What is an Electronic Water Softener, and Do They Work?
6 Reasons For Using an Electronic Salt-Free Water Softener
The electronic water softener is a recent, but fast becoming popular, improvement on the traditional salt type water softeners.
Also known as conditioners, electronic water softeners use computer-based technology to produce electromagnetic waves that increase water's affinity for the calcium salts dissolved in it.
The calcium and magnesium are kept dissolved in the water as it flows through your pipes.
Keeping these minerals dissolved prevents further scale or white precipitate from forming in your pipes.
The electronic softener can also melt already existing scales in your pipes thereby increasing water flow.
Recommended Electronic Water Softeners
ClearWave Electronic Softener System (full review)
Eddy Electronic Descaler (Amazon.com)
Hard Water Minerals
Where do the minerals that make the water hard come from? Calcium and
magnesium are some of the natural components of chalk, limestone, or
marble. When rain falls, these minerals are washed away and carried to
the waterbed.
It follows that water in areas that have more limestone and chalk contains more calcium and magnesium.
It
is mostly these two ions that produce the ugly stains in your bathroom
floors, the white precipitate at the bottom of your kettle, the spots on
your car windows after you wash them, and the scale that clogs your
pipes and prevent your heaters from working efficiently.
Water Softeners: The Basics
In theory, traditional or salt-type water softeners act like magnets that attract calcium and magnesium in hard water.
A negatively charged resin,
usually made of compressed salts such as sodium or potassium chloride,
attract the positively charged minerals in water.
The calcium and
magnesium become bound to the resin, making the water soft. Resins have
to undergo periodic regenerations by passing through concentrated
brine. These concentrates often contain sodium, potassium, or hydrogen
chloride.
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The use of salts has been one of the major issues with
the traditional salt-type water softener. In areas with hard water,
softened water has increased amounts of sodium. Questions have been
raised about the medical safety of these high salt drinking waters.
The
process of regeneration also creates problems for the environment. The
salts used in regeneration pose a danger to the environment. In
addition, these salts may obstruct drains and overload septic systems.
Electronic Water Softening
Electronic
softeners build on the principles established by the traditional water
softners. These softeners have all the benefits of the salt-type water
softeners and none of its drawbacks.
So what do you get if you use electronic water softening?
1. Scale-free pipes and tiles
As
with any water softener, pipes become free of scales. Water in your
pipes can now run unhindered so that operating heaters and boilers are
more cost-effective. Your kitchen counter and bathroom tiles become
spotless. With softened water, you don't have to worry about spots on
your car after you wash it.
2. No sodium
Instead of using
salt-based resins that exchange sodium for calcium in hard water,
electronic softeners use electromagnetic pulses to dissolve the minerals
in the water. There are no chemicals, ions, or minerals added to the
water.
3. Low installation and operating costs
Having an
electronic water softener makes water softening stress-free. All you
have to do is install the softener, and then you can forget about it.
Seriously, you do not have to do the monthly task of regenerating your
resins or cleaning the brine tank periodically.
You also do not
have to go through the hassle of buying softener salts every couple of
weeks for regenerating these resins. Electronic softeners can either use
the electric power supply or they may depend on the current produced by
electrolysis. Thus, all you have to do to maintain your electronic
softener is to pay the electrical bill.
4. Longer life for household appliances
Home
appliances that use water can work more efficiently when scales are
removed from their pipes. An electronic water softener works on all
kinds of pipes except lead.
5. Less use of household cleaning agents
Since
less soap is used to get a good lather going with soft water, you can
save on dishwashing soap. Softened water can also lessen the shampoo you
use.
6. Feel and look better
Softer skin. Silkier hair. Cleaner clothes. Need we say more?
Send Us Your Electronic Softener Reviews
If you've used a Electronic Softener, why not send us your own thoughts? We'll share your views with other readers.
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