Various chemical treatments can be used to treat water hardness. Nevertheless, the most effective and common one is a water softener. The water softener is used to remove the ions of magnesium and calcium, which are responsible for the water’s hardness. Have you ever seen it? How does it look like? A water softener is a mechanical appliance often fitted in water supply systems.
It works through the ion exchange mechanism using either sodium or potassium through the ion exchange process. Due to the high cost of potassium, sodium is most preferred.
The basic unit of a water softener is the storage tank. It is fitted with polystyrene beads, commonly referred to as resin or zeolite.
Basically, water softener contains the following three major components:
- A mineral tank. This is the foremost important part of the system, and it is exactly where filtration occurs. This is where calcium and magnesium are eliminated. In this tank, water passes through the beads.
- The brine tank. This is a place where concentrated Sodium Chloride, also referred to as brine or potassium, is placed.
- The control valve. Like standard valves, this one is tasked with controlling the flow of water in and out of the two tanks in the course of regeneration.
As we mentioned earlier, the process works on the ion-exchange mechanism. This process takes place when hard water is passed through these tanks. With these basics in mind, let us see how a water softener works.
Why We Need a Water Softener System
Where hard water is known to clog pipes and raise complications for both soap and detergent from dissolving into the water, water softening techniques become necessary.
You have heard that there is a type of water that cannot lather quickly with soap and usually form scum. It is those characteristics that describe hard water. The fact that it does not lather with soap means you will be required to use a lot of soap, and this can be very costly.
There are so many other problems individuals face in this regard. For instance, hard water stains white cloths. It also blocks water pipes and sometimes the blockages can cause the lines to burst. If bursting is not recognized in good time, the spillage may lead to a lot of losses. What about fur in kitchen appliances? It can be so hard to clean these appliances.
Want to get rid of the problems that come from hard water? Below are the reasons every human needs a water softener;
- Prevent skin from drying
Being the basic necessity, water plays an integral role in both the life and health of humans. Believing in the fact that health is wealth, there is nothing expensive than having a healthy life. Consumption of hard water may affect the skin and air to dry badly due to extra calcium and magnesium salts floating within the water. Hence, making use of water softener works wonders.
- White & soft fabric
Although fabrics can be washed both via hard water and soft water, the results vary as the clothes washed away with hard water are rough and foamy, while clothes washed away with soft water are soft and offers more shine. So If you notice that your clothes and bedsheets now appear to fade, it is high time that you should rethink about making use of hard water as the extra minerals in it are likely to scratch the cloth at a certain point in time. To do the best laundry, make sure that you start making use of a water softener.
- Dishwashing made easier
The minerals available within the hard water are likely to leave spots on the dishes, especially silverware and glassware. So if you have started noticing the mineral residue on the plates, it is purely a sign of calcium and magnesium within the water. Choosing to use potassium chloride, water softener allows no more stains on the dishes, tubs, windows, and other areas. Please keep in mind that the glassware washed with hard water is in some severe kind of pain.
“Hard water worsens the steel pipes as these are said to damage the limescale from the buildup”
- Energy savings
Since the soft water is prone to improve heat exchange efficiency, it saves money on the energy bills. According to the research, using a gas storage water heater is prone to save a significant amount of energy, almost over 24.2%. Additionally, positively acting towards pumps and similar other appliances.
- Allows household appliances to last longer with reduced maintenance cost
With the use of water softeners, consumers can now save or prevent scale deposits. Thereby, extending the life span of the washing machines and similar other appliances. Thereby, reducing the repair and maintenance cost.
“Making use of hard water reduces the life span of the home appliances”
Even after so many disasters coming out of making use of hard water, people do not realize how bad it can affect them. Want to lessen down the number of issues coming forward? Help yourself in improving all the issues that may come out of the use of hard water. Stop hard water, start water softener!
Conclusion
A water softener is a unit used to remove the ions of magnesium and calcium, which are responsible for the water’s hardness. We mentioned some of the side effects of using hard water. For instance, it wastes many soaps and may cause blockage of water pipes and dry skin problems. That is why you should consider using a water softener at home.
