Are you looking to improve the quality of your water, but not sure what kind of device you need for your home? If so, it will help to know more about what your options are.
Electronic Water Conditioners
One option is to use an electronic water conditioner. These devices work by wrapping a cable around your water pipe, and then you plug the conditioner in so that electricity can flow through the cable. It helps crystallize the hard minerals in your water so that they do not stick to the inside of the pipe.
There is also an option for a tank-style water conditioner, which works a bit differently. The water flows through a tank that has resin beads inside it, which crystalizes those minerals inside the water so that it also prevents those minerals from sticking.
What are the differences between these two methods that you'll actually notice? The electronic style water condition isn't going to change the quality of your water in a way that you'll not notice, but it will prolong the lifespan of your plumbing. The water tank type conditioner is going to have some noticeable benefits, but the water won't feel soft as if you used a salt-based water softener.
Salt-Based Water Softeners
A salt-based water softener uses a brine mixture that also looks like resin beads. When the water flows through the softener, the sodium ions in the resin beads switch places with the minerals that make your water hard. Those resin beads eventually get backwashed to push out the saltwater from the beads so that it can process more water.
The main benefit of a salt-based water softener is that the water quality improvement is going to be incredibly noticeable, with water that tastes and feels much better than what you are used to. However, the water softener requires that you buy salt to add to the system, and will require regular maintenance to keep it working.
Reverse Osmosis Water Softener
Want to improve the quality of your water in a specific faucet of your home? For example, this could include your kitchen faucet that produces water you drink and cook with. Consider a reverse osmosis water softener, which works by introducing healthy minerals to your water while also removing magnesium and calcium. This is done by pushing the water through a filter, which will eventually need to be replaced as the water gets used. Thankfully, this won't happen that often since the water softener is only used on a single faucet. Look into a company like Ecowater of Central Florida for more information.
Share