How A Water Softener Works

Something that we are frequently asked about is how a water softener works. Don’t be baffled by science and instead read our easy guide below.

What is the process called?

Water softeners use a process called ‘ion exchange’ to remove the calcium and magnesium minerals from your water. The hard water enters your home, passing through tanks filled with resin beads and exits the water softener as soft water.

How does ion exchange work?

Ions are atoms or molecules that have a positive or negative electrical charge. Ion exchange resins are very small porous round plastic beads which contain a fixed negative ion that is permanently attached. Each negatively charged exchange site can hold a positively charged ion. In this case, sodium (which has a positive charge) is attached to the exchange site (negative and positive charges attract like a magnet). When hard water is passed through the resin bead, the calcium and magnesium ions have a stronger positive charge than the sodium does. As a result, the calcium and magnesium have a stronger attraction to the negatively charged resin bead than sodium does. The sodium ion is then ‘kicked off’ the resin bead as the calcium and  magnesium take its place (and remains attached to the bead). As a result, the less desirable calcium and magnesium ions are exchanged for more desirable sodium ions. Eventually, the resin beads become saturated with hardness such as calcium and magnesium and there are no more exchange sites. The water is now without these minerals and is considered to be ‘softened’.

What happens next?

Water softeners need to clean or regenerate the resin beads by using a salt to clean away the calcium and magnesium mineral deposits they’ve collected. After regeneration, the excess brine and hardness causing ions are rinsed to drain and the resin beads are ready for use again. Depending on the type of softener that you have, the salt can come in the form of tablets or blocks. You just need to make sure that your water softener is topped up with salt at all times to continue working properly.

Now you know how a water softener works, why not experience the benefits of softened water for yourself? Contact us now for your free, no obligation quotation.

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