How does a water softener work?
Water softeners are designed to remove positively charged ions including calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+) ions, which are the main causes of hard water. When water containing these ions passes through the water softening unit, the calcium and magnesium ions are attracted to resin beads inside of the unit. Water softener salt is used to recharge/replace the resin beads from calcium and magnesium ions to sodium ions and make the water “soft.” Periodically, the water softening salt needs to be replaced with new salt to ensure the unit is maintaining its effectiveness.
The most common water softening method is called “ion exchange.” Put simply, this type of softening is a process where calcium and magnesium (the minerals that make water hard) ions are exchanged for sodium ions. This exchange takes place in a “resin bed” made up of a tiny bead-like material. The beads have a negative charge and attract and hold positively charged ions such as sodium. The beads will exchange the sodium ion for a calcium or magnesium ion since they both have a more powerful positive change. The differences that separate one softener from another are features such as flow rates, salt capacity and regeneration type. Regeneration is the process of “recharging” the resin beads when they are “full” of nothing but calcium and magnesium. The type of system a softener uses to regenerate is a very important part of the process and can mean the difference between having enough soft water available or not. Regeneration “triggered” by a specific time of day is called time clock reg
The most common water softening method is called “ion exchange. Put simply, this type of softening is a process where calcium and magnesium (the minerals that make water hard) ions are exchanged for sodium ions. This exchange takes place in a “resin bed” made up of a tiny bead-like material. The beads have a negative charge and attract and hold positively charged ions such as sodium. The beads will exchange the sodium ion for a calcium or magnesium ion since they both have a more powerful positive change. The differences that separate one softener from another are features such as flow rates, salt capacity and regeneration type. Regeneration is the process of recharging the resin beads when they are full of nothing but calcium and magnesium. The type of system a softener uses to regenerate is a very important part of the process and can mean the difference between having enough soft water available or not. Regeneration triggered by a specific time of day is called time clock regenerati
1. Hard water enters your water softener and passes down through the ion exchange resin, which are charged with sodium ions. The hard water ions (calcium and magnesium) are attracted to the ion exchange resin and an equal amount of sodium ions are bumped off into the water supply. When the water reaches the bottom of the tank, it is softened and ready to be used in your home and business. 2. When the ion exchange resin is saturated with calcium and magnesium (hard water ions) it must be recharged. A strong brine solution enters the tank and flushes the calcium and magnesium ions off the ion exchange resin and attaches itself. 3. A final rinse process ensures that any unused brine is rinsed from the system and your water softener is now fully recharged and ready to provide you with soft water.
