Water Softener
In case you do not know yet, there is such a thing as hard water. Not “hard” as you think it is, but because hard water contains minerals that can harm your skin, hair, and even your water pipes. Speaking of pipes, you need a professional plumber to take care of your damaged water drains and pipes.
For starters, hard water contains high levels of magnesium and calcium that can damage your skin, hair, and your plumbing system. The higher the level of these minerals, the more buildup and film you will notice on your pipes, drains, and sinks.
Water “hardness” depends on the area where you live. Water that is sourced from wells or groundwater tends to be harder due to its natural calcium and magnesium content. On the other hand, water coming from lakes and streams is naturally “soft”.
Hard water may not also be suitable for drinking, which is why it should be treated first to become “soft”. This is where water softener comes in. In this article, we will learn what a water softener is and its many benefits of it for your bathroom, kitchen, and your health.
What is a water softener?
Not all water in every household is the same in terms of chemical composition. Some water contains high levels of minerals such as calcium and magnesium that make the water “hard”.
A water softener is an appliance or filtering agent specially made to remove calcium, magnesium, and other metals in your water. Water softeners come in different types such as reverse osmosis, salt-free, and ion exchange. Here are the most distinctive features of each type of water softener.
Reverse osmosis
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- A device that allows water to pass through a semi-permeable membrane that helps to remove all the impurities in the water
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- 98 percent effective at removing metals and minerals
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- Expensive and uses large amounts of water
Salt-free
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- A device that uses a mechanical filter to get rid of the calcium, but not magnesium
Ion exchange
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- The most common water softener type among the three and mostly used in households
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- It uses salt pellets that you put on a large tank full of hard water
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- It works by replacing the metal ions of magnesium and calcium with sodium ions, the latter of which does not cause detrimental effects caused by water with magnesium or calcium ions
Benefits of water softener
Some important reasons why you should use a water softener in your home are the following.
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- Softens water
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- Reduce magnesium and calcium levels in the water can improve one’s health
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- Removes toxins such as dissolved iron (makes the water dark and causes stains on the sink and other bathroom and kitchen fixtures
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- Balances other mineral content in the water (with help of sodium)
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- Makes general cleaning and laundry easier and more efficient
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- Makes water safe for drinking
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- Gets rid of the formation of scale and stain build-up and promotes a longer lifespan for your toilets, pipes, and drains
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- Lessens costs of fixture and pipe replacements and repairs
But for your pipe and drain repair needs, it is best to call a professional plumber in Franklin TN.