How Do Saltless Water Softeners Work

For about the last ten years salt free water softeners have become the dream of many marketing companies.

How do saltless water softeners work.

The ion exchange process used by water softeners doesn t work without the sodium ions displacing the calcium and magnesium ions that create water hardness. The term water softener represents a technology called ion exchange. Water softeners are good at removing calcium and magnesium but they don t do anything to remove other minerals and gases that can cause problems in drinking water. A water softener by definition is a device that reduces hard water dissolved minerals such as calcium and magnesium.

And manganese causes black staining. It is this removal of magnesium and calcium that defines water softening. This really isn t the truth. The only major difference is that things are a bit more automated for electronic softeners.

A more accurate way to describe them would be descalers since they do reduce buildup in many but not all types of plumbing equipment. Water softeners have become more efficient and some use up to 75 percent less salt. A no salt water softener does not work as far as softening water goes. So here s the scoop.

Saltless systems do not remove hardness. Do salt free water softeners work. Cool but do electronic water softeners actually work. Salt based water softeners use an electronic metered valve mounted atop a fiberglass resin tank that meter water by the gallon and then run a cleaning cycle when the ion resin.

Problems a water softener won t fix. For example ferrous iron is a common mineral and it creates nasty rust stains in sinks tubs and toilets. Ion exchange removes hard water ions in an exchange for sodium ions. Water softening involves an ion exchange process which removes both magnesium mg2 and calcium ca2 from water.

With a water softener you also don t need to use as much soap for dishes laundry or bathing as you do if you have hard water. After all the ion exchange process still occurs in an electronic softener. So there s the big question you ve been pondering. A saltless water softener uses potassium in place of sodium.

A salt free water softener does not exist. A more accurate description of units commonly marketed as salt free water softeners would be a salt free water conditioner or scale inhibitor. How do water softeners work. In many cases we are led to believe both work the same and the only difference is that one doesn t use salt.

Well you ll be happy to know that the answer is a big yes. Learn how real water softeners work.