Advantages of an ion exchange water softener

There are so many different ways to soften hard water that it can be difficult to know which method is best for you. The cost of the water softener ($400 to $1,200) is an important factor, as is the type of installation, the size of the water softener and the amount of water it can soften before servicing.

Household water can be tested using a pool operator or water softener water testing kit. Water hardness is measured in grains per gallon (GPG), parts per million (PPM), or milligrams per liter (MG/L). Water with a concentration of 3.5-7 GPG is considered hard water.

An ion-exchange water softener consists of a brine tank, a filter unit, a valve to regulate the water flow, and a meter or timer to indicate when the filter needs to be charged. The recharging cycle can be set to occur at a specific time depending on the water demand of the household, or it can be done manually. There is also a semi-automatic system that alerts the user when the softener needs refilling.

Ion-exchange water softeners work by exchanging calcium and magnesium ions, the hardness generators, for sodium and potassium ions. This happens when water is filtered through negatively charged plastic beads immersed in salt water. The magnesium and calcium ions are drawn into the negatively charged beads, which are then rinsed with salt water, which expels the calcium and magnesium ions and replaces them with sodium ions. Finally, the water containing solid ions is removed.

The use of an ion exchange water softener does not pose any health risk for most people. However, people on a low-sodium diet need to stock bottled water, raw plants and taps, and filtered water for cooking and drinking, or use potassium chloride instead of sodium chloride to soften water. It should be noted that potassium chloride is more expensive than sodium chloride.

Water Softener provides detailed information on magnetic and ion exchange water softeners, home water softening systems and kits, product reviews and comparisons, and water softener salts. For more information, please visit our water softeners and our sister site Dishwasher Web.

Source: waterlogic.pk