Water is a solvent, which means it can easily dissolve a variety of substances. This in turn means that natural water supplies frequently contain not just pure H2O, but also dissolved minerals such as calcium. When water has a high mineral content, it is said to be “hard,” and hard water can cause a variety of problems in your home. For example, the minerals in hard water can create blockages in your plumbing, and they can make it difficult for soap to lather, which can leave your laundry looking dingy. If you have hard water, you can neutralize these issues by using a water softener. Keep reading to get an overview of how water softeners work.
- Components – Most water softeners consist of two tanks—a tall narrow tank containing resin beads and a short, wide tank containing pellets of salt or potassium chloride. A hose connects the water supply line to the first tank, another hose connects the first tank to the second, and a third hose connects the narrow tank (the softener tank) to the drainpipe.
- Chemical Process – Here’s how the components of water softeners work together to remove minerals from the water. First, water from the main water line flows into the first tank with the resin beads, also called the water softener tank. These beads have a negative electrical charge, which attracts the mineral ions in the water, which have a positive charge. The positively-charged mineral particles stick to the negatively-charged resin beads like iron filings to a magnet. As the water flows through the tank, it loses more and more minerals, becoming soft. Eventually, the resin beads lose all their electrical charge, which is where the second tank comes in. Periodically, salty water from the brine tank will flow into the softener tank, which causes a chemical reaction that resets the resin’s negative charge.
If you are interested in adding a water softener to your home, give our team at Brevard Water Solutions Inc. a call today.