Most of us have heard the term ‘water softening’ at some point in our lives.  Especially if you live in an area that has higher levels of calcium and magnesium. Although an abundance of these are the most common suspects that make water hard, there are other minerals and metals (aluminum, barium, strontium, iron and zinc) that can cause trouble as well.  

Hard water forms when groundwater passes over geologic structures rich in limestone and dolomite, offering higher concentrations of these chemical compounds or carbonates. Under the right conditions, some of these positively and negatively charged atoms, known as ions, along with the carbonates, accumulate as they dissolve into the water.

Doesn’t sound like a big deal, does it? However, high levels can make your water hard to the point it can even be unbearable when it comes to taste, how it affects your skin, hair, the effectiveness of personal care products, cleansers and even the longevity of your appliances, which can be not only a hassle, but cost you both time and money.

Water Softening and Soap

Soaps, for example, are made of modified fats to dissolve oil and dirt. When washing with soft water, soaps work the way they’re supposed to, allowing you to use less to lather, and they usually do an amazing job making things clean.

However, when you’re dealing with hard water, these act as negatively charged ions or anions, and when they combine with the calcium and magnesium ions, they create a positively charged ion called a cation.  This causes them to precipitate out, leaving behind what we call soap ‘scum’. You may also experience a discoloration of your clothing because hard water can act the same way with your detergents when you do a load of laundry. 

The Scale Problem

If that weren’t bad enough, they can continue to combine with carbonates and create insoluble carbonates known as ‘scale’. Scale builds on surfaces like boilers, water heaters and in pipes. Encrusting pipes make them less efficient because the opening continues to narrow and doesn’t allow proper flow, while in water heaters, it prevents the ability of the heater to work correctly because it can no longer transfer heat as well. Having to heat an additional layer of the concentrated sediment takes much longer and can be costly.

Learning more about hard water can also help you better understand what possibilities there are to make a better quality of life for you, your family, pets and your home. Hard Water – What is it? | Negley’s Water (negleyswater.com)

You’re off to a great start educating yourself on what makes water hard, signs to look for and the potential harm it can cause, but we want to drill a little deeper, (no well drilling pun intended, even though our Negley’s well drilling division loves when we mention them) into how to combat your hard water woes and make soft water that will create a healthier environment for all. 

The Water Softening Process

A few things you may already know about the water softening process and what to expect:

• Softening removes minerals, metals, sediment and contaminants.
• Your skin and hair feel better when your water is soft.
• Soft water can help appliances last longer.
• Soft water can affect taste.
• You can use less in cleansers, skin and hair care products when your water is soft ,which saves you money.

That all sounds good, and maybe that’s enough for some, but we think someone like you may still want to know more.  We’ve got you covered.

Of course, because we’re in the business, we’d love to define water softening for you to help you better understand the process and why choosing a water softener company and system that’s the right fit for your home is key.

What is water softening, hard water softening methods, and how do water softener systems work?

There are several water softening methods

• Salt-Based System (Ion Exchange)
• Potassium-Based Systems (Ion Exchange)
• Magnetic Systems
• Electronic Systems
• Chelation Systems

Although there are water softening and water softener alternatives, the most popular process and the one we want to focus on is the salt-based ion exchange.  

ION Exchange and Water Softening

An ion exchange reaction is any of a class of chemical reactions between two substances that involves an exchange of one or more ionic components. Ions, mentioned earlier, are atoms, or groups of atoms that bear a positive or negative electric charge.  In pairs or other multiples they make up the substance of many crystalline materials. This exchange can take place naturally, but chemists, over time, have learned how to develop and enhance the technology to harness this capability as well.  

This brings us to water softener technology and how the process works. Typically, sediment (calcium and magnesium) attaches itself to water entering your home. Filtering it before making its way throughout the rest of the house is the next step and purpose of a softener system. 

One of the key players of water softeners is chemically modified, small, round, plastic beads known as resin. Created with carboxylate groups or double bonds on the outer coating with a negative charge to attract the positive sodium cation (water softening crystals, aka: salt pellets that uphold the charge balance of nature because plus always needs a minus and vice versa).

When the calcium and magnesium cations travel into the home through the water source, they replace these sodium cations (sodium is soluble and won’t bind to anything), attaching themselves to the resin inside the casing filled with them. This allows your water, now soft, to travel freely through the rest of your home.  

Water Softener Regeneration Cycles 

But what happens to the resin?  Does it build up and clog over time?  It would, but this is where the softener salt tank comes into play. During installation, your softener system is programmed for a regeneration cycle.  Older models were scheduled to regenerate once a day, which means they are going through water softener salt fast.  Newer models can go as long as fourteen days before their cycle or are based on usage, which makes them more energy efficient. 

Long story made short – Pellets from the salt tank are used to flush through the resin tank in five stages: backwash, brine draw, slow rinse, fast rinse and the refill cycle.   leaves you better tasting filtered water that is then distributed throughout your home. 

Of course, to get your water living up to its full potential, there is a process that can take it to the next level and leave you with what some would call great tasting, high quality water for drinking, cooking and more.

Water softener and reverse osmosis

Osmosis is a naturally occurring process that takes place when liquid, water in this instance, passes through a semipermeable membrane.  As the water molecules pass through this barrier, other, more dense molecules, such as sodium are unable to pass through as they move from a low to high concentration.

When the water pressure is reversed and we take the water from a high concentration of solute and force it through the membrane from high to low concentration, this process is known as  reverse osmosis. Applying high pressure to force water through the membrane serves as a filter for additional ions responsible for your home’s water hardness. As the high concentration of solute in the form of dissolved metal ions and compounds are forced by the water flow into a lower concentration area, the water becomes more soft as the particles are left behind. 

Other Water Softening Questions

Now that you have a better understanding of how these few processes work, there may be some additional questions you have and would like to know where to find more answers:

• How do I choose the best water softener for my home?
• How big should the softener be for our home?
• What brand is the best water softener salt to buy?
• What is water softener salt used for?
• Who do industry leaders trust when it comes to the best water softener installation?
• What other products can help my home water live up to its potential?
• Who is a water dealer near me?

Since water characteristics can vary, even in homes only a few feet in distance (which means, just because your neighbor has hard water, iron, or another impurity, doesn’t mean you will), like any diagnostic exam (ex: going to the doctor, seeing an auto mechanic…etc). 

Get It Tested

First, you need to begin with testing. Water tests are extremely important when trying to find a softener system that best fits the needs of your home while meeting the goals of you and your family. It can depend on the size of your home and how many people are in the home as just a few factors. Then, the softener system can be personalized to filter your water’s specific needs.   

Negley’s Water has been in the water industry since 1979.  Since then, water treatment has evolved to offer more specific products based on what your home, office or commercial / industrial sized business needs. But that’s a whole other conversation that we would love to have with you anytime.  Until then, you can find more about us and our Evolve product line and additional sevices here, https://negleyswater.com/for-your-home/products/. You can also schedule your free consultation by calling 888-458-2118 or online at negleyswater.com.