Hard water is found in more than 85 percent of the
country, plaguing many daily hygeine and cleaning routines with soap
curd and scale buildup.
Water hardness is caused by the presence of the dissolved minerals
calcium and magnesium, often measured in grains per gallon of water (gpg).
When you have high levels of calcium and magnesium in your water,
basic household tasks become difficult -- more scrubbing power is
required, and greater amounts of detergents are needed to clean
fixtures, clothing, and appliances.
How to Recognize Hard Water
The following are some of the tell-tale signs of hard water:
Soap scum on bathtubs, shower tiles, and basins, reulting in
additional scrubbing ans scouring of fixtures; film left on the body
that can leave your skin dry and your hair limp and dull.
Reduced sudsing and cleaning capabilities of soaps and detergents.
Clothes appear dingy and yellowed, and soapy residue reduces the life of
fabric, requiring use of more detergent to clean and extra rinse cycles
to remove soap curd.
Clogged pipes or appliances, reducing water flow and increasing
amounts of repair problems due to excessive wear on moving parts.
Increased water heating costs as a result of scale buildup and
mineral deposits.
The Water Softening Process
The method used most often in homes to remove water hardness is ion
exchange water softening, in which positively charged hardness ions
(magnesium and calcium) are replaced with sodium or potassium ions. This
exchange of hardness ions for sodium or potassium ions takes place in
the resin bed of the treatment unit during the softening cycle.
Benefits of Soft Water to the Consumer
Extends the life of plumbing systems and water-using appliances
through the reduction of clogging from scale within the pipes.
Reduces soapy residue on clothes, film on tub and shower tiles,
and scratching on bathroom fixtures.
Heating efficiences on hot water tanks using softened water can
increase up to 29 percent.
Makes hair shiner and skin cleaner and heathier looking by
reducing soap builup.
Types of Water Softeners
Automatic :An automatic water softener is equipped
with a clock timer that automatically starts the regeneration process at
preset intervals. During the regeneration process, the hardness ions
collected in the ion exchange resin must be flushed out in order to
allow the continous exchange between soft and hard ions. The entire
softening process is controlled automatically by the clock timer.
Demand Initiated Regeneration (DIR) : Demand
initiated regeneration (DIR) is the most efficient type of automatic
water softener. Instead of regenerating at a preset interval, a DIR unit
regenerates only when soft water runs out. Dir units use sensors or
valves to determine when to regenerate. Because they adjust to the
amount of water actually used, DIR units consume up to fifty percent
less salt and water than do preset time clock automatic softeners.
Portable Exchange : A portable exchange unit is a type
of softener with a removable tank that is rented to a homeowner, and
contains ion exchange resin that is fully regenerated and ready for use.
When the resin material is exhausted (that is, when it is no longer
exchanging hard ions for soft ions), the tank is returned to a central
plant whwre it is regenerated and reprocessed to be used again.
