WaterPeek

  • Home
  • Water Softener
  • Water Filter
    • Whole House Water Filter
    • Faucet Water Filter
    • Countertop Water Filter
    • Under Sink Water Filter
    • Water Filter Pitcher
    • Insulated Water Bottle
    • Water Purifier
  • Water Dispenser
    • Water Flosser
    • Water Cooler
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Blog

[FAQs] Frequently Asked Questions for Water Softener

August 8, 2017 By Gary Rodriguez

Water Softeners have become one of the standard appliances used at home. Still, we came across many people with different queries related to the Softeners. So find the list of the Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions, and our Experts’ answers for the same.

Contents

  • Frequently Asked Questions for Water Softener
    • 1. What is a Hard Water?
    • 2. How does a Water Softener work?
    • 3. What are serious issues caused by hard water? Why should I have the concern about it?
    • 4. Will a Water Softener remove iron elements from water?
    • 5. How should I choose the right water softener unit, with the perfect size?
    • 6. How often should I add salt in the system?
    • 7. What is Mushing? And why we must avoid it?
    • 8. When is the need of updating the resin in the softener machine?
    • 9. What is the significance of the term “On-Demand” on the metered units here?
    • 10. Is the softened water safe for drinking purpose?

Frequently Asked Questions for Water Softener

Water Softener is a machine which is used for converting hard water into soft water. For this process, softener makes use of ion exchange method, where the hardness causing elements are replaced by Salt! This way you can get to use softened water, which is more compatible with soap and even helps with maintaining many home appliances.

1. What is a Hard Water?

What is a Hard WaterYou will find the presence of different minerals in the water. But if your water has got more than 1 GPG (grains per gallon) of some particular minerals, then your water may be hard.

The specific minerals which turn the water hard are calcium and magnesium. When the quantity of these minerals exceeds some level, your water will be converted into hard water.You could easily know if there is hardness in the water, and that is if you find white patches on the utensils, or find your clothes fading its colors easily. These are the quick signs of knowing if the water is hard.

2. How does a Water Softener work?

The process in a water softener can be simply termed as an ion-exchange process. The mineral present in the resin tank does the exchange of ions, and this mainly works in softening process. Here both the water particles and the resin bead elements have got opposite charges on it.

How does a Water Softener work

So, when the water is passed into the softener, the hard minerals present in the water gets attached to the resin beads, because of the opposite charges on it. Here the resin beads remain the unit only, with the softened water passed out of the softener system.

Now here the resins have got some limitation with the hardness holding capacity, and for the same reason, the regeneration process is required for the recharging of the resins.

3. What are serious issues caused by hard water? Why should I have the concern about it?

hard water issuesAfter you have confirmed that your water is hard, then it is important to get the water treated as quickly as possible. One of the visible effects of hardness is the formation of the scales on the internal portion of home appliances. It can also know by the fading colors of your clothes.

Also when you take a bath, you will find the soap particles not mixing with the water. The water showers will also get the soap decompositions formed in it, so make sure that you clean the machine on a regular basis. This type of water is harmful to your whole family.

4. Will a Water Softener remove iron elements from water?

Before getting into the working, the water which comes at your place has got many different forms of iron in it.

iron removal water softener

Not all types of iron could be removed after the processing, but yes some of them are removed after water is treated in a softener.

If the iron is water soluble in nature, and the quantity is less than 3 ppm in water.

Here the ferrous ion can be removed with the softener, but the ferric iron component can be eliminated with the presence of iron filter along with the softener system.

5. How should I choose the right water softener unit, with the perfect size?

choose the right water softenerFirst, you need to calculate the amount of water used at your place, which depends on the number of persons and their average usage. Now choosing from the softener units, they are mainly classified on the basis of different grain handling capacities.

So depending on the grain to be handled choose the system for the softening purpose. Also, another point is to take a note of the flow rate of the water at your place. Then choose the Softener system accordingly.

6. How often should I add salt in the system?

how often salt added softenerThe answer is that it depends on a number of grains to be handled by the unit. This determines the time taken for the regeneration of the softener and thus giving you the right time during which you have to add salt into the softener unit.

Therefore the amount of salt added and the regeneration process, both of them are directly proportional.

Now for the brine tank, if you find the salt settled with water just above it, then it is the right time for adding salt into the unit.

7. What is Mushing? And why we must avoid it?

If you are using salt pellets or the loosely compact salt elements, then there are chances that of formation of crystals of salt (similar to the table salt). With the passage of time, these salts will merge to form a salt bridge on the interiors of the brine tank.

mushing issue water softener

This whole process is termed as mushing, and it will immensely affect the brine processing. This process is one of the key steps, which if interrupted will affect the complete softening process as well.

8. When is the need of updating the resin in the softener machine?

If you are taking the right kind of care and maintenance of the unit, then you actually won’t require the need of performing the resin replacement for a long usage time. Here we can’t provide you the estimated lifetime of the resin since it depends on a lot of factors.

resin update softener

So depending on your style of usage, the resin should be updated accordingly.

9. What is the significance of the term “On-Demand” on the metered units here?

The On-Demand metered units can be found on the modern softener systems, and they provide efficiency. This works in such a way that the unit performs regeneration only on demand by the user. While most of the softeners carry out this process automatically.

on demand regeneration softener

The On-Demand is more user-friendly, and also efficient with the required amount of regeneration performed in it.

10. Is the softened water safe for drinking purpose?

softened water for drinkingOne point to be cleared here is that water softener is not a purifier, so softened water is not entirely safe to drink.

Here only the calcium and magnesium elements (the hardness causing) are removed. Rest contents are retained back in the water.

Another thing is that softened water has got a high level of sodium in it. So people are on a low-sodium diet should avoid consuming this water.

So, these are some of the common FAQs asked by the people, and we hope that you got your question answered here. Even if we left out on any query, then you can simply post your doubts in the comment space provided below. Our WaterPeek team will get back to you asap!

Filed Under: Water Softener, WaterPeek Blog

Recent Posts

  • Best Water Filter Pitcher Reviews – Top Picks for 2020
  • Best Water Dispenser Reviews of 2020 – Our Top Picks
  • Best Reverse Osmosis System Reviews | RO Filters of 2020
  • Best Insulated Water Bottle Reviews – Experts’ Recommendation 2020
  • Best Faucet Water Filter Reviews – Top 10 Picks of 2020
  • iSpring RCC7 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis System Review
  • Best Countertop Water Filter Reviews – Top Picks for 2020
  • Home Master TMAFC-ERP Undersink Reverse Osmosis System
  • Hahn Reverse Osmosis System Review | 3-Stage
  • Lake Industries Water Filter Pitcher Review | Instantly Filtered

Categories

  • Faucet Water Filter
  • Featured Posts
  • Insulated Water Bottle
  • Reverse Osmosis
  • Water Cooler
  • Water Dispenser
  • Water Filter
  • Water Filter Pitcher
  • Water Flosser
  • Water Purifier
  • Water Softener
  • WaterPeek Blog
  • WaterPeek Reviews

About us

Waterpeek – Sneaked a Peek at Water Appliances & Equipments

We pick all the top rated products related to water.

We reviewed and top rated best water appliances and equipment of 2020. Our experts from various water based field tested and compiled their feedbacks here.

Connect

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Nancy Layfield
    • Joseph Harper
  • Advertisement
  • Write for Us
  • Contact Us
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

  • Best Water Filter Pitcher Reviews – Top Picks for 2020
  • Best Water Dispenser Reviews of 2020 – Our Top Picks
  • Best Reverse Osmosis System Reviews | RO Filters of 2020
  • Best Insulated Water Bottle Reviews – Experts’ Recommendation 2020
  • Best Faucet Water Filter Reviews – Top 10 Picks of 2020

Affiliate Disclosure

WaterPeek is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

Copyright © 2023 · WaterPeek