What are Water Softeners?

soap scum. Stiff clothing. Clogged pipes. No matter what you try, it's hard to get your surfaces clean. Scale builds. Dishes come from a machine with seats on them. All these problems are caused by hard water, a frustrating but fixable situation.

The term "hard water", "refers to water with high mineral content. The most common minerals that cause water hardness are calcium and magnesium. As water is absorbed into the soil, minerals are pulled from the earth and eventually end up in household water. Hard water can clog household plumbing.

water hardness, or how much is a mineral present in water, is measured in grains per gallon (GPG), parts per million (ppm) or milligrams per liter (mg / l). Water up to 1 GPG is considered soft, water, 1 to 3.5 GPG is considered moderate, and water from 3.5 to 7 GPG is hard water. Kits are used for testing the hardness of water can be purchased at the pool of suppliers or vendors for water softening.

Many water softeners plugin right to supply households with water. Ion exchange water softeners consist of negatively charged plastic beads, brine tank, and the regenerative system with time or other surveillance devices. Sodium or potassium chloride is added to the brine tank when regeneration is needed. Home water softeners range in price from $ 400 to $ 1,200, and salt ranges from $ 5 to $ 7 per bag. Price depends on the type, size and type of softening agent. Alternatively, magnetic water softeners consist of only 2 magnets attached to the outside or the inside of water pipes.

water softeners work by replacing the ions of hardness minerals that cause the "softer" ions. The water is filtered through a charged plastic beads, and magnesium or calcium ions replaced with sodium or potassium ions. In the case of magnetic water softeners, magnetic energy causes chemical changes in minerals.

Using a water softener does not represent a health risk, except for those on sodium-restricted diet. Keep bottled water on hand for cooking and consumption, or use potassium chloride instead of salt to soften. Potassium chloride is more expensive than sodium chloride. There is also no health risks associated with the choice will soften the water.