How Do Water Softeners Regenerate?
Water softeners can help you save water, money, and energy. They can also make your clothes and linens feel silky and look clean again.
(Looking for Missoula water filtration maintenance? Contact us today!)
When hard water passes through the resin beads, they conduct an ion exchange process. The sodium on the resin beads exchanges calcium and magnesium ions in your water for sodium, creating softened water.
Over time, however, the sodium on the resin beads will become clogged with minerals and cannot conduct this exchange efficiently. This is when regeneration occurs, removing the minerals from the resin beads and recharging them with sodium so they can again perform this process effectively.
The water softener regenerates by passing a strong salt-water solution (brine) through the resin tank, cleaning and exchanging the calcium and magnesium that has collected on the resin beads with new sodium. The brine solution is then flushed away and the softener can begin the softening process again.
Regeneration cycles are usually scheduled in the middle of the night and use a substantial amount of water. Some systems will automatically initiate this process, while others will allow you to choose the regeneration schedule through a control panel.
Depending on the size of your system and the hardness levels in your water, it may take 35 to 70 gallons of water to regenerate your water softener. This is much less than you would normally use during the softening cycle.
If you’ve had your water softener for a while, it will probably need to regenerate sooner than the average household. This is because the resin beads will have gotten too full of calcium and magnesium to do their job properly.
Your water softener regenerates by passing regenerating salt (sodium chloride or potassium chloride) through the resin tanks. During this process, the brine forces the calcium and magnesium off of the resin beads and replaces them with sodium or potassium.
After the regeneration cycle is completed, your water softener can continue to work without any interruptions. This is a great feature for anyone who loves to take long showers or wants softer skin and hair.
Another benefit of a water softener is that it will remove the buildup of scale in your pipes and appliances. This will reduce the likelihood of leaking and damage to these items.
If you have a hard water problem, a water softener can be an easy fix to solve the issue. The first step is to determine the source of your water hardness and check your water pressure.
Often, the cause of your problem is something simple like low water pressure in your home or a clogged pipe that needs to be repaired. Call an expert to take a closer look, though, if this doesn’t seem to be the case or if it happens more than once.
How to Regenerate a Water Softener?
The process of regenerating your water softener is a crucial step in ensuring that your system works effectively. If you don’t perform this task, your water softener won’t be able to remove the hardness ions in your water and you will end up with hard water. This is not only a problem for your skin and hair, but also for the health of your appliances and water fixtures.