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Facts About Water Softening

6/24/2020

Have you ever wondered what it is that a water softener does?  Well, softening water was a method created to help fight a very common problem with home plumbing: hard water. 

In scientific terms, the hardness of water has to do with the amount of calcium and magnesium are contained in the water.  Two of the most common signs of water hardness are the slimy, grimy film your hands feel after washing your hands, or if the water in your drinking glass is cloudy.

In order to be on top of the issue, trust our exceptional Aaron Swift plumbers to give you some tips:

Softening Water Helps Your Home Water Systems

The biggest advantage of having a water softener installation is that the minerals in hard water will disintegrate, thus extending the life of your appliances, pipes, and other water filtration systems in your home.  By softening the water in your bath faucet, shower faucet, and sink faucets, you will notice that your skin and hair will become softer, as well.  Hard water can even stain your tubs and sinks a brownish color, causing you to clean it more often than usual.

Additionally, hard water can cause progressively foul odors as well as noticeable changes in taste in the water, which would greatly decrease once a water softener is installed.  In the long run, the cost of installing a water softener is going to be no match for the benefits you will reap once it is installed.  The ease of a professionally installed water softening system is going to relieve you from the excessive maintenance and hard scrubbing of your tubs and sinks.  Furthermore, a high efficiency water softener is nearly 50% more efficient than other softeners.

Different Types of Residential Water Treatment Systems

• Water Softener

The water softening water treatment system uses polymers, a macroscopic compound, to soften water in your piping.  Hard water enters the system and is passed through a bed of resins containing polymer beads.  Polymers contain small pieces that work to collect harmful minerals in hard water.  Once hard water materials fill the resin bed, the system will flush the polymers using a saltwater brine.  Fresh water will then flush through to remove the remaining brine water.  This treatment is going to leave you with a softer touch out of the shower or bath, an exponentially less amount of maintenance and cleaning required, and a better-tasting water coming from your faucet or appliances.

• Water Conditioner

Water conditioners – also known as salt-free water softeners – refrain from using salt but will use a variety of methods to disintegrate harmful minerals from ruining your pipes.  While a water softener is engineered to rid your system of these minerals entirely, a conditioner will neutralize them, decreasing the amount of these chemicals in your water significantly.

• Filtration

The majority of homes use a water filtration system with carbon or micron filters to absorb the chemicals in your water.  This installation is great for disintegrating many common minerals, and will improve the overall odor, taste, and purity of drinking water.  However, home filtration systems work hard to keep up with hard water limescale build-up and are not able to disintegrate mineral salts that have dissolved in the water.  Additionally, carbon filters will get clogged with minerals and require more frequent maintenance.  Customers may use the filtration installation as an alternative to water treatment; though, we recommend you use it in addition to a water softener.

• Reverse Osmosis (RO)

In comparison to filtration, this method disintegrates dissolved mineral salts from your water.  RO systems use filters for sediment, a semipermeable membrane, and filters for carbon to remove the odors and improve the quality of taste of your water.  RO systems, though, are much like filtration systems, as they will not totally remove minerals that make water hard.  RO systems are also susceptible to acidity in water, causing damage to your pipes.  Acidic water does more damage to metal piping in comparison to engineered piping.

With all that being said, the water treatment system you install in your home is going to be based on what type of system is required for your home individually.  Not all homes are built the same, and some piping might be older than in some other homes.  So, it is best to speak with a plumbing expert to get a better idea of what will work best for your home.

Call Today to Schedule a Whole-House Water Softening

Since customers are able to use a combination of these systems together, it is best to be able to get a professional plumber in your home to inspect what the best solution might be for you.  If you are ready to explore your options, give us a call today!  Our plumbing technicians will gladly help you pick the best water treatment system for your home.

Aaron Swift Michigan Residential Plumbing – 24-Hour Emergency Plumbing Service

If you should have any other questions or concerns about any of your residential or commercial plumbing – including hydro-jetting service, sewer service, gas piping, drain repairs and more –  contact Aaron Swift Plumbing for toilet repairs, pipe issues and any other plumbing estimates.

You can call us at (586) 752-5808 or by filling out our online contact form here.  Proudly providing the best residential and commercial plumbers in Michigan!