People often confuse water softener systems with water filtration systems. These are two different types of water treatment systems designed to solve specific problems in your water supply.
Though a whole house water filtration system may contain a water softener, such as for a reverse osmosis system, water softeners serve a different purpose than water filters.
This post will help you understand what water softeners are and what they do to your house water to keep your household healthy and safe.
What are Water Softener Systems?
If you see soap suds or mineral deposits around your pipes and plumbing fixtures, you may have a high amount of hard water minerals in your water supply. Hard water has substantial amounts of calcium and magnesium.
In regions with warm climates, such as the Phoenix East Valley area, especially in Gilbert, expect to have hard water because of the high mineral content of the soil.
Hard water harms your home in many ways. Aside from leaving around deposits that can clog your plumbing and affect water flow rate, hard water minerals also stain tiles, dishes, sinks, and swimming pools.
What Are Signs That You Have Hard Water?
If you have hard water in your water supply, expect the following problems in your home:
- Stiff laundry and discoloration for white clothing after wash
- Hair and skin feeling dry after showering
- Scale buildup around your fixtures, pools, bath tiles, faucet, and your swimming pool’s liner
How Do Water Softeners Work?
There are several water softener options available for you. A salt-based water softener is the most effective water softener for removing high volumes of hard water minerals, especially if you are using a private well.
Salt-based water softener comes with a water softener tank containing the water softener resin beads and a brine tank containing salt to regenerate the system. The working principle behind a salt-based water softener system is ion exchange.
In this process, the ions in the hard water minerals are attracted to the water softener resin beads inside the water softener tank and replaced with potassium and salt. Salt-based water softeners are also ideal for high-volume and high-water-pressure areas and can be suitable to soften water in regions with lower mineral content.
What are the Benefits of Having a Water Softener System?
Once you install the best water softener system that suits your home, you will enjoy the following benefits:
- Soft water tastes better
- Your hair and skin will feel softer
- Your clothes will be softer and free from discoloration
- Your plumbing fixtures will be free from scale buildup
- Spot-free silverware, glasses, and dishes
- Longer life for water-using appliances
- Assurance of having sediment-free and safe water in your home
What is a Water Filtration System?
Your water supply may contain harmful contaminants, such as trace amounts of insecticides and heavy metals like lead. Though the contaminants found in the tap are within regulated levels, the number of harmful contaminants may harm children, older people, or people suffering from a disease.
Moreover, contaminated water gives an unpleasant taste and smell. Contaminants will always be present whether your home is in a city or a rural area.
Signs That You Need a Water Filtration System
The presence of contaminants in your water will manifest itself in several ways:
- Your water has an unpleasant odor
- Your drinking water has a bitter or foul aftertaste
- Your water has calcium or mineral deposits
How Does a Water Filtration System Work?
The working principle of various water filtration systems differ. A simple water filter allows clean water through while blocking larger contaminants. However, to ensure your water supply is free from contaminants, you may need to install a whole-house water filter.
A whole house water filter system may contain a two-step process where a filtration system blocks sediment, dirt, and other particles. The second step contains a carbon filter that captures harmful materials, such as lead, arsenic, chlorine, and other impurities.
To eliminate bacteria, a whole-house filter may have other features, such as a UV filter. A homeowner may install house water filters on taps to ensure cleaner water.
Benefits of Installing a Water Filtration System
Because of the absence of chemicals, bacteria, and lower levels of total dissolved solids, you will notice a considerable improvement in water quality. These will result in the following:
- Odorless water
- Better tasting water without the chlorine taste
- Safer water for bathing and drinking
For Gilbert Residents, What Water Treatment System Do You Need?
To approach bottled water quality from your tap, you need to have soft filtered water. The best solution is to combine a water softener system with a water filtration system. For instance, a reverse osmosis system has both a water softener function and a water filter function.
Combining a salt-based water softener system with a water filtration system also works, especially if the water usage and water hardness levels are high. As plumbing professionals serving Gilbert and the East Valley area, we know the need to remove minerals from the water supply in homes.
The need to filter water is also necessary because of the chemicals in our water supply. That is why we are the best-qualified professionals to help you determine which water treatment system will satisfy your specific need.
To learn more about which water treatment system works best for your home, call us at (480) 649-4400. You can also fill out the contact form to get a free quote.
