Boilers

Central Heating

Plumbing Repairs

Plumbing Installations

Saving Energy

Call Alliance Plumbing And Heating Now on 020 8845 6086

Water Softener Information

If you're looking for information on water softeners, feel free to browse through our selection of articles below.

They'll be sure to supply you with good information so that when you buy your water softener, you know you'll be making an informed choice. The articles below offer many types of water softeners and related information. Just look through the selection of water softener information below to get the help you've been waiting for

About the Water Softener System

A water softener will make your hard water soft by reducing the calcium or magnesium ions in hard water. Water softening devices utilize an ion exchange resin wherein the hard ions trade places with sodium (non-hardness) ions. These sodium ions are bound electrostatically to the anionic groups of the polymeric resin. Ion-exchange properties are exhibited from minerals which are known as zeolites. These elements may cause problems when the metal ions react with soaps and other cleaning products by impeding their ability to lather adequately, thereby reducing cleaning effectiveness. In addition, the calcium and magnesium carbonates may adhere to pipe surfaces and heat exchange surfaces.

A water softener traditionally utilized an exchange process whereby hard water minerals were exchanged with sodium. This process may merely exchange hard water problems for “salt water” problems. Newer technologies have produced water softeners which can utilize a process known as magnetohydrodynamics. This is a process which stops the build-up of calcium and lime scaling of pipes and other fixtures that is caused by hard water. It does so by using a magnetic water conditioning system.

A water softener will enable your clothes to become cleaner, decrease household cleaning tasks (because the cleaning products will work better and faster with soft water), and even provide you with cleaner and softer hair and skin. In addition, your small and large household appliances will have a longer lifespan because the scale build-up that occurs with hard water is practically eliminated with the use of soft water.

Whether you use a traditional water softener or a more high tech version, you will experience many advantages that can be provided by a soft water system.

The Different Types of Water Softener

There are five different types of water softeners: manual, semi-automatic, automatic, demand initiated regeneration (DIR) and off-site regeneration. Each type of water softener comes in several different sizes and is rated on the amount of hardness that can be removed before it must be regenerated.

A manual water softener must be started and stopped when recharging the unit. With a semi-automatic water softener, it is necessary that an individual manually begin the procedure for recharging, with the exception of the automatic termination of the rinse portion and the return to service.

An automatic water softening system is normally equipped with a timing device that will automatically begin the recharging cycle, as well as all steps in the process. There is an abundance of softening material to accommodate the process for numerous regenerations, however, additional material must be added when necessary. This is the most popular type of softening unit.

The demand initiated regeneration (DIR) unit provides the initiation of all operations which are automatically performed according to the demand for softened water. These system usually include two softening tanks, as well as a brine tank. One tank will be softening as the other tank is recharging.

The fifth type of water softener is the off-site regeneration unit. These are usually rented by the homeowner. A recharged tank will replace a used tank when needed. The used tanks are then recharged at a central location.

The best type of water softener for household use is one that can be connected into the water supply line. However, when it comes to water for drinking and cooking purposes, it is best to install a separate faucet for un-softened water.

Do you Need a Water Softener?

You may need a water softener when your water is so hard that magnesium and calcium build up, thereby causing problems with your water. This build-up occurs because the metal ions react with detergents and soaps that are calcium sensitive. As a result, they are not able to lather correctly; this will be evident by a "bathtub ring." Hard water can interfere with all types of cleaning tasks, including laundry because the cleaning efficiency of your detergent will be hindered when hard water is used in laundering. Scale from hard water can even build up to a point in which pipes, spray nozzles or coils can become clogged which can cause damage, thereby resulting in costly repairs.

Hard water actually results because of the calcium and magnesium that is left in the water. These minerals are harmless to your health, but they can hinder cleaning tasks. It is difficult to obtain a sudsy lather with hard water, both in the cleaning of your home and in the cleaning of your person (including skin and hair). If hardness measures more than 120 parts per million or 7.0 grains per gallon, your water is considered hard. A film and/or spotting will occur on showerheads, shower doors, glasses, coffee pots and other small and large appliances due to hard water.

Routine household cleaning tasks including laundering, dishwashing and even bathing can be affected by hard water. For example, your clothes that are washed in hard water can be harsh and scratchy and clothing and other articles, especially white ones, may look soiled and may take on a greyish tint. Shower walls and glass shower doors may also become spotted because hard water build-up will cause a film and scum to form on the tub and shower, which will be especially noticeable on glass shower doors. Your skin and hair may not feel clean when washing with hard water.
Dishes may be water spotted and filmy after they have dried. It may not seem as though water spots would be a huge problem. However, water spots can dramatically affect the quality of your products, including the lifespan of your products, which will cost you money for new products and services.

Other adverse effects of hard water include the restriction of water flow in pipes due to the build-up of magnesium and carbonates. These detrimental effects of hard water use can even impact household appliances. For example, a study was conducted with gas and electric water heaters, some of which used hard water and others used softened water. The results indicated that those water heaters that had used only hard water expended more energy than those which used only softened water. One major factor was that scale build-up increased in the water heaters that utilized hard water. The difference was as much as 35 pounds more in hard water scale build-up as opposed to the soft water scale build-up. This scale build-up creates an insulation effect which shields the water from the heat source, therefore, the water heaters must work harder to deliver hot water.

Softer water allows for easier and quicker cleaning and can also decrease the amount of cleaning products that are needed to complete the task.

Hard water often results when water is obtained from wells. In the case of public water systems, it usually isn't necessary to use a water softener because they have lower hardness levels.

Soften Your Water

The use of a water softening tank is the quickest and most effective way to reduce the hardness in your water. This tank is simply connected to the water supply line. An ion exchange water softener is used so that hard water will become softer. This process occurs when the water passes through a bed of softening material such as micro-porous sulfonated polystyrene beads; the beads are then supersaturated with sodium to cover their exterior and interior surfaces which creates the capability of taking on or giving up electrical charges.

As the hard water passes through the softening material, the ion exchange process takes place. During this process resin beads accumulate calcium and magnesium and the sodium in the resin beads is then released into the water. This process actually occurs billions of times during this softening process. The system will not be able to soften the water when too much hardness accumulates on the softening material. When this occurs, it will be necessary to recharge the water softening tank. During the recharging operation, the softening material will be washed automatically with a brine solution in order to replace the sodium and allow for the continuation of the ion exchange process.

In recent years, the use of alternative water softeners has increased. The use of magnetohydrodynamics is one alternative to traditional water softeners. This method moves water through the earth by dissolving minerals and retaining them in solution as salts. Magnetohydrodynamics is conducive to individual users as well as to the environment.

How a Water Softener Operates

Water softeners operate by an ion exchange process. Water softeners are actually a cation (positively charged ions) exchange mechanism. Hardness ions are replaced with non-hardness ions. In order to conduct this procedure, water softeners utilize sodium (Na+) as the exchange ion supplied from the dissolved sodium chloride salt, also known as brine. Sodium ions then coat an exchange medium in the water softener. These exchange mediums are known as “zeolites” or synthetic resin beads that look like wet sand.

Calcium and magnesium trade places with sodium ions as the hard water passes through a water softener. These sodium ions are replaced by calcium and magnesium ions which enables the free sodium ions to be released into the water.

A chemical breakdown of CaZeolite + Na+àthe softening process is as follows: NaZeolite + Ca2
and
MgZeolite + Na+àNaZeolite + Mg2 +

The exchange medium is coated with calcium and magnesium ions when a huge quantity of softening has taken place in the hard water. A recharging or regeneration must occur with the exchange medium. A softener can be back-flushed with a salt brine solution in order to recharge the softener with sodium ions.

A chemical breakdown of NaZeolite + CaClàthe recharging process occurs as follows: NaCl + CaZeolite
and
NaZeolite + MgClàNaCl + MgZeolite

The hardness of the water, as well as the amount of water utilized, the size of the unit and the capability of the exchange media to remove the hardness all factors in determining the amount of time between the recharging cycles.

The water that is being treated will pass through resin and negatively charged resins absorb and bind the metal ions, which are then positively charged. These resins contain univalent sodium ions and are exchanged with divalent calcium and magnesium ions in the water to remove the formation of soap scum. Water will pass through both types of resin and the hardness ions replace the sodium when is then released into the water. Because of the salt content, many people believe that soft water should not be ingested. In fact many local governments will not allow water softeners because of the concentration of brine solution that accumulates due to the regeneration process when it gets flushed out of the system and may then be released into the soil or sewer. As a result, the water could be detrimental to the environment.

Comparing Old and New Water Softeners

The old types of water softeners which are still in use today have some disadvantages. The disadvantages of water that is produced from a water softener is generally not used for drinking (in fact, the water does not taste too good), thus a reverse osmosis must be used; the skin has a slick feel after a shower or bath; salt (sodium or potassium chloride) must frequently be replaced; and the water may not be conducive to plants or pets. Many communities have outlawed the conventional water softeners because of the salt brine backwash.

Some of the newer models of water softeners have features that cannot be found on their older counterparts. Several brands of water softeners, such as GE SmartWater water softeners contain technologies that can determine your water usage needs and guarantee that you will have soft water when needed. These newer technologies use up to 60% less salt that the older models and have low wattage transformers that need 50% less energy than units that utilize the traditional 24-volt transformers.

Additional features of the more “modern” water softeners include less frequent salt replacement with a 200 pound salt storage unit; a wider opening in the salt storage area which provides easier access for refilling purposes; the unit can be easily installed; modern covers will protect the electronic elements; high efficiency is achieved with resin-based materials (this will save you money in salt and water costs); a convenient bypass valve can be easily changed from on to bypass (when needed for watering your lawn and garden or washing your car).

Advantages of Using a Water Softening Unit

Should you Not Use a Water Softening Unit?

If you are on a low sodium diet, some health risks could occur with softened water due to the sodium that is added into the water with a softening system. There is approximately 8 mg/1 ppm of sodium added for every grain of hardness that is removed from the water. Thus, if you are on a low sodium diet, you must take this aspect into consideration. In fact, it would be a good idea to consult your physician before installing a water softening unit. There is a fairly simple remedy to this situation. You may leave one kitchen tap un-softened so that you may use it for drinking and cooking purposes.

In addition to avoiding softened water for drinking (for both humans and pets), you should also not use softened water for houseplants, lawns and gardens because of the sodium content.

A water softening may possibly overload or reduce the efficiency of a small septic or sewer system.

You should not use softened water in a steam iron or evaporated cooler. In fact, it is best to use distilled water or water from a reverse osmosis unit for your steam iron or water cooler.

With sodium based water softeners, there is a risk of corrosion of iron pipes and exposed steel surfaces. These types of pipes are not found in newer homes since most of the pipes are now either coated or composed of stainless steel, which would not be affected by the sodium. If your water is treated catalytically or magnetically, it would not be affected.

Soft Water for Cleaning and Laundering

You will use less detergents and less cleaning products with soft water, yet you will obtain better results than you would with hard water. (Less use of your products will, of course, save you money.) The soap scum, scale and water stains that are evident with hard water will be eliminated by using softened water; plus, your cleaning time will be decreased.

Detergents will work much better in soft water, and the washing process will be less harsh for your clothes. As a result, your clothes and linens will have a longer lifespan.

When hard water is used for laundering, the calcium and other mineral deposits remain in the fabrics. In addition, these calcium deposits grate at the clothes, especially when they are being worn, which means that the clothes will wear out faster, and they may also fade.

Your laundry will be cleaner and smell fresher when soft water is used because the softened water will help reduce or even eliminate the dulling effects that can be produced by hard water. Soft water will also help your laundry detergent work much more efficiently.

Even though you may use less detergent, your clothes will look brighter, since more soil and debris can be eliminated with the use of soft water. The soft water encourages detergents to penetrate into the cloth fibres, thereby removing even the most minute traces of dirt and debris.

Large and small household appliances, as well as windows, woodwork and floors will benefit from the effects of utilizing soft water for all your cleaning chores. You may only need to wipe and rinse sinks, tubs, shower tiles and fixtures to obtain a sparkling clean shine since there will be much less soap scum to scrub when soft water is used. Another benefit that soft water has when use for your cleaning tasks is that there is no need for harsh chemicals.

Using Soft Water for Plumbing and Appliances

Hard water creates a build-up of scale that is extremely hard and affixes itself to your appliances and plumbing systems. This is evident on your shower and tub tiles, indoor plumbing fixtures as well as your small and large appliances. It is also evident on water heaters, plumbing systems and other pipes. As a result of the scale build-up, the efficiency and lifespan of your household products and fixtures can be greatly diminished. Soft water greatly diminishes the scale build-up that occurs with hard water; in fact, the build-up is practically eliminated with the use of soft water.

Soft water will greatly reduce or eliminate the problems so that appliances and plumbing systems will function more effectively and their lifespan will be increased as well. In fact water heaters will consume much less energy with soft water than with hard water. Due to the build-up of magnesium and carbonates that often occurs with hard water, the flow of water in your pipes can be substantially restricted.

A recent study was conducted on gas and electric hot water heaters, one of which used hard water; and the other which used water that had been softened. The study revealed that those water heaters which utilized hard water burned up more energy that those heaters which used softened water. The study revealed that the main reason for this was that scale build-up increased in water heaters that utilized hard water. The difference in scale build-up was as much as 35 more pounds for hard water as opposed to the heaters using soft water. An insulation effect occurs with scale build-up which shields the water from its heat source, thereby causing the heater to work harder in order to deliver hot water.

Soft Water for Bathing

By using soft water, your skin and hair will feel smoother and be cleaner. If you notice a somewhat slippery feel on your skin after washing with soft water, it is not because you couldn't rinse thoroughly, but is actually the feeling you should get from being totally clean. You will not have the water deposits on your skin that you get from hard water, nor will you be left with a soapy film on your skin and hair. Shampoo will be totally rinsed away when using soft water. This results in softer, cleaner hair.

When washing your skin with soap, (or in the case of your face, facial cleanser), soft water will create a better, softer lather. Soft water will also reduce or even eliminate the soapy film that may be left on your skin after washing, as can occur with hard water. In addition, soft water will help unblock your pores and assist in the prevention of chapping, itching and dryness that may be caused by trapped dirt and bacteria.

Hard water can make your hair drab or prevent your hair colouring from penetrating into your hair, thereby resulting in colouring that doesn’t take or adhere to your hair. These problems can be eliminated by using softened water. Soft water will also be more efficient when shampooing so that it will not be necessary to use as much shampoo, and you will be left with much cleaner, softer hair. Soft water will provide your hair with so many benefits, not only cleaner hair, but hair that is shinier, silkier and more manageable as well. In essence, soft water will help your shampoo do the job it was intended to do.

Maintaining your Water Softening Unit

To maintain a water softener, you basically need to restock the salt supply for the brine solution. Salt is purchased in the form of pellets, granules or blocks. If you own a manual or semiautomatic water softening system, you will also need to start the recharging cycle.

You may need to occasionally clean the brine tank. The frequency of cleaning is dependent upon the salt that is used in the softening process. You should also check, and clean, if necessary, the brine valve and float assembly.

A water softening system can be hindered by the existence of excess iron or hydrogen sulphide in the unit. The results of a water test will determine whether you need to install the correct pre-softening treatment equipment.

If you have a build-up of iron, you made need to backwash or reverse the normal flow of water through the treatment unit more often.

Regular maintenance must be done with salt based water softening systems because the sodium or potassium ions are replaced by calcium and magnesium. In order for the ion exchange process to work properly, the resin must be regenerated.

If you have a water softener such as the SafeWater softening system, you will not need to perform any maintenance procedures. The reason for this is that the tough, resistant alloy totally eliminates the need for maintenance of the water softening system. With this type of system, there is no need to install a bypass around the unit because water that is treated by this process is safe for any use.

For a typical water softening system, the water softening unit must be recharged when the resin is up to its capacity. A time clock is generally used for starting the regeneration process. However some units may be started with water use meters or hardness detectors. The semi-automatic softeners have automatic controls for everything with the exception of controls to start the regeneration process. The manual systems require manual functions of the valves to control the backwashing, brining and rinsing processes. If you are able to purchase the unit and services of a water softening company, the company will install a softening unit and replace it occasionally with a freshly charged unit.

Alternatives to Conventional Water Softeners

With a conventional soft water system, hard water minerals are merely exchanged with sodium when a water softener is used. As a result, you often end up with salt water problems instead of hard water problems. Thus, an alternative to conventional water softeners is to use a product such as the LifeSource Whole-House Water System because you obtain clean drinking water by using their maintenance-free system. This system avoids the use of salts or chemicals.

There is a solution to hard water problems when it comes to doing your laundry. The adverse effects from calcium and magnesium can be eliminated with certain chemicals that are added to hard water in the form of laundry detergents. These detergents include water softening chemicals within their formulas. Two brands of such detergents are Sal Soda and Calgon. Sal soda detergent is composed of calcium and magnesium that is combined to form solid particles. During the washing process, the particles combine with dirt particles and are eliminated during the washing process. The only drawback to this detergent is that your laundry may not become completely clean because the solid particles could cling to the fabrics. Another detergent, Calgon, also combines calcium and magnesium, but these compounds remain in the solution. The drawback to this product is environmental in nature because it contains a high phosphate content.

The magnetohydrodynamics method is an alternative to conventional water softening systems, although it does act in much the same manner as a conventional system. Magnetohydrodynamics uses magnetically conditioned water to prevent scale from forming on heated surfaces. The water is moved through the earth by dissolving minerals and retaining them as salts in a solution. The water will form a directional field to maintain minerals in a suspension and prevent them from forming scale. This method consists mainly of calcium and magnesium. Since salt is eliminated from this method, there will be no build-up, since it is salt that forms the build-up in pipes and on other surfaces.

Another alternative to traditional water softeners is the catalytic water softeners which utilize a catalyst combined with powerful magnets to provide salt-free soft water.

It would benefit you to research these alternative methods to obtain soft water in order to obtain the best soft water system for your home.

About Magnetohydrodynamics

Magnetohydrodynamics is actually magnetically conditioned water which keeps scale from forming on heated surfaces. It is an alternative to a soft water system, although acts in much the same manner as a water softening system. If you have hard water and want to find an alternative to a water softening unit, consider this type of system. It actually halts the build-up of calcium and lime scaling of your pipes and other fixtures that is caused by hard water. A magnetic water conditioning system may actually save you money. One popular choice is the Magnetic Magic Water Conditioning System.

The process of magnetohydrodynamics is to move water through the earth by dissolving minerals and retaining them in solution as salts.

When the water passes through the Magnetic Magic magnetic field, water molecules align to form a consistent directional field, which will maintain the minerals in a particular suspension and prevent them from forming any scale. The magnetic water dissolves scale build-up which is currently present and flushes it down the drain.

The system mainly consists of calcium and magnesium. Scale eventually develops in your pipes due to the build-up of salts. This build-up is intensified by heating; such is the case in your hot water heater. It stands to reason that much more energy will be expended when there is a build-up because the heater will need to work so much harder. For example an approximate build-up of scale that is one-half inch thick will hinder the transfer of heat by as much as 70 percent, thereby resulting in a higher energy bill.
Magnetized water has other advantages as well such as a reduction in tooth plaque (which could result in a reduction of dental bills). Your water heater has less chance of burned out elements and you will have better water pressure. You will not have water spots on glassware, silverware or your car. There will no longer be the bathtub or toilet ring or spots on the bathroom tile; nor will there by white deposits on shower heads and faucets.

Soap scum will be much less difficult to remove from your tub, shower and shower doors. No more sticky valves and faucets on water heaters and sinks. Your appliances will have a longer lifespan.

If you are concerned about sodium intake in your diet, the tap water you drink from your home will no longer be a concern.

The magnetohydrodynamics water system will be cost effective as well; in fact it should pay for itself within a year because your water heater will be more efficient because the water will clean out scale build-up and preclude new deposits from forming.

These magnetohydrodynamics water systems have been used in Europe for over 40 years. However, the system has evolved into a more sophisticated one since the discovery of magnets that were developed for NASA. These powerful magnets do not wear out or need outside power sources.

Most homes need three units for the system to function properly. Two units will be located on the pipe which comes into your home and one unit will be on the pipe that leads out from the hot water tank to be used as a booster. The total cost of a magnetohydrodynamics water system will actually be less that a traditional water softening system because a traditional unit will cost more in energy, time and maintenance expenditures.

It should be noted that some experts believe that magnetically treated water may only be effective for water that is considered a low to medium hardness level.

Catalytic Water Softeners

A company, SafeWater Softeners, has patented a catalytic water softener that has a formula that includes over a dozen precious and semi-precious metals. It connects with the power of a long lasting catalyst, then the catalyst is combined with powerful magnets in order to provide soft water that is salt-free. The unit never needs salt. In addition, the unit is virtually maintenance-free as it never needs backwashing or re-charging. Another benefit to this revolutionary water softener is that it will last a lifetime.

The core of the water softening system is the catalytic alloy. This alloy is created by combining a precise formula of certain metals (including precious metals) at exceptionally high temperatures. This alloy is called the Amplified Catalytic Power®.

This alloy is augmented by other principles of physics such as strong magnetics that intensify the water from hard to soft. As this process occurs, the water is not only softer, but minerals are dissolved or loosened including the mineral deposits that have remained on the pipes for years. When the pipes are cleaned in such a manner they will remain that way.

This Amplified Catalytic Power will create more efficient appliances, including the hot water heater, thereby reducing the need for appliance repairs and services.

The chemical charge of lime scale build-up is altered by the Catalytic Water Softener in order to eliminate hard water properties. This process will provide you with limitless quantities of water that is safe and free of scale build-up.

The water will be safe to drink because the SafeWater Softener retains the healthy minerals and trace minerals and has no added sodium.

The structure of the SafeWater Softener is compact so that it will fit nearly anywhere inside your home. It is also easy to install. The system has a five-year warranty, but realistically, you can expect it to last much longer.

The system will solve almost all of your hard water problems, however, it will not alleviate high iron content, sulphur or hydrogen sulphide that is often found in well water in many areas.

A product that is included with the patented Catalytic Water Softener is a full flow whole house water filter. This product is designed to pre-filter and remove sediment from your water prior to the conditioning process. This filter prevents the accumulation of sand, sediment and other particles in the water softener conditioner.

Catalytically treated water is also a much more effective alternative to magnetically treated water. Consider this product as a safe and effective alternative to other types of water softeners.

About LifeSource Water Softening Systems

One of the newer high-tech water softening systems is the Life Source water softening system. This high quality water softening system has many distinct advantages over other water softening systems.

With a Life Source water system, you only need one water system in your home. Unlike most other water softening systems, the Life Source water system is conducive for all of your needs including drinking water. Water does not have a chlorine taste, as the water softening unit removes chemical tastes, odours and excess debris from the water. After a shower or bath, you can achieve a squeaky clean feeling that does not leave you with a slippery feeling.

Since the Life Source water softening unit is self- maintaining, it is not necessary to add salt to the unit. The system is also conducive to the environment and does not waste water. The cleaning process is much simpler, including laundry and dishwashing tasks, as well as personal cleaning tasks of showering, bathing and washing your hair.

Ordinary soft water systems produce water that is salty and that may contain chlorine, dirt and chemicals. This water will not be conducive to plants, lawns and fish, and of course, should not be used for human consumption as well. In order to obtain safe and tasty drinking water, an ordinary water softening system will require a separate water system with a reverse osmosis capability. Water softened with an ordinary water softener may become polluted due to the salt brine discharge. In fact, many communities have outlawed ordinary water softening units.

Using a Custom Water Softening System

You might want to consider a custom designed water softening system. One such brand is the Diamond Water Softener (DWS), which can be built for an individual application process. In most cases, the DWS system is designed for commercial use, such as commercial laundry facilities, plating companies, schools, dairies and power generating plants. These water softening units contain specifications to meet the needs of you plant or other facility.

With a custom water softening system, such as DWS, you will be offered commercial equipment and elements that will maintain the life of the unit, as well as a variety of control elements to meet the needs of your plant or facility. The valves used in these water softening units are designed to last for years. In addition, only the highest quality ion exchange resins and regenerates are used. Customer input is also very important in the selection and installation processes. The companies that provide custom water softeners are known for their expertise in properly selecting a product that will be conducive to their customer’s needs.

Some companies’ needs (or even homeowners’ needs) may include two separate tanks of softening resin as well as the brine (salt or potassium) tank. Such units are known as twin tank softening systems. Only one tank at a time is used to soften the water; as one tank is undergoing the regeneration process, the other tank works to soften your water. As a result, soft water is provided at all times. These tanks are often used for large companies, or even large families who utilize a great deal of water. These dual tanks will actually save you money over the long run because the system will utilize 100% capacity of the tank in service before it switches to the second tank.

One quality brand/model that provides twin tank water softeners is the Fleck 9000. This is a lead-free brass unit that is beneficial when brass connections are recommended.
model, the Fleck 9100 is composed of a high-tech plastic that will resist corrosion and is also lightweight and extremely durable and strong. It contains electronic push-button settings.

Cabinet water softeners may be purchased if space is a problem in your home. These cabinet water softeners will provide you with the same benefits as the traditional softeners, but with an attractive tank that will save space. These water softening units are available in standard and advance microprocessor models.

The Watts 7000 Cabinet Water Softener contains a high quality control valve and optimum backwash flows, all within a space-saving cabinet. Another quality aspect to this system is that the meter has a control which will regenerate based on the amount of water that is used.

The Econoflow Cabinet Water Softener has controls that are easy to use and to program. It contains a control that regenerates based on a preset amount of days. Just set the amount of gallons you desire.

The Fleck 5600 meter softener is more effective than the timer system and uses less salt and less water over time because it regenerates after using a certain amount of water.

The Fleck 6600 Meter Cabinet Softener is a very high-tech system that uses a microprocessor with an LCD which depicts the time of day, flow rate, capacity that is remaining and whether the regeneration process is in cycle. Both the up flow and down flow regeneration cycles are adjustable. The system is equipped with many programmable functions. It is available in immediate meter regeneration, delayed meter regeneration and delayed time regeneration systems.

One of the most modern cabinet water softeners in existence today is the Autotrol 255/460i Meter Cabinet Softener which contains a microprocessor. This water softener regenerates only when needed, therefore saving you money. The system has been proven to be efficient and durable. The Autotrol 268/460i 1” Meter Cabinet Softener goes one step further than the Autotrol 255/460i cabinet water softener in that it is even more “compact” as it is contained in a smaller cabinet.

Tips for Selecting a Water Softener System

Like any important item you would purchase for your home, you must comparison shop and research before buying a water softener.

It is important that you find a reputable dealer before purchasing a water softener. By no means should you rely on a "door-to-door salesman" for such a purchase.

When shopping for a water softener, you need to consider the size, as well as the type of controls that the water softener contains. The most favourable size, measured in grains of hardness, will depend upon the amount of water you and your family utilize, as well as the hardness of your water. A small core will not benefit you if your water is very hard because the unit will need to be regenerated too often to be effective.

The best type of water softener is one that has demand initiated controls, which are programmed to meet the specific needs of your water hardness. The unit will automatically regenerate when the programmed amount of water is used.

Another important factor of a water softener is its cost. A normal household water softener typically costs about £500 to £1000, and the operating expenses are approximately £1 to £5 per month if sodium is used, and £1.5 to £9 if potassium is used. If installation fees are included with the tank, make sure that there are no additional charges for replenishing swimming pools, avoiding lawn and garden water systems, etc. You also must consider the cost of recharging the system.

You should not make a decision as to which water softener to purchase until you have considered the cost of both the water softener itself and the installation of that unit. Water softening systems designated "water treatment" systems may merely be trumped up softeners.

The warranty is another important feature of the water softener. You need to be sure that you understand the warranty and that it is dependable as well. A reliable warranty will not guarantee too little time, nor will it guarantee an unreasonable amount of time. For example be leery of a warranty that ensures your unit will "last a lifetime" as well as the warranty that is valid for merely one year. A typical warranty that could be rendered "dependable" is one that will be valid for approximately 10 years on the tank and five years for the control valves.

Ask dealers for names of customers so that you can verify the dependability of the water softening system, as well as the service of it. Also ask friends for their experiences with water softening systems.

When shopping for your water softening system, look for the seal indicating "Water Quality Association (WQA), National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) or Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL). Any of these seals will ensure you that the equipment was independently tested and meets performance standards of that particular industry.

Water Softener Miscellaneous Tips

Softened water may not be conducive to all persons, especially those with heart conditions or circulatory problems or those on low sodium diets due to the sodium content in soft water. However, there are alternative systems by which water may be softened to reduce sodium. These are reverse osmosis, distillation and deionization.

Water that has been softened may increase the possible effects of leaching metals from pipes, solder and plumbing fixtures. These metals include higher rates of copper, lead, zinc and cadmium which are found in softened water, especially when it has been in the plumbing system overnight. The EPA standards for drinking water can be exceeded with softened water, especially that which lingers all night in brass plumbing fixtures and faucets.

Since soft water has high sodium content, it should not be used for watering plants, lawns and gardens. In addition, the water that has been recharged in a water softener should be discarded through a storm drain or sewer. However, if you are on a septic tank, you should discharge the brine into the septic tank and soil absorption field. You may also use a separate holding tank, which can be emptied by a vacuum truck or a separate disposal field or by another method that will not impede a neighbour’s property.

If you are thinking of renting a water softener, they may only be available in metropolitan areas. A water softening company will charge a monthly fee, then a softening unit will be installed and replaced routinely with a freshly charged unit. This may be the best option for households with moderate water usage and for those who need routine maintenance of the units or equipment.

Soft water should not be used with a steam iron due to the minerals contained in the water which could clog the steam unit in the iron. In fact, the best water to use in your iron is distilled water.

The Cost of a Water Softener System

Water softening systems for home use range from about £200 to £700. The price, of course, depends on the size and type of softener. The ratings for the size of the water softening unit are determined by the total number of grains that the unit can remove before it is recharged. Salt for the unit is purchased in the form of pellets, granules or blocks and the cost will depend on the type purchased. The cost will range from approximately £2.50 to £7.00 per 40 pound bag.

The annual operating cost of a water softening system will average around £50 for the regeneration salt and additional water that is needed during the regeneration process. Some models work on a mechanical basis and use no electricity; however, even the models that contain electronic digital technology use very little electricity for the controls.

You also must consider that a water softening system can save you money in the long run. Hard water damage can cause scale build-up that will clog pipes, spray nozzles and coils in your appliances and hot water heater. The consistent build-up will end up costing you money in repairs and replacement over the long term. This expense can be greatly diminished or even eliminated with the use of a soft water system.

Hard water can even have an impact on the cost of your electric bill because water heaters that utilize hard water expend much more energy than those water heaters which utilize softened water. This factor is mainly due to scale build-up which occurs with hard water usage.

Water Softener Definitions

Brine - A saline solution that is used to clean the media bed of calcium and magnesium that has been captured by the softening system to prepare for service in the water softener.

Brine drum – Holding tank and brine preparation on a water softener.

Conditioned water – This is another term for soft water. It is water that no longer contains dissolved calcium or hard minerals such as magnesium.

Demand-initiated Regeneration – The process by which regeneration begins due to the water use in the household. (This would be in place of a pre-set level.)

Drinking water – The portion of water use in the household which is set forth for drinking and cooking purposes. (This is only about 1% of the household’s water use.) Drinking water is also referred to as food grade water.

Hard water – Water that contains dissolved calcium and magnesium. These elements are measured in grains per gallon (gpg).

Ion Exchange – A process of softening the water by exchanging hardness ions of calcium and magnesium for sodium or potassium ions.

Regeneration – The cleaning cycle of a water conditioner. The resin bed is prepared during regeneration so that it can soften the water.

Resin – Very small beads that are used by a water conditioner in order to soften the water.

Scale – After hard water dries, it is left with a hard, crusty substance known as scale.

Soap Scum – This substance is formed when hard minerals found in water are combined with cleaning substances, including household soaps. Soap scum may show up as a bathtub ring or film on shower doors.

Soft Water – Water that has been treated to eliminate the hardness minerals of dissolved calcium and magnesium. Soft water is sometimes referred to as conditioned water.

not, it would be worth getting a new thick jacket.

How Much Will You Save?

By putting a thick 80mm jacket around your cylinder, you will be saving around £20 per year. Since the cost of a jacket is around £12, you will cover your costs within about 6 months.

An additional £10 will be enough to purchase pipe insulation material, to wrap around hot water pipes. The annual savings from reduced loss of energy is around £10, which means cost recovery of around one year.

In terms of carbon dioxide emissions – you will reduce your emissions level by approximately 150Kg and 60Kg of CO2 by insulating your hot water cylinder and your hot water pipes respectively.

7. Install Double Glazing

Double glazing is a tried and tested solution for reducing heat loss, with millions of households already benefiting from it. It is estimated that double glazing will cut your heating bill by around £90 per year.

Analysis of heat loss shows that around 20% of the heat is lost through single glazed windows, and poorly insulated window frames. Double glazing reduces this substantially as well as reducing noise from the outside and condensation problems.

By creating an insulation barrier by trapping air between two panes of glass, double glazing retains the heat inside the house, and diminishes the volume of noise. An additional level of heat retention can be achieved by drawing the curtains at dues to ensure that heating energy does not escape through the windows at night.

How Much Will You Save?
Installing double glazing will reduce your annual average energy bill by approximately £90 and subsequently reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by about 740Kg per annum.

8. Reduce the Temperature

Most houses in the UK are using a central heating system powered by a boiler (gas, oil etc.). For most houses the temperature setting is controlled by a room thermostat which determines how much to run the boiler to reach the right ambiance temperature.
By reducing the preset on your room thermostat by 1c degree, which would make a barely noticeable difference to the ambient temperature, you could save approximately 10% of your heating bills and reduce the wear and tear of the boiler.
Similarly, you should ask yourself whether the hot wateoming out of your hot water cylinder is at the right temperature or maybe it is too hot. You could save energy by ensuring that the temperature inside the hot water cylinder is set to be not more than 60c
(140F).

Saving Recommendation Endorsement

When planning to purchase a new appliance, whether it is a new boiler, new fridge freezer or a new light bulb, always ensure you check if it s approved and endorsed by the energy savings logo.
Energy savings recommended appliances are the most efficient in their category and could save you a substantial amount of money in energy related costs.

10. Use your Common Sense

By applying some simple common sense, you can make a major improvement to your heating output and reduce the energy costs and CO2 emissions.
Here are some straight forward steps which should become your second nature to ensure you save energy and reduce the risk of climate change:

Turn off the lights when you leave the room.

Shut down appliances not in use. Do not leave them on ‘Standby’ and avoid charging appliances if un-necessary.

When making a cup of tea, make sure you only boil the amount of water you intend to drink.

Use the ‘half-load’ function in your laundry machine and your tumble dryer when they are not full.

Fix dripping tap. A dripping hot water tap will waste energy un-necessarily, as the boiler tries to replace the leaking water, thus working harder.

Back to Resources

Our staff are ready to help 020 8226 6556 Why not call us now!

Why Alliance?

We can visit you today.
All parts and labour guaranteed.
Written estimate within 24hrs.
Reliable Engineers!
Great Customer Feedback!
Peace Of Mind As Standard

Testimonials

It is heartening to come across a company that takes its responsibility for quality and customer service as seriously as you do
Mrs. Lamb
Click to view more testimonials.

Useful Links

Below is a useful search system devised to help you find a Alliance plumber in your London area.

For your nearest branch