Are you frustrated by hard water stains?
Do you get irritated when the screens on your faucets and shower heads get clogged with scale?
Do you get upset when you have to replace your appliances frequently due to hard water scale?
If you answered yes to any of those questions, know that you are not alone. Many people are struggling with the same problem as you and want to know: How to remove hardness from water.
Water hardness is caused by high concentrations of calcium and magnesium and, to a lesser extent, iron and manganese. In simple terms, water hardness is measured as the ability of the water to consume soap. Softer water will use less soap to do the same cleaning job. Hard water will require more soap and even then it won’t create as rich a lather as you’ll find with soft water.
The ability to consume soap is not the only aspect of water hardness to consider. Scale formation on your faucets and shower heads can be a source of frustration and inconvenience. In the event that the shower heads become clogged, if the water pressure is high enough, it can create a painful experience when the water comes out of a small hole under high pressure. You have to clean these devices regularly, sometimes monthly, in order to use them.
Washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerator ice makers, irons, and steamers have a shorter lifespan when the water hardness is too high. With frequent care and maintenance, you can prolong their use, they will still need to be replaced prematurely.
Finally, hard water stains and buildup in bathtubs, sinks, and toilets can be unsightly and even embarrassing. Using mild acids like vinegar can clean most of these stains. Sometimes a much stronger acid is needed. The fumes from these cleaning products can range from unpleasant to dangerous.
There are two types of water softeners on the market.
The most common is a salt-based water softener. This type of softener actually removes the minerals that cause hardness and replaces them with sodium. They give the water a slippery feel and you will notice that your soap produces more suds. Because the minerals have been removed, your skin won’t feel dry and your clothes will be brighter. You will also notice that you have no scale build up or soap scum.
Since a salt-based softener uses salt to soften the water, you will need to regenerate the softener periodically. This is an automatic process, but you will be prompted to add salt to your softener as needed.
Two things to keep in mind when purchasing a salt-based system. First, just know that there will be an ongoing expense for the salt while you are using it. Second, you will add sodium to your water. If your water hardness is 15 grains per gallon, you would consume about 30 mg of sodium per 8-ounce glass of water.
There are also “softeners” of water without salt
These units do not remove the minerals that cause hardness, they turn them into crystals, but the minerals remain in the water. These crystals do not adhere to surfaces to form scale. Note: Since they don’t actually remove minerals, they are actually water conditioners. You still get the benefit of reduced scale without adding salt. In fact, salt-free water conditioners are virtually maintenance-free, and while some can last 3-5 years without media replacement, others never need to be replaced.
Another important point to note about water softeners is that they only deal with the hardness of the water. They do not remove any type of contaminant. If you want to remove hardness and chlorine, fluorine, etc. you will need some kind of combination of treatment devices.
