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up deposits on the inside of water pipes and fixtures causing a
reduction in water flow, eventually requiring replacement. To
eliminate these problems you can install a water conditioner or
water softener.
Water softeners work by replacing the magnesium and calcium ions in the water with a mineral/chemical
that works with soap (so glasses look clean and clothes aren't
stiff) and won't build up on the inside of pipes. The replacement
mineral is normally either sodium or potassium. The water softening
process takes place inside the water softener where water coming
into the house runs through a bed of small plastic (zeolite) beads
covered with sodium or potassium. As the water passes over the
beads, ion exchange takes place, leaving the calcium and magnesium
ions on the beads and the sodium replacement ions in the water.
The beads will become coated with calcium and
magnesium over time and require regeneration which is done by
flushing the beads with a solution of brine rich in sodium. During
the flushing process the calcium and magnesium ions are flushed out
of the softener leaving newly generated sodium ion coated beads.
That is the basic function of a water softener conditioner that is
installed in most houses that have hard water.
The only ways to determine the mineral content
of your water is to have your water tested by a certified
laboratory. Because water is taken from the ground (well) it
contains minerals, therefore it is quite likely that you have excess
minerals or hard water. This is more common in areas where wells are
drilled into soft granite below the ground surface. The down side of
water softeners is that by replacing magnesium and calcium with
sodium (which is a salt – sodium chloride) there is a potential risk
for people that are on a low salt diet or suffer from high blood
pressure. This can be eliminated by installing a water bypass line
to a drinking water tap around the softener.
Hard water does not pose a health problem. It
is an annoyance that can be tolerated. The primary way to reduce the
effects of hard water without installing a water softener is to use
soaps and detergents that are made for use with hard water. They
will greatly improve your hard water problems. If your heating
system is a boiler, reduce the operating temperature. This will
reduce the build up in the buildup on the internal water system of
the boiler and the heating system plumbing. Nutritional experts
believe that for most people the additional magnesium and calcium
obtained from hard water is beneficial for their health.
If you choose to install a water softener you
can do it as a DIY project with a few basic plumbing tools. Most home
improvement centers sell water softeners at reasonable prices. If
you don’t have the skills to do it yourself contact your local
plumber to discuss your situation. I suggest that you get at least
three estimates before choosing a plumber to do the job as their
prices vary greatly.
