Understanding a Water Softening System
Water softeners are used to combat the problem of hard water.
Water softeners eliminate problems caused by hard water, which can lead to unsightly buildups, clogged fixtures, and premature failure of appliances such as water heaters and washing machines. Many homeowners fail to understand how a water softener works, creating the assumption that these valuable machines aren't as great as they seem.
The Problem
Water softeners are used to combat the problem of hard water. In other words, water that contains elevated levels of magnesium and calcium. Although these minerals are nontoxic, they can become problematic in several ways. Over time, they lead to the development of the sediment known as scale. Not only will scale lead to an ugly whitish buildup on the outside of plumbing fixtures, but it will also accumulate inside the water heater and other appliances, eventually leading to replacement or expensive repairs.
Water Softener
A water softener is the best way to prevent hard water. This handy machine is attached to a home's main water supply line and effectively eliminates scale for appliances and fixtures throughout the home. It does this through a process known as ion exchange. This involves the replacement of problematic magnesium and calcium with relatively harmless sodium. This process takes place inside the water softener's mineral tank.
Ion Exchange
Inside most mineral tanks are a multitude of polystyrene beads. In other systems, the softening may occur through resin or zeolite elements. All three substances have one thing in common: they carry a negative electrical charge. Calcium and magnesium, on the other hand, have a positive charge. This causes the hard minerals to bond tightly with the beads, thus leaving the water free of its scale-causing substances.
Recharging The Beads
The magnesium and calcium ions must now be removed from the beads inside the mineral tank to continue providing an effective means of softening water. This is accomplished using the sodium solution contained in a separate tank: the brine tank. Here, the brine- a concentrated sodium salt solution- is flushed into the mineral tank. The large concentration of sodium ions, which also bear a positive charge, push the calcium and magnesium off the beads. Those unwanted minerals are then flushed away, and more hard water is allowed to enter the mineral tank.
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