Water Conditioners vs. Water Softeners

Water Conditioners vs. Water Softeners
Hard water is the calcium and magnesium in your  water which is responsible for scale build up, water spots, premature failure of appliances and plumbing fixtures. How do I know how hard my water is?
Here is an easy way to explain the measurement of water hardness:
Hard Water is measured in grains per gallon.
Let’s say your water has 20 grains per gallon of water hardness.  This is a very average measurement found throughout the United States. The volume measurement of an Aspirin Tablet is 5 grains.   Instead of Aspirin,  replace it with calcium and magnesium.   Since your water has 20 grains per gallon of hardness, this is the equivalent of 4 for tablets of calcium and magnesium the size of an Aspirin tablet dissolved in every gallon of water that comes into your home or business.   Water with a hardness of 2 grains per gallon or more is considered “Hard Water”

Traditional Mechanical Water Softener

Detailed information about Water Softeners:
Water softeners mechanically soften the water by exchanging the hardness minerals (calcium and magnesium) with sodium.  This process has been around since the early 1900s.  Inside all water softeners is a petroleum based product called resin.  As your water passes over these tiny resin beads, calcium and magnesium ions are removed from the water in exchange for sodium ions.   Depending on the hardness of your water, these resin beads will soften a pre determined amount of water before being exhausted.   Once this occurs, the water softener must regenerate and bring more salt to rejuvenate the resin.  During this cycle, the exchange process is reversed. The water softener draws a very strong salt solution into the resin bed.  The resin then releases the hardness minerals and retains the sodium for the softening.  The hardness minerals that were taken from the water are then sent down the drain along with residual salt.  The process of regeneration typically occurs about once a week for a family of 4.  On an average 50 gallons of water is sent to the drain during this process.   These types of mechanical water softeners are called Automatic Water Softeners.

Exchange Tank Softener

Exchange Tank Water Softeners: 
Many states, municipalities and counties have banned automatic water softeners.   Since waste water is now being reclaimed for irrigation, the brine discharge is not wanted in their sewer systems.Water Conditioning dealers have been given Discharge Permits to do this process at their plants. Exchange tanks are dropped off at customer’s homes or businesses and their exhausted tanks are returned to their plant for regeneration.   Truckloads of exchange tanks are returned to their plant.  All of the exhausted resin from these tanks are dumped into one large vat where a strong brine solution is rinsed over the resin.   The salt solution is then rinsed and the empty exchange tanks are refilled and returned to another customer for softening their water.
 
There are major considerations in this type of water softening:  Exchange tanks come from many different areas with different types of water quality, different business applications and homes.  As previously mentioned, the resin is dumped into large vats for regeneration. You as a consumer have no control over where the resin you are now using has been before coming to your location.   In addition, there can be a marked increase of heavy metals in the product water from the use of galvanized metal, zinc and brass from the exchange tank itself.   There are no regulations regarding the construction and quality control over exchange tanks.

Salt used for exchange tank water softeners: 
The salt which is used for the regeneration process is produced from ocean water or salt mines.  This salt is taken directly from the production facility and trucked to the dealer.  There are no regulations on the quality of the salt used to regenerate exchange tanks.   Something to consider when these exchange tanks are connected to your water supply and they have been regenerated with un-treated salt. 

Aesthetics of Mechanical Water Softeners:
Based on your personal preference, water that has been mechanically softened with salt will feel slippery, silky or slimy when washing with soap.  Some people like it and others do not because it feels like they cannot get the soap completely off.   Customers are told that silky, slimy, feeling are the natural oils they feel.  This is not true.  It is excess salt coming in contact with the lanolin which is a protective layer for your skin.  Salt is used in many detergents, liquid soaps as a filler because it increases the foamy, sudsy appearance which is more desirable to the consumer, but not necessarily the most beneficial.   If you look at the ocean as wave breaks, you will see white foam from the high salt concentration and oils from bacteria and other ocean life in the water.  Mechanical Water Softeners will prevent scale build up in water heaters by removing hardness.  The sodium from softened water will combine with soaps and limit bathtub ring, allows better results with laundry and dish washing.   Most laundry and dish washing soaps contain a lot of sodium.   Sodium causes the suds, but soap suds do not clean.  Salt softened water can cause spots depending the amount of sodium in water.    A common complaint of soft water is the etching of glassware in dishwashers.  This is caused by too much soap (with added salt filler) combined with soft water (added salt to the water).

Salt is very corrosive.  Mechanical Water Softeners use the same salt that is used on icy roads.  That salt is extremely corrosive to the undercarriage of vehicles, it literally destroys them.   Ocean going boats and homes located near the ocean require constant service just to keep the corrosiveness of salt under control.  Many consumers with galvanized pipes have discovered after purchasing a salt based water softener to prevent scale build up came up with leaks in their plumbing due to corrosiveness of salt. Homeowners with mechanically softened water will find they go through more water heaters because of the corrosive effect of salt on the tank and heating element.   Swimming pools and spas should never have mechanically softened water.  Homes with septic tanks should never have automatic water softeners due to the damaging properties salt has to the bacteria which breaks down waste.

Aquafer Water Conditioners or Whole House Water Filters:
With the concern over water waste, electrical use,  salt and chemicals, many consumers are considering whole house water conditioners over mechanical water softeners.   Water conditioners like the Vibrant Aquafer System do a multitude of processes to treat your water.   

Aquafer Water Conditioner

How a typical Aquafer Water Conditioner process works:
The untreated water enters the conditioner.  From there, the water is processed through a scale prevention device which renders the hardness minerals harmless for up to 72 hours.  This is done by producing a slight pressure drop in a chamber.  The water then passes through a catalyst which further enhances the process.  From there it passes over a strong magnetic field which forces the hardness minerals to be held in suspension for 72 hours.  During this time, water hardness minerals are unable to attach themselves to any plumbing, appliances or fixtures.  The next step is the passing of the water through a media called KDF which removes harmful chlorine, bad tastes, heavy metals and prevents bacteria growth in the water.    The result is water that has been treated for many purposes, scale prevention, much improved water quality for bathing, consumption and general cleaning use.

Conditioned water will tend to sheet.  If the water is left to dry, it will leave a residual behind.  The advantage is it will wipe clean very easily without the use of any chemicals or scrubbing.  There are fewer suds with a water conditioner because there is no salt added to the water.   You should not use more soap to get more suds.  Clothes will get cleaner without excess soap.  Your laundry and dishes will rinse off and dry easier.    In your shower, the water soap rinses of easily and quickly and cleaner.   Just like mechanically softened water, you will still need to clean our kitchen surfaces and toilets.

Water Softener or Water Conditioner? 
A true whole house water conditioner will remove sediment, chlorine, chemicals and will treat the water hardness in a way it will be unable to form scale with glass or metal.  A mechanical water softener does not treat the water for anything but hardness. Mechanically softened water requires continued maintenance of the dumping of salt and monitoring of equipment for performance of valve and meters.  Expected annual cost for salt for a family of 4 would be:  $120.00

Water Conditioners such as the Aquafer will provide consumers with approximately 2,000,000 gallons of conditioned maintenance free water.  Equivalent to 18 years.

Both systems are effective when it comes to treating hard water issues.   They will produce water that feels different.   Conditioned water by such products as the Vibrant Aquafer feels like water that has been softened naturally, similar to spring water.   Mechanically softened water will feel slippery or silky because of the added salt in the water.

When it comes to making a final decision on water softener vs. water conditioner, consider the following:
What results do I want with your treated water?
Do you want more than just soft water?
How do I want my product water to feel?
Am I concerned over the ecological effects of mechanically softened water?
Will my location work with a water softener?  Do I have a water supply, drain and electricity available?
Are there restrictions against water softeners in my area?
Do I want to improve the taste of my water?
Am I willing to properly maintain my system or would I prefer maintenance free?

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