3 Critical Things to Consider Before Buying a Water Softener
When considering which water softener to purchase there are some important factors to consider including some significant health issues. This is because water softeners actually use sodium to alter the water. As we all know, sodium is a major cause of increased blood pressure and other serious health problems.
Sodium is an essential mineral because it’s necessary for fluid and electrolyte balance in your body. However, consuming too much salt (also known as sodium chloride) may lead to high blood pressure, a condition called hypertension.
How Do Water Softeners Work:
Water softeners or whole house water treatment systems use a process called ion exchange to remove minerals from a water supply before it enters the home. This involves passing the water through a tank filled with resin beads that are coated with ions of either sodium or potassium chloride.
In simple terms, the sodium or potassium ions in the water softener swap places with the calcium or magnesium ions (which are the hard minerals that cause hard water stains and limescale) in a domestic water supply.
What To Consider Before Purchase:
• Firstly, sodium chloride is usually less expensive than potassium chloride although the latter is better for the environment. This is because the system has to have the brine solution discharged to recharge the ions on the resin beads.
• If the potassium solution is discharged it has less impact on the environment and can actually be put on lawns as potassium is a key plant nutrient!
• Contrary to a common misconception, using sodium salt in your water softener will not adversely affect your plumbing. Most modern plumbing is made of PVC plastic and is not affected by increased levels of either sodium or potassium chloride. Sodium salt can, however, reduce the amount of maintenance required for your brine tank.
• For those concerned about the health issues of how much sodium is put into the water by a water softener, the answer is, it all depends. The harder your water supply the more sodium ions are needed to soften it. That said, studies indicate that even water softened with sodium chloride has a low concentration of sodium.
• The costs of water softeners are usually far outweighed by the benefits and cost savings obtained, through using softened water.
Your local health department can tell you the sodium and other mineral content of your community’s water supply.
Options if Your Tap Water is High in Sodium:
• Consider switching to another type of water-purification system.
• Buy demineralized water for drinking and cooking.
• Softening only the hot water and using unsoftened cold water for drinking and cooking.
Ultimately the choice between sodium or potassium salts in your water softener is a personal one, depending on the presence of potential health issues with your water supply, cost, and environmental priorities.
Whichever one you decide on, the advantages of a water softener far outweigh the disadvantages. As well as all the above they can also be helpful in reducing cleaning time by preventing hard water stains and limescale forming around the home.
Patrick Henry BEng (Hons), is a recognised industry expert in removing hard water stains. With an honours degree in Chemical Engineering, he teaches people how to remove stubborn hard water stains and limescale using a step by step guide. He is author of the ebook “Hard Water Stain Removal Secrets Revealed”.
Brita Water Filters As a Part of Modern Life
Article by Steve Swatkowski
The idea for the Brita Products company began in 1966 in a small town in Germany, when founder, Heinz Hankammer’s vision for better tasting water prompted him to design and build a water filter that produced desalinated water. This vision grew into a successful company, which Hankammer named after his daughter Brita. Today, Brita is one of the most successful water filtration companies in the world, and has become, for many, a staple household name.
Types of Brita Water Filters Brita Pitcher Filters Brita pitchers come in a variety of sizes, colors and styles. With sixteen unique designs, there is a Brita water pitcher to suit any household need. These may be stored in the refrigerator for chilled water or out on the table while entertaining guests. The Brita Ultramax Water Dispenser is ideal for larger families. With a capacity of 18 8-ounce glasses of fresh filtered water, this dispenser may also be stored on a refrigerator shelf or on the kitchen counter for easy access. Each Brita water pitcher filter reduces copper, chlorine taste and odor, and mercury. They remove only trace amounts of fluoride, which is important for good dental health. Brita Smart Pitchers have an electronic indicator that lets you know when it is time to change the filter. Brita replacement filters for pitchers are easy to install: simply soak the Brita filter cartridge upright in cold water for 15 minutes, rinse briefly under cold running tap water, and press the filter firmly into the reservoir. The first two pitchers of filtered water should be discarded. These Brita filter cartridges have a filter life of up to 40 gallons and should be changed, on average, every two months. Brita Faucet Filters Each Brita faucet filter reduces lead, total trihalomethanes (TTHM – a chlorination byproduct), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), certain pesticides and herbicides, chlorine taste and odor and sediment. These filters also remove microbiological cryptosporidium and giardia. The basic Brita replacement faucet filter comes in white or chrome for a custom look and has a filter life indicator that lets you know when it’s time to change the filter. The advanced system has a few more styling options to complement kitchen decor: white on white, chrome on white or chrome on black, along with a filter life indicator and a convenient spray option to give you control over water flow with three options: filtered, spray or stream. These filters attach directly to the faucet output in minutes for easy installation. The filter life for each faucet replacement Brita filter cartridge is 100 gallons.
Brita Refrigerator Water Filters Brita manufactures refrigerator filters to fit select Whirlpool, KitchenAid, GE, Frigidaire, Kenmore, Maytag and Jenn-Air refrigerator models. Each Brita refrigerator filter reduces chlorine taste and odor as well as sediment and lasts about the same amount of time as other refrigerator water filters – approximately six months. Installation differs depending on the refrigerator model, but is relatively easy and requires no special tools or equipment.
The Advantages Of Drinking Purified Water
Water is the most essential thing that we have the ability to drink so why would we run a risk drinking the stuff that comes out of our tap? Homes that use wells to get their water will have something that is clean and tastes good. But those who must rely on city water need be careful because it is recognized to hold bacteria that may be hurtful to your health.
The only way that you might be assured to have safe drinking water that you are able to enjoy is to have some that has been purified. There are unique devices and manufacturers that will clean the bacteria and dirt from the water to make it healthy and tasting good for anybody who wants any.
You will have the ability to buy the purified water at any grocery store for a inexpensive price and even in bottles that you have the ability to take with you to the gym, work, or also at home. Yet, the easiest thing you can do is to buy a water purifier that you have the ability to keep in your home.
They connect to the top of the sink that you are getting your drinking water from. The water will pass through the filter that is within it and will withdraw the damaging bacteria from it. If you were to compare the deviations you would have the ability to tell the difference in how it tastes.
There are numerous health advantages to purified water and why you and your family needs to be drinking it. By improving the taste of it you will want to drink more of it. Did you realize that water serves to get rid of fat, bacteria, and oil from your body and skin. This will also give you a healthy glow and help you to feel twice as good then if you were to consume soda.
There are many reasons why you should be drinking Purified Water. The Charcoal Water Filtration is considered to be one of the best.