In most areas of the country, hard water is a significant problem. Hard water is a term that indicates high levels of minerals in the water, most frequently calcium and magnesium. These minerals in the water can damage equipment, fixtures, and they can impact water used in chemical, manufacturing, or production processes.
To address this issue, water softener systems are used in homes as well as commercial and industrial buildings. The job of the soft water system is to remove the minerals from the water, leaving you with “soft” water that eliminates the deposits and problems associated with using hard water.
The Basics
A soft water system is a basic concept, but it has to be carefully selected for the application. The typical components for a home soft water system are a water softener tank, which is usually taller and narrow, as well as a short and squat brine tank. The softener tank takes in water from the water main to the home, and the two tanks are connected. There is also a discharge hose connected to the softener tank, which runs to a drain.
In the softener tank are beads that are made of resin. These beads carry a negative charge. Water comes into the softener tank and passes by the beads, with the negative charge pulling the mineral ions out of the water. These deposits stick on the beads while the soft water flows into the house for use.
When the resin beads reach maximum capacity to hold mineral ions, a regeneration process occurs. The salt water from the brine tank floods into the softener tank and flushes the mineral deposits of the resin beads, and then runs out the drain. This regeneration process is controlled by a system computer, ensuring the resin beads continue to remove the minerals and provide soft water.
If you have answers about soft water systems, call us today at 612-230-1036, we are here to help.
