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Hard water causes problems in both homes and industrial surroundings. Soap does not rinse the clothing, your skin and your hair. If you use hard water you can feel stiff or sticky after washing and the dishes can appear dirty from deposits after having been run through a dishwasher. Even more problematic, water pipes can become clogged from the dirt that builds up. This is caused by mineral components found in the water. The two most common minerals that cause water hardness are magnesium (Mg) and calcium (Ca) minerals.
Hard water is water with a high Ca and Mg mineral contents. This water can be softened by flushing the water through a tank in the water softener equipment that contains water softener resins which are negatively charge. Normally, these softener resins are bonded with salt minerals that have a weaker hydrogen bond than calcium or magnesium ions. When the "hard water" is put through the water softener tank, the sodium ions of its mineral contents change place with the ions of water softener resin.
Water softener salt contains either sodium chloride (NaCl) or potassium chloride (KCl). The salts in the water are in different forms and the water softener salts that are in use depend on the form of the water softener element, domestic size and the choice by the consumer. The use of NaCl increases the sodium substance of the home water supply. Though it might be a problem for some that have a medical problem with sodium salt intake, for most this is not a problem at all as the level of salt is very low. It is suggested however that the softened water should not be used to water plants. Drinkable, filtered or processed water must be use for consumption, cooking and bath. Potassium chloride is an alternative substitute for this process, although KCl tends to be more expensive compared to NaCl.
There are 3 kinds of water softener resin available on the market and these materials have been obtained by evaporation process and mining. First is the solar salt that comes from the evaporation of seawater. The solar salts are packaged as pellets and are more soluble than rock salt. Then, rock salt is mined and the use of rock salt makes it essential to clean the water softener unit. Rock salt can achieve this process because of the calcium sulfate content and calcium sulfate is insoluble. The most untainted, most pure and the most soluble of the three salt forms of water softener resin is evaporated salt. The evaporated salt is the most expensive of the three forms of salt and but on the other hand it is the most convenient form to apply. The evaporated salt is suitable to be utilized because it leaves less sediment which results in less demand for cleaning of the water softener tank. It is suggested that you reload the salt in the tank every 12 to 15 days and this process will keep the salt level of the tank at the right level.
For the process of softening of the household water, the consumer is typically the best judge in choosing the right water softener type to use. In making your choice, you must first consider how many people there are in your house and you must also consider the daily water consumption.
Per Strandberg explain how water softener resin works on his website about tips on how solve the problem magnesium and potassium in household water. Learn more at http://www.water-softener-and-purification.com.
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