The municipal water supplies to the household can be classified into two types: hard and soft. Hardness is a result of the presence of magnesium and calcium in it. Most people try to get rid of the hardness and use softening systems for regular use, including doing the dishes, bathing, etc.
Hardness is often associated with problems like difficulty forming lather while using soap and detergents, corrosion of supply channels like pipes, etc. Hence most households need plumbers to install treatment units in their homes. If someone wants to install these systems, they can visit this site to install water softeners in their home.
Why Is Hardness A Cause Of Concern?
The hardness is due to the presence of calcium and magnesium; these minerals are usually picked up while rivers and rivulets pass through limestone-rich formations made up of carbonates or bicarbonate salts.
The presence of these minerals causes white depositions in the bathroom and kitchen fittings such as faucets, showers, etc. These spoil the fittings’ look and are also challenging to get rid of.
Moreover, if these crusts are deposited inside the pipelines, then the passage for the movement of fluids decreases considerably. Hence the pumps have to work more to ensure a steady movement through these channels. Thus, the energy bills go up considerably.
How Do Common Softening Setups Work?
These setups have resins with sodium ions attached to them. When the calcium or magnesium flows over the resins, then the sodium replaces the magnesium or calcium. The replacement happens because calcium and magnesium have a stronger attraction toward the resin beads.
The efficiency of the setup can be increased further by adhering strictly to the manufacturer’s guidelines regarding the manual renewal and frequency of replacement of the setup.
5 Myths About Softeners That People Should Be Aware Of
It Increases The Concentration Of Brine
The process by which the softening happens, that is, the exchange of sodium, makes people believe that the softened product will taste like a solution of brine. People believe that excessive salt can have potential health hazards such as higher blood pressure levels and other cardiovascular disorders.
However, this is a myth, and there is no need to worry about health hazards while using these setups. Moreover, post-treatment, the taste is not salty and almost tasteless.
It Is The Same As Purifying
Purification setups include boiling, UV irradiation, filtration, distillation, etc. However, purification is a different process. The processes involved and the purpose they serve is quite different.
For instance, UV rays kill harmful bacteria and viruses, and filtration removes solid particles like sand and gravel. Thus softening and purification cannot be substituted for each other, and most houses will need both setups to ensure that the water is safe to use and healthy to drink.
It Is Expensive
It is true that installing a new setup does involve an initial investment; however, in the long run, the expenses go down. In fact, the cost of initial installation is recovered from the lower energy consumption and less frequent plumbing requirements. Also, the household appliances run much longer without the harmful effects of corrosion. Thus, overall maintenance and replacement bills go down.
It Results In The Wastage Of Resources
There is a notion that softening results in wastage; however, it actually conserves resources. The setup has sophisticated valves for regulating the flow. Also, the softening happens depending upon the need and the usage of the household. So if the municipal supply is naturally soft, then the softening process will automatically stop.
In fact, instead of wasting resources, the entire process can end up saving resources like electricity. The hardness results in difficulties in foaming with soaps; instead, they form a whitish deposit with soaps and detergents. Thus, washing clothes requires more quantities of water to generate lather and remove the white deposits.
Energy consumption also reduces when softening is used. The flow of any fluid through a pipe depends upon the area of the pipe. Thus, the larger the size of the channel, the less resistance it poses to the flow of fluids. Also, these setups are not perpetually “on mode”; they typically run in cycles of ten days and so they do not consume energy all the time.
When salts form deposits on the inner surface of pipelines, then the liquid flow has to overcome greater resistance in its pathway. The higher resistance will require the pumping machinery to use more energy. Thus, the energy requirement of the household will increase. Moreover, corrosion will damage the channels, and frequent plumbing bills will be another unnecessary expenditure.
Residents Of Cities Do Not Need To Deal With Hardness
People tend to believe that residential areas that are covered under city administration do not need to deal with issues of hardness. However, this is far from the truth, and cities, big or small, need these setups as much as rural areas.
Hardness Is Good For The Skin
There is a belief that removing hardness has a negative impact on the skin. They tend to feel that the soap does not wash off easily and remnants of the soap continue to linger on the skin surface for a long time. However, the actual effect is quite the opposite; removing hardness does not leave any soap residues on the skin. It is good for the skin in the long run and leaves a smooth feel on the skin in the short run.
Conclusion
One thing is very true about softening setups: there are several wrong notions surrounding their installation, their purpose, and their effects. People think that such systems might have harmful effects on their health and cannot be used for drinking, gardening, etc.
Most people make the mistake of not installing such setups to save money. However, they end up doing more harm than good. Hence, being aware of common misconceptions and debunking them will reduce a lot of hassles and also save a lot of money.