"Hard" Water

Water Softeners Remove calcium and magnesium hardness from water. Water softeners use rock salt (sodium chloride) or potassium salt to clean and regenerate the softening filter media.

Catalytic Water Conditioners Do not soften water, but can protect piping, fixtures and appliances from hardness scale build-up, without the use of salt. Not a substitute for a water softener if a softener is needed.

Phosphate Filters: filter cartridges that contain sodium hexametaphosphate crystals, which dissolve into the water, protecting piping, fixture and icemakers from scale damage.

"Hardness" originally referred to the ability of water to precipitate soap and form soap scum. Soap is precipitated (or brought to the "surface") by water containing high levels of calcium and magnesium. The "harder" the water the less soap will dissolve in the water. In current practice, total hardness is defined as the sum of the concentration of the calcium and magnesium ions, expressed as calcium carbonate. Hardness can be expressed as calcium carbonate in either parts per million (the same as milligrams per liter) or grains per gallon. Since automatic water softeners are rated in grains of hardness removal, this is the more common measurement used by U.S. consumers. One grain of hardness equals approximately 17.1 ppm of calcium carbonate hardness.

Natural waters may range from close to zero hardness to many hundreds of parts per million. In our experience, water over 100 or 150 ppm (approximately 8 - 10 grains/gallon) is hard enough to warrant water softening. When the water hardness exceeds 250 - 300 ppm, a water softener becomes somewhat of a necessity, as piping systems, water heaters, fixtures and appliances become scaled up and worn out prematurely. At levels of 100 to 250 ppm (or up to 15 grains/ gallon) water softening is an aesthetic improvement, reducing spotting of fixtures and surfaces, and making hair and skin softer. Most facilities such as commercial launderers, hospitals and hotels use water softening to reduce costs and extend the life of equipment and laundered items.