With more than 30 years’ experience in the residential and commercial water treatment space, Mark Nelson is a Class 1 Drinking-Water Operator and a CBWA (Canadian Bottled Water Association) Certified Plant Operator. As founder and president of Nelson Water in Ottawa, Mark focuses on dealing with challenging water treatment system designs for problem water. He also heads the largest water bottling plant in the city of Ottawa with a delivery network throughout the Valley.
Like any complex system, there are many misunderstandings about water softeners that seem to linger for decades. This is especially true when it comes to models that use an ion-exchange process to soften the incoming water. Approximately 85% of North American homes receive hard water from private wells and municipal water suppliers. So, it’s understandable that people are looking for ways to make the water softer and easier to use. In this article, we will examine six common water softener myths and debunk them to help you make informed decisions.
1. A Water Softener Adds Salt to the Water
This is an easy mistake to make as the most reliable water softening method uses an ion-exchange process. The minerals that make the water hard, such as calcium, magnesium, and to a lesser extent iron, are exchanged for sodium or potassium ions. The minerals have a positive charge, and they naturally take the place of these salts, which are coating negatively charged resin beads. The sodium or potassium chloride ions come from a brine solution that’s held in a dedicated tank. But, the salts that are used are not like the table salt that you would find at the dinner table. This is sodium (Na) or potassium chloride (KCI) and not standard salt (NaCI).
2. The Sodium Levels in Softened Water are Unhealthy
The levels of salt that could be “added” to the water are negligible in nature and most people would not notice them or suffer health problems. But, if a person is exceptionally vulnerable to salt or they are on a low salt diet they may want to seek medical advice on this topic. A high quality potassium chloride water softening salt contains virtually no sodium. It’s more expensive than sodium-based water softening salt, but it’s far more benign if you are worried about salt in your drinking water. But, it’s important to state that there is more sodium in most foods that we consume regularly than you would find in softened water.
3. Water Softeners Will Purify the Water
This is false, a water softener is specifically designed to remove dissolved minerals that cause the water to be hard in nature. They will remove certain minerals and metals that cause the formation of scale that can wreak havoc in our homes. But, a water softener is not a filtration system in the true meaning of that term. It doesn’t remove all contaminants in the water, and it’s often installed in line with other filtration systems. Some water softeners do have a dedicated iron filter, but other metals and heavy metals would simply pass through the system. A good water filter may have a pre-filter to remove sand, sediment, dirt, dust, and other nuisance particles. But, this is a measure designed to protect the sensitive components in the water softener from potential damage.
4. Softened Water Creates a Film on Skin
Making the switch to soft water can surprise many people, and this is very noticeable when you take a shower. After showering in soft water, the skin has a slick feel and some may even describe it as “slimy”. This may sound terrible, but this is the exact opposite of a film being deposited on the skin. When we shower in hard water, the soap does not form soap suds easily, which we try to remedy with more soap, and this is ineffective. But, the soap that doesn’t foam is left behind, and soap scum along with the minerals that remain after the water has evaporated. We become accustomed to this sticky material on our skin and hair, and it can cause breakouts and other problems. The slick feeling that you experience after showering in soft water is your own essential natural oils lubricating the skin. In fact, this is how the skin is supposed to feel after washing, and soft water is much healthier for skin and hair.
5. Soft Water Lacks Healthy Minerals
When people learn that water softening removes dissolved minerals, such as calcium, magnesium, and iron, they can become concerned. This is understandable, these minerals are added to a lot of foods, and they are essential for good health. But, the minerals found in water are very different from those found in the foods that we eat. Hard water minerals are inorganic minerals, and their uptake by our bodies is negligible. When we eat calcium magnesium and iron in foods and supplements, they are organic minerals. They are sourced from plants which have transformed the minerals into a format that is much easier to absorb in the cells of our bodies. So, relying on drinking water for healthy minerals is a flawed strategy, and these minerals should always be sourced from fresh food and supplements.
6. Water Softener Systems are Expensive
It is true that water softeners are a significant investment, but in recent years the technology has become more affordable, and these systems will save you money. The water softener does consume some energy, you need to buy water softening salt, and some essential maintenance is needed from time to time. But, in the medium to long-term, a water softener can save you a significant amount of money. A water softener will have a lifespan of up to 15 years, and regular servicing will keep the system working to the upper limit.
The major saving will be the water heater. It will work more efficiently with soft water which will reduce your energy bills. Other water using appliances will be protected from the formation of scale on the pipes and heating elements. This will reduce the frequency of repairs and prevent earlier than expected replacements, which are expensive. It is possible to get better laundry results with soft water using less detergent and lower temperature settings which saves even more money.
In Conclusion
As you can see, many myths about water softeners are not true, and they are a smart investment if you want to improve water quality and save at the same time. If you want to install a water softener in your home, contact your local water treatment specialist today.