There are two reasons why hard water and soft water are different. The first is chemical composition, and the other is pH level.
Many hard water solutions for home use revolve around fixing one or both of these problems by replacing chemistry or altering it by some method. In this article, we’re going to rank the most common solutions from worst to best.
Keep reading to the end for the best and most innovative option for most homes.
Least Effective: Magnetic Softener Systems
The idea of an electronic water descaler isn’t new. Efforts to debunk claims for descaling and softening your water using this method have also been long-running.
The proponents of the system say that magnetic waves and resonance help to reorganize dissolved molecules of calcium and magnesium to a state that won’t cause scale and soften water.
These claims are completely unsubstantiated and there’s no proof that it does anything other than throw away money.
Salt-Free With Potassium Chloride
Salt-free systems using potassium chloride are a bit of a misnomer. Potassium chloride is another type of salt, or molecule that uses an ionic bond.
The big difference is that sodium is replaced for potassium, which is much safer for people who have heart issues and low sodium diets.
Reverse Osmosis: Dialysis For Your Water Supply
A reverse osmosis system is based quite heavily on what a kidney does in your body. One of the biggest differences is that your kidney is roughly the size of your palm and filters about 75 quarts of blood per kidney per day, without increasing blood pressure.
The parts of an RO system include:
- Sediment filter
- Carbon filter for chlorine
- Osmosis Membrane
- Finishing Carbon Filter
- fleck 9100 valve
The catch is you can’t have pressure in your system of more than 85 PSI. You might also have to change pipes and tubing to 3/8″.
The payoff is absolutely pure water at a neutral pH.
Dual-Tank Softener Systems
For getting soft water, it’s hard to beat a Dual-Tank softener system. This is an improvement on the single-tank solution that provides on-demand regeneration of your resin media.
it also consists of the brine tank that you need to continue to maintain with sodium. Cheap and reliable operation, in return for sodium in your water. The standard softening solution.
Tic TAC Toe: Template Assisted Crystallization
The TAC or Template Assisted Crystallization system is perhaps the newest, most exciting development in water softening solutions in decades.
This system uses a treatment medium that never needs regeneration and doesn’t use salt. Water flows through the treatment media and creates calcium and magnesium crystals on the resin beads.
The process takes advantage of microscopic catalytic nucleation to create crystals that later break off when they get too big. They remain in solution as a stable molecule, that doesn’t attach to pipes, fixtures, or appliances.
This system also reduces the existing scale.
Your water pH and chemical makeup don’t change, only the form of the chemicals. There’s no electrical connection, no regeneration medium, and nothing to drain. The unit has no moving parts and usually lasts at least five years.
You’ll only want to filter your water ahead of time for sediment, especially iron which can damage the system.
Hard Water Solutions for Your Home
Our pick for the best water solutions is definitely TAC, given the expenses involved and the results. Reverse Osmosis systems are certainly a very clean system, but cost a lot in modification, procurement, and installation.
Did this help you determine the water softening system you want to use?
How can you save your money, time, and frustration on the wrong tech for your home? Keep browsing our articles to find out!