WHOLE HOUSE POINT-OF-ENTRY SYSTEMS
A large portion of the US has a condition known as hard water. Hardness
is measured as parts per thousand of calcium and magnesium. The water in these
hard water regions will typically range better 7 and 30 parts per
thousand.
TRADITIONAL ION EXCHANGE WATER SOFTENERS
Water softeners are extremely good at removing both of the two minerals that
cause a destructive condition in water systems . . . calcium and magnesium. This
condition is called scale and it is responsible for:
Destroying water heaters
Clogging faucets
Damaging rubber seals in
valves
Heavier use of detergents
Spots on glass
Fading colors in
fabrics
Softeners are installed near where water first enters the house and
treat most of your water. Outside hose bibs are usually excluded. They utilise a
two tanks; one filled with a salt and the other with an ion exchange resin.The
salt can either be potassium chloride or sodium chloride.
The heart of the system is the ion exchange resin. This resin attracts
calcium and magnesium, at the molecular level, and pulls them from the water
stream. Once all of the resin is coated with calcium and magnesium, the system
regenerates it by forcing salt water through it. The salt water causes a
chemical that allows the calcium and magnesium to release from the resin and be
washed down the drain with the salt. This procedure is called regeneration.
There are two types of softeners as defined by the type of valves that
control the regeneration cycle. The older systems use a simple time clock to
force regeneration at a selected time interval. Typically, these time clocks are
set to regenerate the softener every night at 2:00 AM. These systems waste salt
and water because they regenerate the system at the same interval regardless of
how much water has been used. They will even regenerate daily if no one has been
at home for weeks. These systems are outlawed in California because of their
waste of water and the amount of salt they put in the waste water.
The newest softeners are called demand initiated and actually calculate how
much water has been used and only regenerate when the resin is nearly exhausted.
The best of these systems have a number of features that also allow them to use
less water and salt per regeneration.
One of the claims a major manufacturer is claiming is that their product is
"green because it uses no electricity." When you consider that high efficiency
softeners operate only with a low voltage (12 volt) electric supply, there is a
marginal difference. Both products are "green" based on electric use alone. The
real question to consider when looking at efficiency is water and salt usage per
gallon of water processed.
THE HIGH EFFICIENCY WATER SOFTENER
The SOFTEC softener is the best of the high efficiency
softeners on the market. It is made in America and is certified by NSF and WQA.
It has a small footprint at 14" by 30". It is only a space saving 36" tall. It
has one of the highest efficiency rating of any residential softener on the
market.
TWO NO SALT SOFTENING SYSTEMS
Conventional, ion exchange water softeners are the most effective and
practical way to reduce water hardness and prevent scale formation in pipes and
plumbing fixtures. Water softeners, however, require salt to regenerate, and
they must be backwashed periodically to rinse and refresh the ion exchange
resin. Brine water discharge and the need to conserve water have challenged this
conventional technology, and new methods
We are proud to offer two salt free, no-waste water options to control scale
in your home. The difference in the two is that one of them includes a
tank-in-a-tank with activated carbon to remove objectionable tastes and odors
that may exist in your water.
Both systems use exactly the same anti-scaling media.
How Hard Water Happens
Municipal drinking water comes from ground water which is constantly added to
by rain. As rain falls through the atmosphere, it enriches itself with carbon
dioxide (CO2). Carbonic acid (H2CO3) is formed as the carbon dioxide and
water (H2O) combine. As this rain soaks through the soil, the carbonic acid
extracts calcium from calcium rich stones. This calcium is in the form of
hydrogen carbonate [Ca(HCO3)2]. The quantity of calcium rich rock formations
determine how hard the water will be.
How Does Calcium Scale Develop in Pipes and Hardware
The hydrogen carbonate comes to your home from your municipal water utility
or from a private well. This hydrogen carbonate is a very weak chemical
compound. You can see this when you heat water and it bubbles. Those bubbles are
formed as the CO2 escapes from the [Ca(HCO3)2]. This CO2 is the solvent for the
calcium. As it escapes, carbon is left. The same thing happens as you heat or
move water in your home. This leaves calcium free to attach, as scale, to pipes,
water heaters, and appliances.
How the Anti-Scaling Media Functions
The No-Salt Anti-Scale system transforms Calcium ions into Calcium crystals,
which are stable, and therefore cannot attach to pipes, and other surfaces. The
crystals are so small they are easily rinsed away by the water flow. This means
that your water heater, pipes, and appliances are protected while you can still
drink calcium, in the form of crystals, which is very good for you.
Tests preformed over several years showed that bonds cannot attach to
surfaces and the result is scale prevention. These tests also showed that in
addition to preventing scale, it also will remove scale that existed in the
pipes before the system was installed. This process takes several weeks, but is
very impressive.
This is a complete whole house water conditioner and filter. With all but the
worst quality incoming water, there should be no need for a separate drinking
water system. This system combines the finest salt-free Anti-Scale Media
softener with a whole-house sized internal carbon filter. Your water will not
scale up your water heater, pipes, or appliances, and it will taste great.
The incoming water enters the valve at the top of the tank and travels
through the center tube to the diffuser in the bottom of the tank. It then flows
upward through the whole-house carbon filter which removes chlorine and other
chemicals. It then continues upward through the Anti-Scale Media tank where the
calcium and magnesium are isolated into crystals which will not form scale.
Finally, the water exits through the valve as fresh tasting, scale-free water
for your whole house.
This softener wastes no water, uses no salt, and creates no damaging salinity
discharge.
The basic system is a SALT-FREE conditioner only. It has very limited
filtering ability and a drinking water system should be used with this
system.
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