Everything you wanted to know about water softeners, but were afraid to ask

What is the difference between a timed & metered softener?

Time Clock

The simplest unit operates on a timed basis. Depending upon the hardness of the water supply, the capacity of the softener and the number of people in the residence, the number of days that the unit will operate is calculated. The softener is set when it is installed, to regenerate at, say, 2.00 a.m. at this calculated frequency. To ensure that soft water is always available, the interval between regenerations will be underestimated rather than overestimated. The timer controlled softener will regenerate at the pre-set number of days regardless of the volume of water used. If water usage is low, because, for instance, one or more of the residents is away, there will be significant residual capacity at the time of regeneration, which is arguably wasteful of salt and regeneration water. Similarly, if there is an increase in usage of water, the capacity could be exceeded at the pre-set number of days and the water would go hard towards the end of the cycle. It is also advisable that the unit is switched off if no water is to be used for a period of time e.g. holidays. A timer is the simplest form of control and is generally the most inexpensive.

Metered

A metered softener will regenerate when a pre-set volume of water has been used (softened), regardless of the number of days this takes. This is to avoid under – or over – regenerating the softener when demand varies. Some control systems use a microprocessor to monitor daily water usage and predict daily variations – such as washday – and ensure that regeneration takes place on the optimum night, this means that softened water is always available and also saves on salt and water used during regeneration.

What is Hard Water?

When water is referred to as 'hard' this simply means that it contains more minerals than ordinary water. These are especially the minerals calcium and magnesium. The degree of hardness of the water increases when more calcium and magnesium dissolves. Magnesium and calcium are positively charged ions. Because of their presence, other positively charged ions will dissolve less easily in hard water than in water that does not contain calcium and magnesium. This is the cause of the fact that soap doesn't really dissolve in hard water.

What is Water Softening?

Water softening is a technique that serves the removal of the ions that cause the water to be hard, in most cases calcium and magnesium ions. Iron ions may also be removed during softening. The best way to soften water is to use a water softener unit and connect it directly to the water supply.

What Does a Water Softener Do?

Water softeners are specific ion exchangers that are designed to remove positively charged ions. Softeners mainly remove calcium and magnesium ions. Calcium and magnesium are often referred to as 'hardness minerals'. A water softener collects hardness minerals within its conditioning tank and from time to time flushes them away to drain. Ion exchangers are often used for water softening. When an ion exchanger is applied for water softening, it will replace the calcium and magnesium ions in the water with other ions, for instance sodium. The softener works by passing the hard water through resin beads which have soft sodium/potassium ions attached to them. While the water is in contact with the resin beads an ion exchange takes place with the hard mineral ions (typically calcium and/or magnesium) trading places with the soft sodium/potassium ions. After a period of use the sodium ions are depleted being replaced by calcium and magnesium. The resin then needs to be regenerated with the sodium ions so the resin will again be able to exchange the hard for the soft.

How Long Does a Water Softener Last?

A good water softener will last many years. Softeners that were supplied in the 1980s may still work, and many need little maintenance, besides filling them with salt occasionally.

How Often Do I Add Salt To My Softener?

Salt is usually added to the reservoir during regeneration of the softener. The more often a softener is regenerated, the more often salt needs to be added. Usually water softeners are checked once a month. To guarantee a satisfactory production of soft water, the salt level should be kept at least half-full at all times.

Is Softened Water Safe to Drink?

Softened water still contains all the natural minerals that we need. It is only deprived off its calcium and magnesium contents, and some sodium is added during the softening process. That is why in most cases, softened water is perfectly safe to drink. It is advisable that softened water contains only up to 300mg/L of sodium. In areas with very high hardness the softened water must not be used for the preparation of baby-milk, due to the high sodium content after the softening process has been carried out.

How does the added Sodium compare to other foods?

Based on typical South East waters, the Sodium content of a glass of water is around 25 mg. This can be compared with the following:

1 glass of Milk                                              122 mg                 1 slice of white bread                                     138 mg
1 tablespoon of Tomato sauce                   200 mg                1 8oz Yoghurt                                                  250 mg         
1 200g serving of Canned Carrots            400 mg                1 frankfurter                                                    490 mg
1 serving of Tinned Spaghetti                    860 mg                1 cup of Tomato soup                                     1,034 mg

Should I have a drinking water tap available?

Our recommendations will always be that a separate drinking water outlet is available. This provides flexibility of supply and gives you the choice of drinking either hard or soft water. When you have a water softener installed, we can provide unsoftened drinking water either by leaving the cold tap at the kitchen sink or by providing a separate hard water drinking faucet.

Is softened water safe to drink?

Water softeners have been in popular use domestically since 1916. Prior to 1947 part of the sales promotion was the benefit of drinking the softened water. It made better tea and coffee etc. and also helped the renal function in preventing kidney stones. IN ALL THAT TIME THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A REPORTED INCIDENT OF ANY ILL EFFECTS RESULTING FROM THE DRINKING OF SOFTENED WATER.

Should softened water be used for mixing babies feeds?

No. There is considerable evidence to suggest that the mixing of baby feeds with softened water increases the sodium content beyond that with which some babies can cope. Primarily, during the first six weeks of birth some babies kidneys are not fully formed and the baby feed is therefore structured to contain the correct amount of sodium. The additional sodium in softened water upsets this balance and some babies have been known to suffer from dehydration. It is therefore prudent to use either hard water, or low sodium bottled water.

What about low sodium diets?

If you are on a controlled low sodium diet below 500 milligrams per day total intake of sodium, you should not drink softened water, unless your doctor advises you to.

What do Doctors recommend?

The Medical practice is of differing opinions. Some doctors will recommend that hard water is drunk while others will advocate the drinking of softened water particularly to those suffering from kidney stones. Research is on-going regarding the beneficial effects of soft water for arthritis sufferers.

What is the difference between hard and soft water?

During the softening process, the Calcium & Magnesium within the supply waters is removed and replaced with Sodium. In the majority of the South East, the total Calcium & Magnesium level is around 300mg/l and as a result of the exchange process, 150mg/l of Sodium is added through the softening process.

Does soft water taste salty?

Can the Salt From My Water Softener Enter My Water System?

Salt does not have the opportunity to enter drinking water through softening installations.
The only purpose of salt in a water softener is to regenerate the resin beads that take the hardness out of water.

How Much Sodium Do I Absorb From Drinking Softened Water?

The sodium uptake through softened water depends on the hardness of the water. Averagely, less than 3% sodium uptake comes from drinking softened water. Estimates say that a person consumes about two to three teaspoons of salt a day, from various sources. Assuming a daily intake of five grams of sodium through food and the consumption of three quarts of water, the contribution of sodium in the water from the home water softening process is minimal compared to the total daily intake of many sodium-rich foods.

Brine Discharge Into A Septic Tank

The Water Quality Association has performed studies on this subject. These studies have indicated that a properly placed septic tank that works adequately cannot be damaged by brine that is discharged from a water softener. And softened water can sometimes even help reduce the amount of detergents discharged into a septic tank.

Can a Water Softener Be Used With Lead Pipes?

Lead pipe systems have to be replaced before softened water can flow through them. Although lead pipe systems in hard water areas may not cause a problem, it is advisable to replace them anyway. When naturally or artificially softened water ends up in these lead pipe systems, it may cause the pickup of lead.

Can I Take The Softener With Me When I Move?

With modern water softeners, it is very possible to take them along during moving. Installation techniques involve quick fitting connections, similar to those used for laundry machines. All that has to be done is closing off the inlet and outlet valves of the softener and open up the bypass valve, allowing hard water to flow to the storage tank and household taps. After that the softener can be disconnected, moved to its new location and placed there.

Can Softener Waste Water Be Discharged Directly To The Garden?

As brine alters the osmotic pressure that plants rely upon to regulate water needs, direct discharge of either sodium or potassium chloride brine should be avoided.

Will Softened Water Help Skin Complaints?

There are cases to be noted in which people with dry skin conditions have benefited from water softening, because soft water is kinder to the hair and skin.