All About Water Softeners: Meaning and How They Work
PUBLISHED ON: 06-Mar-2024
You might have encountered persistent soap scum, observed the accumulation of a chalky residue on faucets, or grappled with dry, irritated skin following a shower. These signs suggest that your household is experiencing hard water.
But fret not, it can be cured with the help of a water softener, a machine designed to turn hard water into soft water. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into various aspects of water softeners, providing a thorough understanding of their working, functionality, and benefits.
Understanding Water Hardness
Water hardness refers to the amount of minerals like calcium and magnesium in your water. As water travels through soil and rock, it picks up these minerals, which can lead to issues like hair fall, rough skin, stained bathroom fittings, and fading clothes.
Hardness levels are measured in mg/L:
- <60 mg/L – Soft
- 61–120 mg/L – Moderately hard
- 121–180 mg/L – Hard
- >180 mg/L – Very hard
Understanding these levels helps you decide how to remove water hardness, whether through a water softener or other treatment solutions.
What is a Water Softener?
A water softener works as a unique device for reducing the hardness of water and making it soft by removing or neutralising minerals like calcium and magnesium by the method of ion exchange.
How Water Softeners Work?
Water softeners operate on a simple yet effective principle: Ion exchange, where the calcium and magnesium ions are replaced with sodium ions.
Ion exchange is generally performed with the help of resin beads. These beads draw in the positively charged calcium and magnesium ions found in hard water. As the water starts to flow through the water softener tank, resin beads attract the calcium and magnesium ions and replace them with sodium ions, flushing out softened water. Periodically, the water softener goes through a regeneration cycle, during which it flushes out the accumulated minerals and replenishes the resin beads with fresh sodium ions with the help of a salt solution.
Signs That You Need a Water Softener for Your Home
If you are wondering whether you need a water softener system at home, look out for these signs of hard water:
- Hair fall & dullness – Hard water can damage your scalp and hair, causing dryness and breakage. To deal with this, a hard water softener for hair can help.
- Rough, itchy skin – Minerals in hard water strip natural oils, making your skin dry and irritated.
- Stained bathroom fittings – White spots and scale build-up on taps and tiles are clear indicators.
- Faded clothes – Washing in hard water can cause clothes to lose colour faster.
- Appliance corrosion – Hard water reduces the efficiency and lifespan of dishwashers, heaters, and washing machines.
If these issues sound familiar, it may be time to install a water softener at your home.
Benefits of Using a Water Softener
- Water softener removes hardness-causing minerals and provides you with softened water that has many benefits, like allowing your skin and hair to retain natural oils, promoting softer and healthier results.
- Water softeners protect appliances from the damaging effects of scale buildup, resulting in longer lifespans and increased efficiency.
- Bathroom fittings, ceramics, and tiles remain free from unsightly spots and residues contributing to a cleaner and more polished appearance.
How To Choose the Right Water Softener
Selecting the right water softener for your home is essential for protecting your health, extending the life of your appliances, and maintaining the beauty of your bathroom fittings. The ideal choice depends largely on the hardness level of the water in your area, as well as your daily water usage and space availability.
Here are key features to consider when choosing a hard water softener for tank or household use:
Smart Regeneration with Intelligent Features
Look for a water softener system with smart, automated regeneration. For instance, the Aquaguard Select AWS 2500 DX Water Softener is designed with intelligent features that remember your water usage patterns and adjust its function accordingly.
• Automated Regeneration: Once configured, it automatically initiates regeneration using water softener salt, so you don’t have to monitor it constantly.
• Holiday Mode: When you're away, it automatically switches to standby, saving resources and extending the life of the device.
This makes it a great low-maintenance solution for small to mid-sized households.
Compact and Space-Saving Design
In homes where space is limited, compactness is key. A good water softener should integrate seamlessly into your plumbing system without taking up much space. Models like those by the Aquaguard Select range are designed for ease of installation and minimal footprint, perfect for apartment bathrooms or utility corners.
Multiple Regeneration Modes
Regeneration is the process where the softener flushes out hardness-causing minerals like calcium and magnesium from the resin tank, replacing them with sodium ions using water softener salt. This restores the system’s ability to soften water.
The Aquaguard Select AWS C-3500 DX Water Softener goes a step further by offering multiple regeneration modes. This level of customisation helps optimise salt and water usage, reducing operating costs and maintenance.
Conclusion
Before buying, get your water tested to determine its hardness level. Then choose a system, like a hard water softener for a tank or an inline home solution, that matches your needs. Opting for smart models with automated regeneration and salt-efficient cycles ensures you get consistent soft water with minimal effort.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a Water Softener do?
Water softeners remove minerals like calcium and magnesium that create water hardness, one of the most common water-related problems faced by many people. Hard water leads to intense hair fall, rough skin, stains on ceramics, corrosion on appliances, and stains on ceramics and luxurious bathroom fittings.
Is Water Softener good for health?
Yes, water softeners treat water hardness, delivering soft water that is good for your overall health and well-being. Moreover, water softeners enhance the longevity of home appliances like water heaters and washing machines.
Does a Water Softener reduce TDS?
No, water softeners do not reduce Total Dissolved Solids (TDS). But water purifiers with advanced RO and UV filtration can remove TDS from your water. Aquaguard has a wide range of water purifiers that can treat water with a TDS of up to 2000 mg/l.
