What is difference between softening water and filtering it?
First of all a water filter ...
The water piped to your house may contain any or all of the following water impurities and by choosing the right water filter many can be removed.
Chlorine and chloramines .. create an unpleasant taste in drinking water. These compounds are used to kill bacterial contamination in the water you drink at home. Heavy metal contaminants such as Copper and Lead ... toxic in large amounts. Pesticide residues and other petroleum related chemicals Mineral elements ... like Calcium and Magnesium ... both harmless but can create water pipe blockages in your home and household appliances such as hot water heaters.Apart from the potential toxicity or blocked pipe problems there are in fact many excellent sensory reasons to have a home water filter unit installed. Yes water filters are a way to indulge yourself too.
Water Softeners
Water softeners will only remove Calcium and Magnesium essentially (also some iron normally).
How Does A Water Softener Work? ...
Filtering water involves removing small particles or chemicals including dissolved gasses in solution (by adsorption). What we know as home water filters should really be called water purifiers since filter normally refers to solids only removal. Softening water involves a process called "ion exchange" to remove dissolved minerals - like calcium, magnesium at a molecular (very small) level. Water softeners normally use polystyrene resin beads or sodium coated zeolite particles for this process. As water enters the water softener tank, dissolved calcium and magnesium are attached to the resin, removing them from the water supply. The place of the calcium and magnesium in water solution is taken up by sodium which was sitting on the bead surface (hence ion exchange process)
After a specific amount of calcium and or magnesium is removed the resin beads will become saturated and will need to be recharged.
This is a simple process involving a salt or brine solution which is used to "wash" away the accumulated calcium and magnesium. Once the regeneration process is complete, the water softener is again ready to provide soft water.
Suppliers of water softeners and filters
Brita, Pur , Amatek, Culligan water filters, Omni water filters, GE water filters, Frigidaire, Kenmore, Maytag water filters, Whirlpool, Amana water filter, Big Blue water filters, Aquasana, Amway, Sprite water filter systems, KDF water filter, Doulton water filter, Everpure, Multipure, Britta,
You can read a wide range of water usage articles. They discuss the use of water in the house and home ... topics covered include filters, heaters, softeners and water in the garden too. The links change each time you visit the page