How To Choose the Right Water Softener

How Water Softeners Work

If your home has hard water, the best solution to the problem is a water softener system. A water softener is a filtration system that removes calcium and magnesium from water, most commonly using a process called ion exchange. Here’s how these systems work.

Step 1: Ion Exchange

Each system has a mineral tank with negatively charged resin beads that are used to attract positively charged minerals. When hard water flows through the tank, the beads attract and remove the minerals, “softening” the water.

Step 2: Regeneration Cycle

The resin beads stay negatively charged via a brine tank, which contains a concentrated salt solution. This solution is periodically flushed through the mineral tank (and down the drain) to clear hard particles from the beads.

Step 3: Replenishment

The frequency of the regeneration cycle depends on your water use; it can range from every few days to weekly. During regeneration (which takes approximately two hours to complete), water should not be used. The resin beads don’t require replacing, but the brine tank must be replenished periodically with water softener salt.

Types of Water Softener Systems

There are three main categories of water softeners, each with their own strengths and considerations. Here’s how they compare.

Signs that You Need a Water Softener

If your home has hard water, you’ll probably have clues. Once you have confirmed the presence of hard water, hire a professional or buy a home-sampling kit to measure your water’s hardness and determine whether you need a water softener system. The following are signs of hard water.