Water Softener

Do I need a water softener?

Most people who have hard water are generally aware that they have an issue. If you are one of the lucky ones who live in an area where there is soft water there is no need for a water softener. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, more than 85 percent of the United States geography has hard water.

While water is in the ground, it picks up soluble bits of whatever it passes through. While this can mean contamination that makes the water unfit to drink, in many cases it simply means that the water contains minerals found in the earth. Of these, calcium and magnesium are of particular importance because they affect the water's ability to function in our homes. These minerals make our water hard.

What effects does hard water have on my health, plumbing, appliances, and fixtures?

Hard water is not a hazard to you health. Drinking hard water generally contributes a small amount toward total calcium and magnesium the human diet requires. Many studies have suggested a correlation between hard water and lower cardiovascular disease mortality. The benefits associated with the minerals calcium and magnesium to the human body:

Calcium: essential to bone and tooth development, blood clotting, muscle contraction, nerve transmission - may reduce heart disease

Magnesium: neuromuscular activity of heart, energy metabolism, protein synthesis

Household plumbing and appliances are greatly affected by hard water conditions. Some of the effects include clogged pipes, water heater inefficiency and hard scaling. Hard water is also linked to decreased water flow or water pressure and seized (frozen) valves in faucets, water heaters, and fixtures. Water heaters operate up to 30% less efficiently when hard water scale is present. If some type of water softener device is not installed to correct the negative effects of hard water the repairs can be costly as well as a nuisance. You will pay one way or another either by repairing damaged plumbing, replacing appliances or by purchasing a water softener to take care of the negative effects of hard water. The main purpose of all water softeners is to eliminate the negative side effects of hard water.

It's easy to forget how important water is in our lives. Of course we need it in our diet, but in our homes, it's a tool--a fluid medium that carries material from one place to the next. And one of the reasons it does this job well is that it's very good at holding things, either by suspending them or dissolving them.

How It Works

Water passing through the mineral tank loses positively charged calcium and magnesium ions to negatively charged plastic beads. The brine tank holds a salt solution that flushes the mineral tank, replacing calcium and magnesium ions with sodium. A meter at the top of the mineral tank regulates recharging cycles. The valve assembly routes water flow for each phase of the regeneration cycle.

The Effect

One effect of hard water is that soaps and detergents lose some effectiveness. Instead of dissolving completely, soap combines with the minerals to form a coagulated soap curd. Because less soap is dissolved, more is required. And the sticky insoluble curd hangs around--it clings to the skin and may actually inhibit cleansing. Washed hair seems dull and lifeless. In the laundry, things aren't much better. The soap curd can work its way into your clothes as they're being washed in your automatic washing machine. This can keep dirt trapped in the fibers, and it can stiffen and roughen the fabric.

In addition to affecting the actual washing process, insoluble soap deposits leave spots on everything you wash--from your dishes to the family car--and a soap film will build up in your bath and shower. Another reason to be concerned about hard water is its effect on your plumbing system. Calcium and magnesium deposits can build up in pipes, reducing flow to taps and appliances. In water heaters, these minerals generate a scale buildup that reduces the efficiency and life of the heater.

The typical water softener is a mechanical appliance that's plumbed into your home's water supply system. All water softeners use the same operating principle: They trade the minerals for something else, in most cases sodium. In some cases it's potasium. The process is called ion exchange.

The Solution to the problem is to get rid of the calcium and magnesium. While there are chemical treatments that do this, the most popular answer is a water softener.

The Sentry II 960 Series Residential Water Softeners are suitable for applications up to 60,000 grains of hardness removal capacity at peak flow rates of up to 24 gpm depending on the system selected.

Sentry II Electronic on-demand metered soft watered system

Features

• Saves up to 50% in salt and uses less water by regeneration only when necessary.
• The 1" full port design allows for the highest flow rates available in a 1" and ¾" system.
• The electronic microprocessor keeps track of the amount of water used each day and adjusts itself to match your needs.
• State of the art electronic microprocessor backs up the program memory without the use of a battery.
• Reserve capacity is self-adjusting to ensure a continuous supply of conditioned water.
• Premium quality water softening resin to ensure trouble free operation.
• Reduces the effect of scale build up in your water heater and water piping.
• Extends the life of dishwasher, washing machines, water heaters as well as faucets and other water used appliances.
• Reduces the amount of detergent and soap requirements by up to 70%.
• Clothes washed in conditioned water last longer, colors stay brighter, and come out cleaner and softer.
• Helps control spotting on glasses and tableware.
• Helps reduce skin irritations and adds a healthy luster to hair, leaving it soft and easy to groom.