How Well Do Salt-Free Water Softeners Work? 

Choosing the right water softener for your home can be confusing, but once you know how it works, you can make an informed decision. The first thing to do is figure out how much water you use per day and what your hardness level is corrected for iron. This will give you a general idea of how many grains per gallon of your water needs to be softened. 

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Generally, it is best to purchase a water softener that generates one regeneration cycle each week. This helps to keep your water consumption down, as well as clean out the resin bed so it can continue to produce quality water. 

Salt-Based Water Softeners Work

Basically, salt-based water softeners work by using an ion exchange process to replace calcium and magnesium ions with sodium ions (salt). The resin tank in these systems is covered with a layer of beads that are covered with salt. 

When water enters the system, it flows over the resin beads and is then sent into your home for use. The beads can only collect so much calcium and magnesium ions before they need to be regenerated, which is why the water goes through a brine tank, where the sodium in the salt helps to clean the resin beads. 

This regeneration process is called a backwash cycle, and it is designed to get rid of the calcium and magnesium ions that have accumulated on the resin beads. 

Another common problem that water softeners experience is that they are prone to silt and dirt buildup. This can cause the nozzle or venturi valves to become clogged and prevent the system from working properly. Fortunately, if you do notice that your water softener isn’t working as it should be, you can easily disassemble the nozzle or venturi valves and clean them out. This can take a few minutes, but you can avoid any major issues with your water softener if you do so on a regular basis. 

It’s also a good idea to check your water softener’s salt levels regularly to avoid any problems that may arise. If you find that the salt levels are low, you’ll need to refill the tank with salt again. If you don’t, you’ll end up with “salt bridges,” which are layers of salt that build up in the brine tank and prevent your softener from working effectively. 

There are several reasons why people choose to go with a salt-free water softener instead of a traditional one. For instance, some people want to avoid the lingering slimy feeling of salt in their water, or they have medical conditions that require them not to have extra sodium added to their water supply. 

In addition, some homeowners are concerned about the negative environmental impacts of storing and disposing of salt in their water. This is why some cities have banned the use of these types of water softeners, which can lead to the discharge of salt into wastewater treatment facilities.