatically initiates the regeneration process when the total amount of water passed through the softener reaches the pre-programmed levels based on household size and water’s hardness level.
The brine tank consists of a concentrated salt solution. The mineral tank draws salty water from the brine tank through the fill tube. The water rinses the beads and washes off the minerals, exchanging them with sodium ions. The saline water solution and the hard water minerals deposits get flushed out into a nearby drain before the softening process restarts.
Advantages of water softener installation
Here are a few benefits of installing a water softener in the home:
Prolonged plumbing system life
Improved efficiency and lifespan of water-using appliances
Healthier and softer skin and hair
Reduced scale buildup
Cleaner dishes
Improved water heater efficiency
Softer and brighter clothes
Less time spent on cleaning
Bill savings
Soften the water supply
Using hard water for cleaning, bathing, or cooking can lead to several issues. Contact a local plumber to recommend and install the right water softener for the home.
Simba Plumbing offers residential and commercial plumbing services to Phoenix and surrounding areas. We are family-owned, meticulous and provide affordable, transparent pricing. Call us at 602-962-3537.
