Understand Water Softening

Apr 1

Water is either hard or soft, depending on its mineral content. Hard water, or water with a high mineral concentration, can wreak havoc on appliances and pipes. Water softening is the process of lowering the concentration of minerals in water.

Please keep reading to learn more about water softening.

Understanding the damages of hard water

Hard water causes the buildup of salts of minerals that harden pipes, valves, and faucets of appliances. This buildup, called scaling, can narrow passages, reducing water flow and pressure. Clogging related to hard water can decrease the lifespan of certain appliances by up to 50%.

Scaling can also occur on boilerplates. The result is poor heat conductivity, which leads to elevated levels of fuel consumption and the deterioration of boilerplates due to overheating. Home water softening is a common solution to combat these damages.

Home water softening process

An ion exchange unit is one of the most common (and efficient) home water softeners. This appliance removes minerals such as calcium and magnesium from water. It contains resin beads that trap minerals and exchange them for sodium and potassium. Once the beads become full, the minerals are removed with a solution containing prominent levels of sodium or potassium.

The other minerals exit the system as a runoff stream, traveling down the drain and into the environment.

Benefits of home water softeners

Home water softeners have many benefits. They prevent mineral buildups in pipes and can expand the lifespan of some appliances by preventing hard water from traveling through their fixtures. Filmy residue left behind by soap can be avoided using a home water softener, making cleaning less hassle.

Water softening can also improve drinking water's taste, smell, and appearance.

Using home water softeners correctly

Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for home water softeners. Set the softness to accommodate the water's hardness. If the hardness is set too high, it will result in higher operation costs and more wastewater.

Soft water is not necessary for every appliance in the home. Most homeowners opt only to soften hot water. Common appliances chosen for water softening include sinks, showers, and even laundry hookups.

Corrosion due to water softening

Water softening does not come without its faults, however. One of the most common problems is corrosion. This occurs in homes with copper pipes. Since soft water lacks minerals, the water traveling through the pipes will pull copper and other minerals from them. This corrosion eventually causes perforations in the pipes, resulting in leaks.

Invest in regular maintenance

Routine maintenance and testing are required to ensure water softeners are functioning properly. A licensed plumber should perform these tasks. They have the expertise to ensure the water softening system works efficiently.

Contact the professionals if any plumbing malfunction, including a fault in home water softeners. Even the smallest issues can easily turn into plumbing emergencies.

Just in Case Mechanical offers residential and commercial plumbing, sewer, water softener, electrical, lighting, and HVAC services Lancaster County. Call us today at (717)696-1511.