Water Softening
-What is water softening? Return to top
Hard water contains a significant amount of calcium and magnesium, which clogs pipes and makes it difficult for soap and detergent to dissolve in the water properly. Water softening is the process of removing calcium and magnesium ions, or contaminants from surface water or groundwater to make it safe and useable for human consumption. In some cases, iron ions are also removed during the softening process.
To obtain soft water, people use water softener units, which are connected directly to the water supply and contain water softener salt for the water to pass through.
-What is a water softener? Return to top
A water softener is a device that many residential and commercial buildings use, which is designed to reduce hardness of a water supply by removing calcium and magnesium ions.
-Why do we need a water softener and softening salt? Return to top
Water moves in a never-ending cycle. It starts in the clouds as rain, sleet or snow, falls to the ground, and then is evaporated back up to the clouds. In this entire process, the stratosphere is the only location that contains naturally pure water. As the water travels through the atmosphere, many impurities such as dust and gases are picked up along the way, causing the water to become slightly acidic. When the water is acidic, mineral matter is dissolved into the water from the soil and rocks as it travels through the ground.
The dissolved mineral matter inside of the water causes it to become “hard” water. “Hard” water is not suitable for many home and industrial uses. However, the minerals causing the water to become hard consist mostly of calcium and magnesium, which are relatively easy to remove.
Various methods are used to remove the minerals causing the water to become hard. The most common technique involves passing the water through a water softener, which is a machine filled with a sodium compound (water softener salt). The water softener creates a process referred to as “ion exchange,” which simply trades the calcium and magnesium in the water for the sodium compound (salt). This simple process makes the water “soft,” which is the suitable form of water for many home and industrial uses.
-What are the benefits of soft water (Water that has passed through a water softener)? Return to top
There are many benefits of using a water softener, including:
Reduce hydro bill – soft water reduces the amount of scale build-up in your hot water heater, which saves you as much as 22% of your electric bill and 29% of your gas bill.
Reduce water pipe build-up – soft water improves your plumbing performance and increases its lifespan because it greatly reduces the amount of build-up you may get over time. Keep in mind, many of your appliances including your washing machine have pipes passing through them. Soft water will also allow your appliances to last as much as 50% longer.
Clothes last longer – soft water will allow your clothes to last 35% longer and will reduce the amount of laundry detergent required to clean them.
Improves your beauty – There are several things soft water will do to help improve the beauty of your skin, which include:
-How does a water softener work? Return to top
Water softeners are designed to remove positively charged ions including calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+) ions, which are the main causes of hard water. When water containing these ions passes through the water softening unit, the calcium and magnesium ions are attracted to resin beads inside of the unit. Water softener salt is used to recharge/replace the resin beads from calcium and magnesium ions to sodium ions and make the water “soft.”
Periodically, the water softening salt needs to be replaced with new salt to ensure the unit is maintaining its effectiveness.
Softening salts
-What kinds of salt can be purchased for use in a water softener unit? Return to top
Generally, four types of products can be used in a softener unit (placed in order of quality):
1. Evaporated salt: obtained by mining underground deposits of dissolving salt. This dissolving salt is then evaporated to ensure optimal sodium chloride purity.
2. Solar salt: natural source of sodium chloride (salt) that is usually obtained through the evaporation of seawater. Solar salt is sold in crystal and pellet form. Solar salt contains a bit more insoluble matter than Evaporated salt, but less than Rock salt.
3. Rock salt: sodium chloride obtained from natural underground salt deposits through traditional mining methods. Rock salt is cheaper than solar salt and evaporated salt, but there is a lot of insoluble matter in rock salt and as a result, it is recommended that brine tank clean outs are done periodically.
4. Potassium chloride (not as commonly used): odourless metal halide comprised of potassium and chlorine, which occurs naturally in combination with sodium chloride.
-What type of salt is recommended for my water softener unit? Return to top
The type of water softener unit and the frequency of use will determine the type of water softener salt that should be used. If the unit is used very frequently, it is recommended that Evaporated salt is used because any other type of salt will result in water insoluble matter to build up quickly, thus requiring regular clean-outs of the softener unit.
If the unit is not used frequently, different types of salt can be interchanged.
-Can I mix different kinds of salt in my water softener unit? Return to top
Generally, yes! However, there are some water softener units that are designed for a specific type of water softening salt. If the wrong salt is used, the unit will not function properly. It is recommended that you read the user manual, or contact the manufacturer of your softening unit to determine which salt will work best.
When mixing salts, it is recommended that you let your unit empty entirely of one type of salt before adding a new type. For example, if you are currently using Rock salt, but would like to change to Evaporate salt, it is recommended that you let your unit empty entirely of the Rock salt
It is generally not harmful to mix salts in a water softener, but there are types of softeners that are designed for specific water softening products. When using alternative products, these softeners will not function well.
Mixing evaporated salt with rock salt is not recommended, as this could clog the softening reservoir. It is recommended that you allow your unit to go empty of one type of salt before adding another to avoid the occurrence of any problems.
