How Does a Water Softener Work?
Did you know 75% of homes in the United States are affected by hard water? It isn’t necessarily dangerous to you but it does have a major downside for your home’s pipes. Mineral deposits build up and damage pipes, faucets, and even your coffee maker. A water softener can save you time, money, and protect your home’s plumbing system.
Water Softener Components
A water softener isn’t just your standard filter that traps particles in a mesh layer. There are actually two tanks that make up the water softener system. Hard water enters a taller mineral tank that is filled with small polystyrene beads, which carry a negative charge. The minerals in hard water carry a positive charge so they become attracted to these beads.
The second tank holds the salt you pour in- this is called a brine solution. Contrary to belief the salt doesn’t replace the minerals in hard water, it actually cleans out the beads allowing them to attract more mineral ions.
Reasons to Install a Water Softener
Your pipes in your house are one of the biggest risks when you have hard water. The same damage that happens inside pipes can do plenty of damage to the appliances within your home. Including:
Clothes washers
Dishwashers
Sink Faucets
Refrigerator lines
Coffee makers
Water heaters
Due to the diameter of the pipes leading to many of these appliances, you’re likely to notice the damage sooner than with the water lines in the home. Mineral build-up can take up space in these systems or their pipes which can cause the cost of maintaining them to skyrocket.
A water softener will greatly increase the life of your faucets and showerheads, reduce the spotting of glasses, dishes, and flatware. You can reduce your laundry detergent, dishwashing soap, hand soap, and shampoo to half what you would normally use, not to mention soft water is much more pleasant to wash with. You can also add an Iron Filter which helps eliminate the minerals that cause odor and bacteria while eliminating 10 parts per million of iron.
Contact Abel Plumbing for water softener installation and water conditioning services in the twin cities west metro area.