Water Softener 101 for Residents of Jacksonville, FL

Learning the basics of what a water softener does and how it functions will enable you to make a more-informed decision should you decide to buy one for your home in Jacksonville, Florida. At the most basic level, a water softening system is a device that removes hardness minerals from water, primarily magnesium (Mg) and calcium (Ca). Though harmless, these minerals can lead to a variety of household problems, such as decreasing the effectiveness of soaps and detergents, curtailing the energy efficiency of water heaters, damaging clothing fibers, gumming up shower heads and faucets, and leaving behind a chalky residue on bathroom and kitchen surfaces.

The most popular type of water softener utilizes a process called ion exchange. This type of softener typically contains a bed of sulfonated polystyrene beads called resin. As hard water passes through the resin, its ions of Mg and Ca are exchanged for ions of sodium (the reason why ion exchange water softeners periodically have to be refilled with salt). After this occurs, the water softener will undergo a process called regeneration where the Mg and Ca ions – now on the resin – are replaced with ions of sodium and flushed away so that more hard water can be softened.

It might sound a bit complicated, but in truth, ion exchange is a time-tested chemical process that produces water that’s better for whole house use. And, water softener technology has come a long way, with models on the market today that initiate the regeneration cycle automatically based on actual water usage in the home. Demand-initiated regeneration, or DIR, helps to conserve water, salt, electricity, and money.

For more information about water softening, contact your local authorized RainSoft dealer in Jacksonville, FL. RainSoft has a large network of dealers throughout North America and around the globe that provide professional water softener installation and service.