A typical water softener consists of a tall, narrow water-softener tank, and a short, wide brine tank. The softener tank is connected to the home’s water-supply line. A small-diameter fill tube connects the brine tank to the softener tank. And a discharge hose runs from the softener tank to a nearby drainpipe or drywell. The softener tank is filled with specially formulated resin beads, which are permanently sealed inside the tank. The brine tank has a removable lid so you can fill it with salt pellets or potassium chloride pellets. Water Softner is used to combat hard water, household water that contains high concentrations of dissolved minerals, specifically calcium and magnesium.
The effects of elevated mineral levels range from annoying to highly destructive- cloudy water spots on sinks, dishes, silverware, bathtubs and shower enclosures, white, crusty deposits on teakettles and coffee pots. Hard water dramatically reduces the lathering and rinse-ability of laundry detergent, body soap, and shampoo-As a result, laundered white clothes appear gray, and colored clothes look dull and faded. Bathing and showering in hard water makes your skin feel dry and itchy. And because shampoo doesn’t lather up very well in hard water, shampooing leaves your hair feeling and looking limp and dry. The harmful effect hard water has on plumbing systems, fixtures, and appliances: As water runs through the supply pipes and then out faucets—think showerhead, icemaker, washing machine, water heater, boiler, and dishwasher—it’s leaving behind hard, crusty mineral deposits. At first, these small deposits are harmless, but over time they build up and can eventually clog pipes, seize valves, and plug aerators and showerheads. And in some extreme cases, hard-water deposits can dramatically restrict the water flow in a home, putting undue pressure on the whole plumbing system.
