A water softener removes hard water particles such as calcium and magnesium through ion-exchange. All the resin beads are negatively charged and hold sodium ions. As the water passes over the resin, the resin prefers the more strongly charged calcium and magnesium ions, rather than the weaker sodium ions. The displaced sodium ions then pass through the resin bed and out the softener outlet, thus delivering soft water.

Water softeners contain 3 main components that can be customized

Tank - The tank is where the water is softened. Water passes through the resin beads where ion-exchange replaces the hard water particles with sodium

Control Valve - The control valve measures the amount of water that is being used and schedules a regeneration of the resin beads.

Brine tank - The brine tank holds a highly concentrated solution of salt (or sometimes potassium) to restore the resin beads’ positive charge.

Resin - These are beads inside the tank that water passes through and where the in-exchange process happens

There are many factors that come into play when sizing a water softener for your home or business. How hard the water is, water volume, resin capacity, plumbing, and more all need to be taken into account. You can learn more about how to size a water softener here.

It depends on the size of the water softener and how much water is being used. On average, a water softener will regenerate every 5-10 days.

When the resin inside the tank is full of hard water ions they are no longer effective in softening water. Regeneration is where brine (or saltwater) is flushed over the resin washing the hard water minerals off and replacing them with salt ions. This primes the resin to begin softening the water effectively again.

Installing a water softener should be done by a professional. A site survey may need to be performed to see the current plumbing and area where the water softener will go. Contact a water treatment professional to get a quote.

There are many criteria that go into a water softener cost. Water quality, water volume, plumbing, and installation are all variables that can increase or decrease your cost. The easiest way to get a quote is to contact a professional to asses your home or business.

No, a water softener will not remove harmful bacteria or viruses. You will need a UV system to remove bacteria and viruses from your water supply.

In some cases, yes. Depending on what is in your water, plus whatever else it naturally contains, it may have an undesirable taste or smell. A water softener may remove particles that are causing the bad taste in some, but not all, instances.

Water volume is essential to determine what size of water softener you will need. On average, each person will use 100 gallons of water per day. So, a 5 person family will use roughly 500 gallons of water per day. For commercial and industrial applications, it can vary greatly depending on the facility. A water treatment professional can help you determine your actual usage.

The amount of salt needed for a water softener is determined by the size of the resin bed, the hardness of the water, and how often the system regenerates. On average, a person will hard water can expect to use 80-120 pounds of salt per month.

For residential systems, brine tanks typically have 3-6 gallons (6-10 inches) of water. The brine tank should never be filled to the top with water. Newer “dry” tanks only have water in them an hour or two before regeneration.

You can keep your system running efficiently by using more pure salt. For instance, solar salt or pellet salt contains fewer contaminants than rock salt. You should clean your brine tank at least once per year. Make sure the brine tank always has salt but never filled all the way to the top. You can also use Iron-out once per year to clean the resin bed.

You can buy water softener salt from most home improvement retail stores. For businesses that need larger quantities of salt, some companies will deliver salt on pallets or blow the salt right into your system. Robert B. Hill Co provides this service to the Twin Cities area.

Like most appliances, a quality water softener will last you longer than cheaper water softeners. Also, a system that regenerates more often won’t last as long as a system that regenerates less often. On average, you should expect a water softener to last around 10 years.

After years of exposure, resin begins to break down and needs to be replaced. Replacement can be done by turning off the water, disconnecting the control valve, drain line, and brine line. The old resin will need to be dumped out of vacuumed out before replaced. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this yourself, call a professional.

You should let the brine tank get close to empty before adding more salt. Fill the brine tank to only about ¾ full. Do not fill the brine tank to the very top.

The process by which you can force a manual regeneration of your water softener depends entirely on the make and model of the softener. Some models simply have a hand-controlled knob that you can turn to regenerate. Other models require a screwdriver to move a dial through each stage of the regeneration process.

For commercial and industrial clients, getting a custom quote for a water treatment system is easy. Start by contacting us and giving us a few details about your business. We can come out and do a site survey and put together a custom quote based on your building and your needs. Contact us today to get started.