Here's a step by step guide about how water softeners work, but before we discuss that, let's talk about what hard water is and what it does to your household. Hard water causes a number of problems like clogged up drains and shower heads, stiff clothing from the laundry, staining on bathroom tiles, and soap scum on dishes.
Hard water is caused by too much magnesium and calcium dissolved in your tap water. You can improve the condition of your water by installing a home water softener system for the whole house. Some benefits of having soft water is less soap scum and calcium deposits in your faucets, drains and shower heads; soft laundered clothing; and even better skin and hair for you.
WATER SOFTENER
Here are some information about how water softeners work:
1. Ion Exchange Process - The first step is called the ion exchange process which removes water hardness with sodium or potassium ions. When hard water passes through resin beads, the hard ions are absorbed from the water. The sodium or potassium ions are then released into your water. There is an exchange of ions that cause hardness and softness.
2. Service Cycle - The service cycle is the common system wherein water passes through a valve at the top of the tank then flows through the lower portion of the tank that contains the resin. As water passes through the resin, the elements that cause hardness are collected via the ion exchange process mentioned above. The softened water then passes through slots and a valve that pushes water through your water pipes that release water to your household.
3. Backwash Cycle - The backwash cycle is another procedure that's part of how water softeners work. The water flows through a valve, down to the riser tube and then goes through a collector. This system mixes the resin and gets rid of turbidity and contaminants while filtering water out to a drain during the service cycle.
4. Brine Draw Cycle - This process is the second step of the regeneration cycle. Brine or salt is collected into a valve with the educator and then pushed into the top of the tank. Brine flows through the resin exchange and the hard elements, the sodium part of the hard water is collected in the resin bed. This cycle goes on till the liquid in the brine tank has been processed into the softener tank.
5. Slow Rinse Cycle - This process involves a continuous flow of water through the educator at the top of the tank to the bottom while it passes through the resin. The brine and hard elements are rinsed out of the resin during this process. He water then flows into the lower collector and goes up to the riser through a valve that goes towards the drain.
6. Fast Rinse Cycle - during this cycle, water enters the top of the softener tank and flows through the resin in high-speed. This higher rate of water flow compacts the resin bed and gets rid of the last of the hardness and brine in your water.
7. Refill Cycle - The last step on how water softeners work is refilling the brine tank with water. For every gallon of water, 3 pounds of salt will be dissolved. The air-check ball floats as the water rises and fills the tank. The air-check ball determines the level based on time. The softening process goes on fast rinse at the same time as the refill cycle. After the tank is refilled, the softener goes back to the service cycle.
It isn't easy to understand how water softeners work and your water treatment expert can explain it better when there is a unit at hand. An expert in the field can also tell you how much water you need softened and how big a tank to get for your household. You should consult with an expert first before deciding to buy a particular water softener system.
How Water Softeners Work WATER SOFTENER
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