A Residential Water Softening System Makes Water From All Your Faucets Soft

If you're getting tired of hard water scale on your dishes, shower, and faucets, consider having a residential water softening system installed. Soft water makes a big difference when it comes to keeping your home clean, laundry soft, and appliances protected from mineral buildup. Here's information about how a residential water softening system works.

Hard Water Is Natural And Varies By Location

Hard water is common, and it's caused by minerals in the water. The amount of minerals in the water varies by geographic location. Some areas of the country have water much harder than others. You can test your water to find out if it's hard and how bad it is. Although, if your water is hard, you'll probably notice it by the scale that builds up in your glass coffee pot and shower doors.

While your city treats water for certain contaminants, it doesn't treat it for hard water, so you can have hard water whether you're on the city's water supply or your private well.

A Water Softening System Reduces Mineral Content

A water softener removes minerals, but it doesn't work like a typical filter. Instead, it uses salt and resin beads to induce a process called ion exchange. The ions in the minerals are attracted to the resin beads so the beads pull them out of the water. The water that flows out of the appliance is soft since the minerals have been removed by the resin beads. When the softener regenerates, saltwater washes over the beads and flushes the minerals out of the system.

A Water Softener Works For Your Whole House

A residential water softening system is usually installed by a plumber. The appliance is installed on your main water line after it enters your home and before it branches off to different places in your house. This allows all the water in each bathroom, laundry room, and kitchen to have soft water. If you prefer, the plumber can bypass the kitchen so the water you drink and cook with isn't softened.

The appliance also has to be installed before the water heater since the softener will protect it from mineral buildup. A basement is a good place for the installation, but your plumber can install it anywhere there is access to the water pipe, drain, and electricity.

Once your water softener is installed, you'll need to keep up with maintenance, which requires adding salt to the tank periodically. Keeping the unit filled with salt ensures the ion exchange process continues to work and you can enjoy the benefits of soft water throughout your house. For more information on a residential water softening system, contact a professional near you.

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