How a water softener works How a Water Softener Works
Water Softener Service - How It Works
Water softeners are designed to remove the minerals, calcium and magnesium, that cause scale and scum from hard water. They are intended to treat the whole house supply, so they are installed close to the point where the water supply enters the premises.
Softeners have been used since the early 1900’s to prevent scale in boilers, so the technology is well understood and their performance is predictable and reliable.
They involve a process called ion exchange which uses an ion exchange resin. The resin comprises tiny polymeric beads which are specially formulated so that they can be charged with certain ions. Calcium and magnesium, the causes of scale and scum from hard water, are referred to as ions, and as water passes through the resin the calcium and magnesium ions swap places with the sodium ions on the resin. Sodium salts, unlike calcium and magnesium, are highly soluble so sodium does not cause scale or scum. When all the sodium ions have been exchanged for calcium or magnesium, the resin must be regenerated by recharging it with sodium ions. This is done by flushing the resin with salt solution (brine).
Softeners are supplied in different shapes and sizes. All have a tank to hold the resin through which the water is passed to soften it, all have a tank to store and dissolve the salt for the regenerating brine and all softeners regenerate automatically. There are various ways in which softeners determine when to regenerate - some are fitted with a timer and some regenerate after a pre-set volume of water has been treated.
Because they actually remove almost all of the calcium and magnesium, they are very effective in:
- preventing scale in the hot water system and around taps
- removing existing scale
- reducing boiler fuel cost and heating system maintenance costs
- preventing soap scum, which is evident around the bath and sink
- improving the texture of laundry by preventing detergent scum deposits within the fibres of clothes, bedding, etc.
- reducing soap and detergent costs.