About Ask a Plumber

Plumber Connections

How a Water Softener Works

Last Updated on Monday, 10 May 2010 21:10 Monday, 10 May 2010 00:00

Attention: open in a new window. PDFPrintE-mail

Articles - Plumbing Fixtures and Appliances

Salt_BrineThe water softener’s purpose is to filter out and remove the hardness and iron from water. A typical water softener has three main parts:

  1. Mineral Tank - tank 2/3 filled with softening resin
  2. Control Valve - directs water in and out of mineral tank and coordinates the regeneration time and process
  3. Brine Tank - storage tank for salt or potassium chloride, brine water and resin cleaner (when needed)

The control valve, simply directs the flow of water into the mineral tank in a down-flow direction forcing the water to pass through the softening resin beads. When the hard water contacts the beads, the hardness and limited amounts of iron minerals (if present) are exchanged for sodium ions that are held on the beads. This process is called ion exchange. The beads now hold the hardness and iron minerals that cause so many problems. The now softened water continues down the resin bed until it reaches the distributor tube which directs the softened water up the distributor to the valve and into your house as conditioned or softened water. During this softening and filtering process, your water softener will be in the "Service Mode".

As more and more water is used, the softening resin beads run out of sodium ions and become almost completely covered with hardness and iron minerals. If the resin bed were to completely run out of sodium ions, no exchange would take place, and as a result hard or raw water would pass through your softener. Before your resin bed is completely exhausted, the softener must regenerate or clean itself with a strong salt brine or potassium chloride solution. This brine or cleaning solution removes the mineral ions from the beads and exchanges them with sodium ions so the resin beads can go back to work collecting hardness and iron once again.

Content provided by Addie Water Systems

< Prev   Next >