Advantages of Water Softeners

B efore you jump to water softeners, you need to understand the basics of water softening, its advantages, and disadvantages. Water softening is the process of removing hardness in water using certified methods. While water hardness does not have any notable health effect, it does have many disadvantages. For instance, hard water leads to formation of soap and detergent scum during use, and formation of unsightly rings of scum in bathtubs. In addition to formation of scum, hard water leads to use of excessive soap and detergent, and may lead to faster wearing of fabrics in garments after reacting with the minerals and frequent rubbing. Besides, it may lead to formation of bad taste if used in cooking and harms most industrial processes. While softening is not a basic requirement in water treatment, it does offer the following advantages. To begin with, it addresses the problems that hard water cause, such as excessive use of soap, and formation of scum. Besides, based on the type of softening method you use, it helps accomplish other water treatment processes. For instance, it helps remove dissolved manganese minerals and removes odor and taste associated with hard water. High pH associated with lime softening is also important for disinfection and removal of radioactivity. Three basic types of softeners exist in the market. Time regenerated water softeners: they use a time clock to regenerate. While they are a little cheaper, they use a lot of salt compared to the other types of softeners. Meter regenerated softeners: they regenerate based on the amount of water used. Initial set up shows the system’s controller how much grains are available in your softener, the degree of hardness of the water, and the number of users in the house. The main advantage of these water softeners is their ability to adjust and regenerate eventually as required. This aspect makes them the most popular of all the softeners in the market. Manually regenerated softeners: the softeners do not have meters or timers. Instead, they operate on a simple level that allows you to reset them when you want to. They are suitable if you do not have a drain to put the softener. If this is your option, it is advisable to ask your supplier the right capacity to suit your needs based on the number of users in your house.