Water that is high in minerals such as calcium and magnesium is called “hard water,” and it has many negative impacts. At The Tank Doctor, we have the ideal house water softener system to help you soften your water and reduce the damages that hard water causes. Through an ion exchange system, a residential water softener will positively affect many areas of your household including your kitchen, laundry, bathroom, and water heater system.
The Importance of Whole House Water Softener Systems
A whole house water softener will save you money and energy over the long term. Here’s how.
- Reducing Scale Buildup in Pipes: Hard water leads to scale buildup and clogging in pipes. These effects diminish the efficient running of your water heater, meaning you need more energy to heat water. You can reduce your energy expenses with a water softener, as it will reduce the clogging of your pipes and allow your heater to run more effectively.
- Effective Soap Use: Soap reacts with the calcium and magnesium in water to form a salt that makes soap less effective. Skin and hair become dry, scratchy, and dull due to hard water. Clothes and sheets washed in hard water also become scratchy, and bright white items fade quickly. Softened water will lead to a richer lather of soap and shampoos with less quantity. Fabrics will last longer, your skin will feel smoother and less irritated, and your hair will feel soft and look shiny.
- Preserving the Life of Household Appliances: Just as hard water causes the scale to build up in pipes, it leads to residue left behind in household appliances. Minerals can build up in coffee machines, ice makers, washing machines, dishwashers, and water heaters, causing these household items to run less efficiently or sustain damage. Water softener systems reduce the likelihood of having to replace multiple appliances due to hard water.
The Water Softening Process
Through the remarkable process of ion exchange, our water softeners effectively remove hardness-causing minerals from your water supply. Here’s a more detailed explanation of how it works:
- When hard water enters the resin tank of your water softener, the mineral ions present in the water carry a positive charge. As the water flows through the resin tank, these positively-charged calcium and magnesium ions are attracted to the negatively charged resin beads.
- The positively-charged mineral ions are replaced with sodium ions released by the resin beads. The resin tank then retains the calcium and magnesium ions.
- After the ion exchange, the water comes out of the tank softened due to the reduced levels of calcium and magnesium ions.
Common Mistakes People Make with Whole House Water Softener Systems
People often confuse a water softener system with a water filtration system and consequently don’t understand how this system functions. Here are a few misconceptions.
- City-Supplied Water is Not Hard: While commonly found in homes with a private water supply, water softeners also help to reduce the hardness of city water supplies. Water delivered to homes from various city suppliers has the potential to contain minerals that can lead to hard water.
- Water Will Be Too Salty: Water softener salts in water create an ion exchange process that removes calcium and magnesium. Often people hear the word “salts” and think that their water will taste salty as a result. However, the main component of the exchange is sodium and not common table salt. Your water will not taste salty, which does not make the water taste salty.
Trust The Tank Doctor to Soften Your Water
A water softener system will reduce the negative impact of hard water on your home appliances and provide meaningful benefits to your health and well-being, including reducing itchy skin and dry hair.
At The Tank Doctor, we provide quality hand-crafted products that solve your water problems and get you the positive filtration and softener results you need. Our highly-trained staff offers professional advice and ensures you get the ideal water solution to suit your home. Contact us today to discuss a water softener for your home.
FAQs
Are water softeners in Australia common?
It depends! Water softeners are not as widespread in urban areas of Australia, where the mineral content in water sources is low. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t necessary.
If you live in Perth and rely on groundwater sources, a water softener for your household or business can reduce the buildup of minerals. Some parts of Adelaide may also experience water hardness if they rely on bore water and surface water sources.
What types of salt are ideal for water softeners?
Water softeners need salt for the ion exchange process and the regeneration of the resin beads. The three commonly used salts are rock salt, solar salt and evaporated salt, as they dissolve well and leave little to no residue in the tank.
Is softened water potable?
Yes! You can drink softened water as long as it is also filtered and disinfected. At The Tank Doctor, we have whole house water filtration systems with UV sterilisation. Check out our online store for more information on the range of products we offer.
How do you maintain a water softener system?
Over time, the resin beads in water softeners become saturated with calcium and magnesium ions. Regeneration is necessary to maintain the efficiency of your water softener system and reduce the hardness of your water supply.
Here are a few tips on how to maintain your water softener:
- Replenish salt supply — Monitor the salt levels in the resin tank at least once a month. Refill the tank as needed to maintain proper salt levels and sodium ions for the ion exchange of the water-softening process.
- Schedule regeneration — Set the water softener system to flush out minerals on a regular basis according to your household’s water usage. Typically, you should regenerate every 12 to 14 days. However, if you notice signs of hard water, increase the frequency of the water softener’s regeneration.
- Clean the resin tank — Inspect and clean the resin tank for any signs of sediment or debris.
If you’re unsure of how to go about maintaining your water softener in Australia, call us at The Tank Doctor for professional servicing. We have a wonderful crew of qualified technicians who can regenerate, clean or even repair your water softener system.