We have all frequently seen the lime marks that can leave a few drops of water when they evaporate, especially in sinks, scrubbers and shower and bathtub maps, this is due to the high lime content in the water. When this happens, we are facing a case of “hard water.” “Hard water” or water with a high concentration of lime can cause several problems in any home, especially for appliances that drink water directly from the main supply of your home. Problems happen when high contents of minerals such as calcium and magnesium accumulate in tubes, sleeves and pipes that the appliances carry internally.
Luckily, there is a way to solve and prevent this problem: installing domestic water softener.
The advantages of installing a water softener are several, you increase the useful life of household appliances, save water, save on detergents … And even reduce irritation for sensitive skin that after showering notice skin itching and discomfort, also helps keep your hair softer.
Keep in mind that water softeners can be of two types: water softeners that base their operation on the use of salt and those that do not use salt to descale the water. Many people think that this is the only difference and that except this, they work in the same way, but this is incorrect since there are more differences both in the composition and structure of the water softener and in its maintenance and operation.
Now, knowing that they are different and that they work differently, which one is better? The short answer is that it depends on the conditions under which the descaling system will work. Each system has several aspects to consider before proceeding to purchase.
How salt water softeners work:
Salt-based water softeners transform “hard” water through a process called ion exchange. The water softener tank is internally composed of negatively charged resin beads, (that an element is negatively charged means that it has an extra electron), this is why, when water falls and seeps through these resin beads , the elements dissolved in the water with positive charges (usually calcium Ca2 + and magnesium Mg2 +), are trapped in these pearls, and the water now leaves without these components in it, that is to say that through this process we would obtain we would have “soft” water .
With the passage of time and the constant repetition of this work, resin pearls reach their maximum absorption capacity lose the ability to continue attracting mineral ions. When this occurs, the tank must be cleaned and regenerated, that is when the tank regeneration occurs. An electronic valve calculates the amount of water flowing through the water softener, when the amount of treated water exceeds the preprogrammed amount in the valve, the salt tank is activated. The brine tank begins sending salt water to the water softener, washing the mineral deposits of the resin beads. Once the water softener tank is cleaned, dirty water is expelled through the discharge hose.
The clean water softener then returns to its function of “softening” water.
How water softeners work without salt:
Unlike salt-based softeners that use ion exchange to remove minerals from hard water from water, salt-free water softeners use a physical process known as template-assisted crystallization (TAC). This process converts the minerals that cause hardness in the water into a hardness crystal that does not adhere to any surface of your home. Again, keep your appliances and water heaters free of hard water inlays. Salt-free softeners are also known as water conditioners because they don’t really “soften” the water; They condition it (or neutralize it). And since these types of systems do not trap any minerals, there is no need for a cleaning cycle to eliminate captured ions.
Already knowing the differences Are you thinking of buying a water softener with or without Salt? Contact us!