Water Softening, an Overview

A water softener is used to soften water. What that means is that it removes the chemical elements, generally ions, that make water become hard.

The main ions that cause issues are magnesium and calcium. These ions can get into water as it flows through pipes.

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What hard water can do is leave deposits on things, like a film after taking a shower, or spots on dishes that were washed. Additionally, it can make your heaters work slightly less well, which can increase heating costs.

These systems basically work by exchanging ions it contains, generally sodium, or salt, with the hard calcium and magnesium in the water. It does through a diffusion process that occurs as water goes through it.

What it consists of

A softening system consists of a water softening tank, which contains minerals, beads and appropriate internal mechanism. Additionally, it has a brine tank which is used for storing brine and salt.

Finally, there is also generally additional elements such as an electronic monitor and control interface to allow gauging of the water and controlling of activity.

Concerns

They tend to be somewhat expensive, with standard models coming in at around 0-700. They also tend to require a somewhat detailed installation process, being hooked up to the right water pipes.

Additionally, some people are concerned about the sodium that is added to the water, which can cause issues for some with health issues.

The magnetic controversy

Magnetic water softeners work by using magnetic fields to affect the balance of the water. They don't require as significant installation and don't add sodium to the water. As such, they have attracted some audience since the 1930's.

The problem? Professional engineers and water specialists are not convinced that they work so well. They argue that it may technically be impossible to magnetize water. Additionally, some plumbers agree that magnetic water softeners do not work.

Potassium vs sodium salt

Another option some people consider is to use potassium instead of sodium for the replacement.

The reasons for doing so generally are to reduce the sodium content in the water that can come from this process. In general, this isn't so much of an issue, but for some, especially those with health concerns, it may be an issue.

The benefit of doing can also mean that the waste product of the softening is more environmentally friendly. In some cases, it even has potential as a fertilizer.

The downsides include cost and potential taste change to the water.

Water Softening, an Overview

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Compare Water Softeners - What To Look For When Purchasing A Water Softener

There are many different sites you can read about online today that compare water softeners. In fact, online marketing websites that sells other companies products also provide a comparison cost wise, function, durability, warranty and model.

water softeners for sale

These sites that compare water softeners look at variables such as whether or not the water softeners are automatic or manual, use a timer, their salt usage, etc. No matter what your home or budget, there are different water softeners available to suit your wallet and interior decoration.

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Here is a list of some variables to watch out for when you are ready to compare water softeners to find the right one for your health:

When searching for tanks, make sure you realize that the mineral and brine tanks are virtually identical to the ones you can purchase at home improvement softeners. Always make sure the tank has a warranty period of 10 years, and preferably longer.

The control valves are an essential part of any water softener system. This important component keeps track of your water usage each week and is the determining factor for when to regenerate the resin bed.

Make absolutely sure that you understand how this component works and that the water softeners you are considering possesses workable control valves. Here is a breakdown of each kind of control valve, ad which one you should purchase for your next water softener system:

Disc valves are simply a rotary disk style control valve; these are the least expensive water softeners you can buy. However, least expensive doesn't always mean low quality. As with any appliance you are considering purchasing, it varies from company to company.

Piston valves will go through a number of spaces in order to determining when to regenerate the resin bed. These valves generally possess a very long life span, due to the short length of space it has to travel. Of course, with this generally comes a higher price tag. Make your decision accordingly.

There are several other kinds of water purifier systems available, but these are the most popular. Obviously, the more money you spend on one, generally speaking, the higher quality water you will receive, and the less often you will have to replace it. The best method to finding the right water softeners is to locate friends or family members already using a water softener system and ask them which one works out for them.

Often times, companies will attempt to pitch you on their particular product, and will obviously have a biased point of view. Your friends, however, often have tried more than one brand and know first hand how a particular companies' brand is working for them. Do your research, compare all the water softeners you can find, and choose the one that matches your interior design and your wallet.

Compare Water Softeners - What To Look For When Purchasing A Water Softener

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4 Tips To Consider Before Buying Home Water Softeners

Home water softeners are appliances that removes the magnesium and calcium ions in your hard water and replaces them with sodium ions. Some water softening systems use potassium instead of sodium. Too much calcium and magnesium make water hard causing various problems to household appliances and your water pipes and plumbing fixtures.

water softener cleaner

Hard water leaves calcified residue on faucets, sinks, tableware, and tubs. It also leaves stains on your bathroom tiles and bathtub, stiff and discolored laundry, dry skin and hair, and broken appliances such as coffee makers, laundry washers, water heaters, and dish washers.

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Water that is not softened can also raise your energy bill because your water heater will not function properly making it work harder to maintain the proper temperature, therefore using up more energy. To get soap scum out of tableware and laundry, you will also need to use the rinse cycle more often, which also raises your electric bill.

Given that, you may be better off purchasing a water treatment system rather than pay thousands of dollars to replace pipes and appliances. Getting the right kind of home water softeners can also help you save money on utility bills. Here are some steps to take that may help you choose the right softening system for your home:

1. Find out how much water your household consumes. The average American family of 4 or 5 uses about 400 to 500 gallons per day, according to studies by the US Geological Survey. That's about 80 to 100 gallons per person. Just multiply 80 or 100 by the number of people in your household.

2. There are 2 main types of home water softeners to choose from. One type of system softens water at a specific time of day, each day automatically. This type also has a timer that determines when water is already softened and turns the unit off accordingly. The second type of softener works on demand when you determine when water needs to be softened. This type is more ideal for those with fluctuating water needs each day.

3. Another factor to look into when you are searching for a softener system is the ease of cleaning. You will need to clean your water softening system occasionally to prevent salt particles from reaching your water supply and leaving residue on your dishes and water fixtures. Get home water softeners that need minimal cleaning and that is easy enough to clean on your own. Calling for a cleaning service can cost money too.

4. Before paying for a softening system, make sure that the unit has parts available and a service center nearby. It can be a problem if the unit eventually breaks down and you can't find spare parts for it or can't find someone who can fix it. You don't have to go without softened water for too long if there are parts and a service center nearby.

Another good tip is to check reviews online about different brands and companies that provide home water softeners and home service. These companies can also advice you on which unit is best suited for your household and requirements.

4 Tips To Consider Before Buying Home Water Softeners

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Home Water Filtration Systems

People need home water filtration systems for a variety of reasons. Most talk about having cleaner drinking water, or water that tastes better so they can drink it instead of buying bottled water. Others are looking for water softeners, to eliminate some of the chemicals and minerals in ground water that interact with soaps to make them less effective, or that leave residue on your skin and dishes. With good water filtration, your water can be pure or at least soft, which in the long run will save you money and make you healthier.

Drinking Water Filtration Systems

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The first thing most people think of in a filtration system is drinking water. You can get several different kinds of drinking water purifiers: a carbon filter, reverse osmosis filters, UV filters, and ceramic filters are the most common. Each works in a different way, but all clean microorganisms from your water, and most clean significantly more.

The lowest level of filtration, and the least expensive, is the carbon filter. This is the sort of water filtration system that screws onto your faucet, clearing water by forcing it through layers of activated charcoal. Impurities stick to the carbon, remaining behind while clean water goes through. These filters need to be changed fairly often, as they lose effectiveness fairly quickly. Ceramic filters are similar, but use a layer of silicon diatomaceous earth instead of carbon.

UV filters work very differently; they use concentrated ultraviolet light to kill any biological impurities in the water, but don't remove the debris. Industrial UV filters are used in hospitals, but when the same filters are used in private homes, they are usually part of a water filter system, and the debris is filtered out through some other means.

Reverse osmosis filters are the last common drinking water purifier, and filter out impurities through a passive filter system that is extraordinarily effective, even filtering salt out of ocean water. This filter frequently has an activated carbon filter and a UV filter as well, ensuring that your drinking water is as pure as possible.

Other Home Water Filtration Systems

Recent studies have suggested that our water is over-chlorinated, and not only does the chlorine interact poorly with your shampoo, it vaporizes and becomes chloroform gas in a steamy shower, a lung irritant that can exacerbate asthma or bronchitis. To eliminate this problem, many people install a shower filter, a device that attaches to the shower. Because carbon doesn't work well with hot water, shower filters use metallic filters to attract chlorine and other impurities, and the water that comes out of your shower should be soft and pure. (The first thing you'll probably notice is that you use much less soap for the same results.)

You can also get a home water filtration system; this fastens at the beginning of your indoor water system and uses multiple filters to eliminate chlorine, bacteria, and other contaminants before the water gets anywhere else in your water system. This is an excellent way to make sure all the water that touches your family, inside or out, is as pure and healthy as possible.

Home Water Filtration Systems

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Removing Lime Scale With Commercial Water Softeners

You can remove lime scale from your toilets, plumbing fixtures and bathroom floors by using commercial water softeners. If your water is naturally hard, it means that your tap contains a lot of calcium and magnesium which produce lime scale deposits.

water softener salt potassium

These deposits harden and block your pipes, plumbing fixtures and stain everything it touches. Your floors and sinks will develop orange or brown stains. Hard water also damages home appliances that use water like the shower heater and coffee maker.

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Another problem you will experience are cloudy glassware and dishes with white soap spots coming out of your dishwasher. Soap doesn't lather well with hard water and can also produce stiff laundry with white spots where the detergent did not dissolve. Even your skin and hair can be affected by dryness.

You can resolve these problems by getting commercial water softeners for your home or business establishment. Other devices that can also help are reverse osmosis units, putting softening additives in your water and installing a reverse electrodialysis device.

You can soften the water in your home by installing a water softener in your water line before the water enters your household plumbing. Water softening systems use sodium or potassium pellets to absorb hard ions in your water and replacing it with soft ions contained in the sodium beads.

Have your water tested for its hardness level so you can make the proper setting on your softening system. You can test your water yourself or have a professional test it for you. It is important to have the proper settings determined by the harness level for your softening system to work efficiently.

A reverse osmosis unit can also remove lime, calcium and magnesium from your drinking water or household plumbing. This system can also make water fit for human consumption and drinking because it also removes large particles from drinking water. The only downside is that this kind of system can be hooked up to only one faucet.

Distilling your water can also remove lime deposits and involves heating water to a certain degree to make the liquid evaporate and then condense in a separate container. The condensed liquid will be cleaner without anymore minerals like calcium, magnesium, iron, and the like. This water treatment method can raise your energy bills though because of the heating process.

You can get rid of lime in your toilets bowl and tank to reduce staining by dropping chemicals that neutralize minerals and lime in water. You can find these at the supermarket. The only problem with these chemicals is they only get rid of lime and hard water in your toilet. They are also unsafe for children and pets if ingested.

Electrodialysis is something your municipality can do to soften water for the whole community. It is not something you can install in individual households. Commercial water softeners are still the most convenient and practical method of softening your water at home. They are also more energy-efficient and comprehensive than other devices.

Removing Lime Scale With Commercial Water Softeners

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Find Several Culligan Water Filter System Reviews and Decide For Yourself Which One to Buy

There are several point of use models as well as systems for the entire homes. They even have convenient pitcher filters which can be easily moved from the refrigerator to the table as and when needed. If you go through a few reviews posted on the internet about some of their products you would be amazed at the level of customer satisfaction the products have been able to achieve. Let us go through a few reviews about a few products like the  FM-15A Faucet Filter,  US-EZ-4 under sink filter, reverse osmosis system, RC-EZ-4 EZ change level 4 replacement cartridge etc.

The  US-EZ-4 Under-Sink Filter is among the more popular filters, as it is easy to install with less frequent filter changes required. Customer reviews on Amazon and other sites also suggest the same. Customers have expressed great satisfaction and have given it 5 stars rating for the ease of installation. Some even expressed the view that the compact nature of the filter allows saving a lot of space under the sink. A customer replaced an old R/O system with the filter and found it to be as effective and the water taste to be equally good. Moreover, there is no need to flush the water down the drain as it did in the RO system. There were equally good reviews of the RC-EZ-4 EZ-Change level 4 replacement cartridge. The best thing is that the filters are easy to change and install. A customer from LA was critical but happy about the filter. He was happy with the taste of water which was much better than an earlier system he used. He was happy that there was no problem of leakage. The filters are also economical and have a very good design that is neat and pretty. He was only critical of the fact that the speed of water was slow and it takes several second to fill up a glass. 

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The Culligan FM-15A Faucet filters are also popular. A customer who reviewed this expressed how his earlier Brita and PUR systems had leaks from connections. So when he bought Culligan, he was apprehensive. However, he was surprised and happy with the ease of installation. The best part is that it is small and fits easily in a small area. Reasonably priced, he doesn't mind having to replace every 2 months. Another customer was equally happy with the quality of the filter as well as its life which is much more than many others. 

There are many happy and satisfied customers of Culligan water filter systems. So, if you are planning to buy any Culligan water filters you can read the reviews and decide for yourself. 

Did you know that Sweden has been the leading innovator of flavored carbonated water for the last 6 years? With a world market share of 2/3rds and increasing?

More and more people are turning to flavored carbonated water due to its amazing refreshing taste and huge health benefits as is has no added sugar, colors, preservatives, sweeteners, fruit concentrate or calories. Some of the many great fruit flavors that can be purchased include black currant, apple, lemon and blueberry and many more.

And for the first time ever, owners of home carbonating machines have quick and easy access to a huge variety of 25 Aromhuset flavors which is currently only being offered worldwide by Allfreightfree.com

Find Several Culligan Water Filter System Reviews and Decide For Yourself Which One to Buy

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Types of Home Water Coolers

Home water coolers are a common sight among households nowadays. They offer fresh clean water, hot or cold. Whatever you need at the moment you can have without opening the refrigerator, or boiling water in the kitchen. This has revolutionized how people enjoy their coffee, juices, or tea anytime they want. Even at the gym or in the workplace, a convenient place to get cold water is always a welcome addition.

Here are some of the available types of home water coolers that you can choose from depending on you need, your space availability, and your budget:

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Fixed / Wall mounted water coolers - These are the types of coolers that do not use 5-gallon plastic containers in their system. Instead they get water from the pipes and main water line at home or of the building. There is essentially less work by using this because you do not have to change the jug once it is empty. With wall mounted water coolers you can be assured of continuous water supply any time of the day. This type of cooler is usually placed in the malls or in the workplace where there are a lot of people using it. There are some things to consider though when using this type of cooler. It is not movable and has zero mobility in any way. Also, unless you have water filters installed at your home or workplace, you will probably only be getting tap water from these coolers, and not the purified water normally associated with other types of units.
Freestanding water coolers - Arguably the best water coolers for homes and offices. They offer full functionality and mobility and can be put in any available space at home or in the office. This uses 5-gallon plastic water bottles for dispensing both hot and cold water. As long you have a power outlet, you are good to go. Replacing the empty water bottle however poses a daunting task, because it is quite a heavy load when it is full. Children, ladies and elderly people will have a difficult time replacing these bottles and may end up thirsty when no one is around to refill them. Also since they are free standing, they take up space, if you do not have a big enough space this might be a problem.
Countertop water coolers - Countertop water coolers for home are the solution for those who lack space in their area. This unit can be put on any counter or table top as long as it is stable and does not move easily. Extra care should be given though so that the unit won't easily fall off, causing possible damage or injury. One thing to keep in mind is that some reviews say that this type of cooler doesn't give out cold enough water, unlike the free standing ones.
Plain water dispenser - This is the cheapest and most basic option. It functions basically as a dispenser and does not cool or heat water. This is usually used in dorm rooms and in places where people will have no need for either cold or hot water. This is also the most economical choice for people strapped for cash but who still want to enjoy the benefits of drinking purified drinking water. This device do not use electricity at all thus it is has zero electricity expense.

These are some of the best possible choices available to you. Think about where you plan to put your cooler, what budget you are working with, and what needs you have, then select the best one that addresses all of your needs. This way you can get the most enjoyment out of your new cooler without breaking the bank.

Types of Home Water Coolers

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