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What are Water Softeners
By: Kent Pinkerton
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Soap scum. Stiff clothing. Clogged pipes. No matter what you try, it's hard to
get your surfaces clean. Scale builds up. Dishes come out of the dishwasher
with spots on them. All of these problems occur because of hard water, a
frustrating but fixable situation.
The term, "hard water," refers to water with a high mineral
content. The most common minerals that cause water hardness are calcium and
magnesium.
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As water is absorbed into the ground, the minerals are pulled from the
earth and eventually end up in a household's water supply. Hard water can
clog household plumbing.
Water hardness, or how much of a mineral is present in water, is measured in
grains per gallon (GPG), parts per million (PPM), or milligrams per liter
(MG/L). Water up to 1 GPG is considered soft, water; from 1 to 3.5 GPG is
considered moderate, and water 3.5 to 7 GPG is hard water. Kits used to test
water hardness can be purchased at a pool supplier or from a water softener
dealer.
Many water softeners plug right into the household water supply.
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Ionic exchange water softeners consist of negatively charged plastic beads, a
brine tank, and a regenerating system with a timer or other monitoring device.
Sodium or potassium chloride is added to the brine tank when regeneration is
necessary. Home water softeners range in price from $400 to $1,200, and the
salt ranges from $5 to $7 per bag. Price depends on type, size, and type of
softening agent. Alternatively, magnetic water softeners consist of only 2
magnets attached to the outside or inside of water pipes. |
Water softeners work by replacing ions of the minerals that cause hardness
with "softer" ions. Water is filtered through charged plastic beads and the
magnesium or calcium ions are replaced with sodium or potassium ions. In the
case of magnetic water softeners, magnetic energy causes chemical changes in
the minerals.
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Using water softeners poses no health risks, except for those who are on
sodium-restricted diets. Keep bottled water on hand for cooking and
consumption, or use potassium chloride instead of sodium chloride to soften.
Potassium chloride is more expensive than sodium chloride. There are also no
health risks associated with choosing not to soften water.
About the Author:
Water Softener Info provides detailed information about magnetic and ionic
exchange water softeners, home water softener systems and kits, product
reviews and comparisons, water softener salt, and more.
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