5 Myths about Water Softeners and Why They Are False
In areas that get hard water, there are various problems that people face. However, you can easily avoid these problems if you have water softeners installed in your homes. Sadly, there are many misconceptions about water softeners that people tend to believe, which either get their expectations too high or create a negative space in their minds. Here is the truth behind some of these myths:
Myth 1: Water Softeners Add Salt to the Water
You add salts to the softener, which are used to remove the hardness from water. This salt is not present in the water once it is softened. The softeners remove minerals such as magnesium and calcium via an ion exchange procedure to make the water soft.
The sodium ions from the salt replace the hard minerals. So, it is Sodium, which gets added to your water and not salt. Incidentally, the amount of Sodium in softened water is not unhealthy. The typical amount present in softened water is too small to have a negative effect.
Myth 2: Softeners Purify Hard Water
Well, they don’t. Water softeners are designed only for the purpose of reducing the hardness of the water. Water softeners remove the scale-causing metals, minerals and help in solving other associated household troubles. They do not remove contaminants. There are many water purifiers designed for that purpose
Myth 3: Water Softeners Remove the Healthy Minerals as Well
The removal of calcium and magnesium alarms people as they fear that they will be deprived of minerals, which are good for bone health. However, the minerals present in the water are not the same as what you can get from the food. The ones present in the water are inorganic minerals and cannot be easily absorbed by the body. The ones present in your food have been converted to organic form by the plants and hence are able to give you the required nutrition.
Myth 4: Water Softeners Waste Water and Energy
Some water softeners do waste water and salt during the process of regeneration i.e. the cycle of recharging the media with sodium ions, but that is not true for all systems. There are several highly efficient models, which work only as per the requirements of the household. Soft water also helps save the environment in several other ways, thus benefiting overall.
Myth 5: Water Softeners Are Expensive to Install and Maintain
The initial investment may put a load on your budget and you will need to keep spending on salt, electricity and servicing for its proper functioning. In the long run, however, it helps you save really big. It saves on repeated expenses on fixing the plumbing fixtures and your appliances such as water heaters, washing machines and dish-washers. Water softeners will also help you save on consumables such as detergent. In a nutshell, it’s totally worth the investment and offers value for money.
It is better to clear your doubts before you install water softeners in your house so that you are completely satisfied with the purchase. A softener is a good investment, especially if the water available in your area is hard water and will serve you well with some maintenance.
Author: Sherley Grimes