When treating hard water, you may think that a water softener is the only option. But there is also a water conditioner. Choosing between them can be confusing for people so here is what to know about a water softener system and a water conditioner.
A Comparison Between Water Softeners And Water Conditioners
The Purpose
First, you need to know what a water softener as well as a water conditioner does, to understand what each system covers and how it can differ from one another.
Water Softeners
So, a water softener is an assembly with a resin bed, a brine tank, and a storage tank in which water is held. This allows the water to be retained in the tank when it’s getting softened. Water softeners are generally used to remove hardness-causing ions in water.
They replace the ions with either salt ions or neutral ions. It effectively softens water and makes it usable for a lot of things, like drinking, washing dishes and clothes, and even bathing.
Water Conditioners
Water conditioners are known as salt-free water softeners and chlorine removers. A water conditioner is a system that kind of soften the water and also remove chlorine from it which is common in city-treated water.
We stated that they kind of soften water because they don’t make hard water soft but only do a trick. They change the chemistry of water by changing the excess minerals in hard water to crystal. Because of this, the minerals in hard water don’t cause limescale buildup in the plumbing.
Keep in mind that water coming though a water conditioner would still be hard even though it will be less problematic for the plumbing of your house.
The Utility
The second thing to go over is the utility of each system.
Water Softeners
For a water softener, it can only be used if the water is hard. If the water is hard and has sediment particles in it, then before feeding the water into the softener, you will need to pass it through a filter.
A water softener is a single purpose system and it can’t be used for anything else. So, if you only have the problem of hard water in your house, then a water softener is perfect for you.
Water Conditioners
As a water conditioner doesn’t soften water, it’s used when limescale buildup is the concern for homeowners. Moreover, water conditioner are preferred by people who want a sustainable option because water softeners flush a lot of salted wastewater.
In addition to that, there are some states where water softeners are banned so the residents there can take advantage of water conditioners.
Chemical Mechanism Of The System
Well, you already know that water softeners remove calcium and magnesium ions altogether, but how does it happen?
Water Softeners
Well, in water softeners, the hardness-causing ions are completely removed and replaced with neutral ions or even salt ions. This means a water softener doesn’t just treat the water hardness, it gets rid of it altogether and that is amazing.
So, if you’re looking for a water treatment system that will get rid of all of the hardness-causing ions for good, then a water softener is perfect for you. It will stop the accumulation of scale for good.
Water Conditioners
Yes, a water conditioner does remove hardness, but not in the way you think. While water softeners remove the ions altogether, a water conditioner merely crystallizes them, so they’re still present in the conditioned water.
You may think that if water conditioners don’t actually soften water then why should we use them? Well, the primary benefit of water conditioners is that they reduce limescale buildup in the plumbing and appliances. So, they are used by people who are not concerned with softening hard water but want to avoid hard water stains.
Versatility
Versatility is also one of the most important things to go over when it comes to choosing water treatment systems. If you’re getting a system, then you might as well get something that covers a huge spectrum of things, so that you can get everything done in one go.
Water Softeners
Unfortunately, a water softener will only soften hard, but clear water. If the hard water has sediments or any bacteria in it, then it won’t be removed by a water softener. So, before you get a water softener, you want to ensure that this is what you want and that it will get the job done since it is an expensive investment and you don’t want to make any hasty decisions.
Water Conditioners
Water conditioners are also not great in this department because they only save the plumbing and appliances from limescale buildup.
If you need a versatile system, you should get a water treatment system that includes water softening and water filtration. That kind of system will not only soften the water but also remove contaminants from it allowing you to drink soft and clean water.
Price
The price of water treatment systems is also crucial to go over. As a general comparison, both water softeners as well as water conditioners lie in the same price range.
Both systems need to be installed and maintained from time to time, so it’s something that is going to happen regardless. Although, it is recommended that you have an allocated budget for both of these systems because the initial cost of installation can be high. Moreover, the maintenance cost of water softeners is considered higher than water conditioners.
Maintenance
When it comes to maintaining a certain water treatment system, you want to choose something that won’t demand a lot. Sure, routine maintenance is okay, but it doesn’t have to be anything too drastic that requires hours upon hours of care and looking after.
Water Softeners
When it comes to a water softener, it is going to need the usual maintenance. It will need to be cleaned, the resin bed will need to be regenerated now and then and the brine tank will also need some cleaning. But this is something that every water softener requires, so it’s what you’ll have to do if you want things to keep running smoothly.
Water Conditioners
As for water conditioners, they also require a bit of maintenance but generally, less than water softeners even though some might even say they require the same amount of maintenance as a water softener.
Many homeowners whose tap water isn’t too hard, choose water conditioners as they require less maintenance. Why? Because there is no brine tank or regeneration cycles or salt additions. You only need to clean it regularly and that’s it.
Conclusion
Water softeners and water conditioners can help you with hard water problems in their own. Water conditioners can reduce limescale buildup in the plumbing while water softener can soften water. People choose water conditioners because they are more eco-friendly, less costly to maintain, remove chlorine from water, reduce limescale buildup on fixtures, and don’t make the water salty. Water softeners are used because they really make the water soft which is a huge relief for your plumbing, appliances, clothes, skin, and hair. So, water softener installation Meadville is better if you want to completely get rid of hard water.