Are you aware of the harmful effects that hard water can have on your skin?
Well, if you are, you have probably heard about the possibility of using a water softener. But what is a water softener?
Once you get an answer to that question, you are probably going to be asking: What is a water softener used for, and what is the best water softener?
Well, in this article, we will answer all of these questions, plus a few more. So, let’s jump in and get some answers!
What Is a Water Softener?
A water softener is a device that is designed to remove minerals from your water outlets in your home. An excess amount of minerals in your water supply produces what is called hard water.
Hard water has a number of adverse effects, including:
- Damaging your skin and hair
- Increasing soap scum and limescale
- Destroying home appliances like dishwashers, washing machines, water heaters, and kettles
How Does It Work?
So, what is a water softener system used for? Well, what it does is it uses a process called ion exchange to target calcium and magnesium, removing it from the water.
The system forces the water to pass through a chamber with resin beads. The magnesium and calcium in the water are positively charged. The resin beads are negatively charged.
When a negative ion interacts with a positive ion, they bind together. Thus, the magnesium and calcium are converted into a non-harmful chemical.
There are two main types of water softener systems. One uses a sodium ion, and the other one uses a potassium chloride system.
You can learn more about how a potassium chlorides system works here: https://filtersmart.com/blogs/article/potassium-chloride-water-softeners
At What Hardness Is a Water Softener Needed?
This is dependent on your personal preferences. For example, you may be worried about your hair and skin health.
But use can use a water softener test. The standard limit to be aware of is 7 grains of mineral per gallon. The other measure you can use is 120 milligrams per liter.
If you’ve decided to purchase one, you’re probably now asking the question: what is the cost of a water softener?
There is a pretty big range of possible water softener products, and so the cost range is large too. Including installation costs, you can expect to pay between $300 and $3,000. Choosing the right product will depend on your personal health, your budget, and the type of appliances you use.
Not Just an Investment in Your Health
You should now be able to answer the question: what is a water softener? But is it worth the investment?
The first thing you want to consider is whether you are happy with the impact hard water can have on your skin and hair. The other thing is that investing in a water softener also has a financial upside—it will keep your appliances going longer.
With that said, you should now be ready to make a good decision!
If you have found this information useful, check out some of our other great articles on home and health topics!
