| Water softening is probably the most popular of all | | | | sodium restricted diet is recommended. Although I |
| water treatment technologies. Although there is much | | | | would suggest that the softener still be installed if the |
| mis-conception about how a water softener works, | | | | water warrants the application, and a reverse |
| the end result of a proper application is always the | | | | osmosis unit be placed in the kitchen to remove the |
| same. Water softeners bring most families a much | | | | salt, and all other impurities, for cooking and drinking |
| higher quality of household water. Mineral deposits are | | | | water. Water softeners will often remove small |
| eliminated. Water spots on shower walls and | | | | amounts of iron from your water. But this will |
| glassware, gone! Laundry comes out cleaner and | | | | increase the salt used, and the salt left behind. Larger |
| softer. No more soap deposits left in the clothing | | | | amounts of iron, over 1mg/ltr will cause excessive |
| causing itching and rashes. The total overall quality of | | | | salt use, and eventually foul the bed of the softener. |
| the water improves, and truly does feel "softer". | | | | A water softener should not be used as the primary |
| When is a water softener needed? Just about any | | | | means of reducing iron in water. |
| time the water comes from a ground water source | | | | Another consideration in softening is your septic |
| such as a dug or drilled well. About the only time one | | | | system. Water softeners rinse large amounts of salt |
| can argue against the benefits of water softening is | | | | into your drain water. If you are on a septic system, |
| if the water is drawn from a surface supply such as | | | | as many rural systems are, you will damage the |
| a lake. Even rivers generally pick up mineral content | | | | cement holding tank and salt will harm vegetation in |
| as they flow over the ground and become "hard | | | | the area where the septic is located. Potassium |
| water". | | | | Chloride is a suitable replacement under these |
| Water hardness is measured in grains of hardness | | | | circumstances, or if you just want to be more |
| per gallon or liter. It can also be measured in PPM | | | | environmentally conscious in your water treatment |
| with 17.1 ppm per one grain of hardness. Water over | | | | application. Potassium is far less corrosive and does |
| 7 grains hard begins to benefit from the effects of | | | | not have as much negative impact on the |
| water softening. At 10 grains the effects of | | | | environment. Potassium is also often recommended |
| softening are readily noticeable. At 15 grains of | | | | as a sodium replacement for people on salt restricted |
| hardness rush out and buy a water softener, you will | | | | diets. (although my preference where health concerns |
| be pleased you did. | | | | are an issue, is the application of a reverse osmosis |
| David's believe-it-or-not says the most common | | | | after the softener). |
| complaint I have heard about the effects of soft | | | | Saltless Water Softeners? RUBBISH! There are no |
| water are: No 1-the dishes are very slippery when | | | | saltless water softeners which have been tested and |
| wet (true) and No 2- my hair has gone all pouffy! | | | | certified. But lots of them have been tested and |
| (true again-the mineral deposits are gone!) | | | | discarded as rubbish. The Water Quality Association is |
| How does a water softener work? Does a water | | | | an organization which is there to inform and protect |
| softener leave salt in my water? Let's get this | | | | the public in regards to the water treatment industry. |
| straight once and for all. A water softener works on | | | | To my knowledge they have tested many electronic, |
| a system called "ion exchange". For every grain of | | | | electric, or magnetic devices and found that none of |
| hardness (calcium/magnesium) your water softener | | | | them remove one grain of hardness from water. |
| takes out of the water-IT MUST REPLACE IT WITH | | | | Some of these devices will reduce scaling, the effect |
| AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF SALT. Let me repeat this. | | | | of mineral deposits sticking to surfaces, but none of |
| The softener exchanges the calcium with salt. The | | | | them remove anything from the water. Once again, I |
| calcium is actually a salt as well, so I should properly | | | | see this as dealerships and sales people who just |
| say that the calcium salts are replaced with sodium | | | | want to get the sale, so they give the customer |
| salts. If the softener works perfectly, the exchange | | | | what the customer wants. A magic wand. Well I can |
| would be exact but this is not possible. There is | | | | supply you with magic wands for $1.29 so don't pay |
| always more salt left in the water than the amount | | | | more than that for any magic wands. I am sure |
| of calcium it removed. The ratio of exchange used to | | | | these statements will ruffle some feathers, but until I |
| be terrible, and still is in some older model systems. | | | | see the WQA certifying a saltless water softener, I |
| But many newer technologies incorporate systems of | | | | will stick to my statements. |
| rinsing that reduce the left over salt in your water to | | | | If you install a water softener in your home, and |
| very acceptable standards. The exchange can be | | | | keep it for six months to get used to it, you will not |
| measured with a TDS meter which every salesman | | | | likely ever be without one. I have had mine for 14 |
| should carry, or he is not testing your water properly. | | | | years now. Yup, the same one. Make a wise |
| The increase in TDS from your feed water to your | | | | purchase and you will have a long lasting piece of |
| product water will identify how much excessive salt | | | | equipment. |
| is left behind. An efficient softener leaves less salt | | | | I have said many times, " a wise and educated |
| behind than in one gallon of water than is found in | | | | consumer makes wise choices". Your water, your |
| one piece of white bread. | | | | health, your responsibility. |
| A water softener should not be installed where a | | | | |