HOW DOES A WATER SOFTNER FILTRATION SYSTEM WORK?

Believe it or not, Water Softeners are a lot like magnets. In a traditional bar magnet, one end is “positive” and the other is “negative.” So, let’s say you have two bar magnets and try to make both positive ends connect. What happens? They repel each other. No matter how hard you try, it’s impossible to get them to connect. But, what happens when you try connecting the positive end of one with the negative end of the other? They immediately connect, and SNAP!

​

The fact that positive and negative things attract is the basic idea of how Water Softeners work. Calcium and magnesium, the two key culprits of hard water, are both positively charged molecules. And, as the hard water pumps through the softening system, it passes through a filter filled with negatively charged resin beads. Just like with the magnets, as the hard water moves through the resin beads—opposites attract. SNAP!

​

And, this idea also applies when the system regenerates (aka, cleans) itself. During regeneration, water and salt (positively charged) flush through the resin beads. Thinking back to the magnet example, the positive charges in the salt, calcium, and magnesium all repel each other. The calcium and magnesium detach from the resin beads and drain out along with all the salty water.

​

How Do You Know If You Need A Water Softener?
Look around your home for some of the most common hard water signs:

Mineral-like crust built up around your faucets or on your shower head
Soap scum builds up in your sinks or on your shower walls
Stiff clothing after a load of laundry
Irritated or dry skin and dull hair after showering