Hard water is water that contains high concentrations of dissolved minerals. Both calcium and magnesium will easily bond with other types of metals because of their chemical structure. These bonds will build up over time and you will be able to see them. One example of that is the crusty residue on your shower head. The hard water got its name that way because it leaves these hard mineral deposits behind itself. These deposits over time will build up and they will clog or corrode pipes and cause big plumbing problems that way. These deposits from hard water will build up in hot water heaters and boilers and that way it will make them more expensive and less efficient to use. Hard water will leave negative effects that are long-lasting on every surface it runs on or through.

Water softeners are like magnets. The way water softeners work is on the fact that positive and negative things attract. Both calcium and magnesium are two of the biggest reasons why water is hard and they are both positively charged molecules. When the hard water goes through the water softening system it will pass through a filter that is filled with negatively charged resin beads. It's the same case as it is with the magnets when hard water goes through the resin beads the opposites attract and that way we get water that is soft.

This also applies when the system is regenerating itself. When regeneration (cleaning) happens then water and salt that are positively charged will flush through the resin beads. The positive charges in the salt and calcium and magnesium all repel each other and that way calcium and magnesium will detach from the resin beads and they will drain along with the water that is salty.

There are a couple of different types of water softeners out there.


Ion Exchange Water Softeners

This is the most popular type of water softeners out there. This water softener uses salt, resin, electricity, and a discharge line. This system is in use for decades to soften water.


Electromagnetic Water Softeners

Installation of this system is much easier because it doesn't require salt replacements or discharge lines and as a result, this system is much cheaper. They subject the structure of calcium and magnesium to a strong magnetic field and aim to change their structure that way.


Portable Water Softeners

This is a great option for people who are traveling in their RVs or travel trailers. This system doesn't require electricity and you can go for a few weeks between regenerations. You don't need any special tools to regenerate this system and all it takes is a little bit of regular salt.