How is Water Softened?
The process of softening water is basically the same for all water softeners: 1. Hard water contains calcium and magnesium ions 2. Water softeners contain resin beads, which hold sodium ions. 3. Hard water passes through the resin beads inside the softener. 4. The beads attract and hold the calcium and magnesium ions, giving off, or exchanging, sodium ions. 5. After the exchange process, the water leaving the softener to the home is soft. Once the resin bed is loaded with calcium and magnesium ions, it must be cleansed (or regenerated) so that it can continue to soften water. Salt water is used to wash the resin beads. The brine solution loosens the hardness ions that have built up on the resin beads. Then the system backwashes and flushes the hardness minerals away. Once again, the resin beads hold sodium ions, and the system is ready to soften more water.
The most common method used for softening water is ion exchange, where the dissolved calcium and magnesium ions are exchanged for sodium or potassium (commonly referred to as regenerant) ions. Sodium and potassium do not cause the problems that are associated with calcium and magnesium. The process is the basis for most water softening equipment on the market today. Water enters a water softener where it comes in contact with a bed of tiny beads that hold sodium chloride or potassium chloride ions. Since the beads are chemically more attracted to calcium and magnesium ions, ion exchange occurs. The calcium and magnesium ions “stick” to the surface of the beads, dislodging the sodium or potassium. After the beads are completely exhausted (i.e. covered with calcium and magnesium), a solution is introduced to the system to wash away the calcium and magnesium, and replace the sodium or potassium (a process known as regeneration). After the extra solution is rinsed from the resin bed, the e
Home water softeners have two tanks; a mineral tank that contains a resin in the form of small beads, and a brine tank which holds the sodium chloride (salt) solution. As water flows through the mineral tank, the hard minerals, magnesium (Mg++) and calcium (Ca++) ions, replace sodium (Na+) ions on the resin. This process is called ion exchange. The water that flows out is considered soft because sodium ions do not build up on pipes as lime or interfere with detergents and soaps. What is the Regeneration Cycle? Eventually, the resin reaches its limit as to how much calcium and magnesium it can hold. At this point, the resin is flushed with a strong brine solution from the brine tank. Because of its high salt concentration, the brine washes off the calcium and magnesium and replaces them with sodium. The minerals and brine wash go down the drain and into the sewer system. New salt must be added regularly to the brine tank to replace the salt that is used to regenerate the resin. The rege
