Hard Water Myths Dybunked

hardWaterMyths

There are many myths surrounding hard water.  Although hard water is often not detrimental to your health it can be a considerable nuisance.  Below we will look further into the most common hard water myths and debunk them.

Myth #1: Hard water is responsible for clogging ALL types of plumbing materials

Truth: Hard water contains minerals including calcium and magnesium both of which are known to stick to the interior of galvanized steel pipes which leads to build-up and in turn clogs pipes.  Galvanized steel plumbing is commonly found in homes that were built between 1940 into the late 1970’s. 

Homes built after the late 1970’s or homes that have had their plumbing replaced most often use pipes that are made from copper.  Copper plumbing does not allow for calcium or magnesium build up to form.  Thus, not ALL types of plumbing materials are responsible for hard water clogs.

Myth #2: Hard water minerals are contaminants

Truth: Hard water does contain a number of minerals however, minerals are not contaminants, minerals are nutrients.  Drinking water that is rich in essential minerals like calcium and magnesium is healthy for individuals.  Mineral rich drinking water helps protect the health of individuals and can lead to lower risks of heart disease and stroke. 

Myth #3: Water softeners produced filtered water

Truth: Water softeners do not in fact filter water at all.  Softeners use a process of ion exchange which is used to exchange minerals in the water for sodium.  Water softener units take “tainted” tap water and create water that can be used for drinking, cooking, showering, laundry, dish washing, and more.  The water processed through a water softener is NOT filtered and can often have a salty taste depending on a number of different variants.  To remove the saltiness from water that has gone through a water softener a point of use filter can be installed to faucets.  Most individuals are not bothered by the taste of drinking water that comes from a softening unit however a filtration system does remove the sodium in water if a homeowner is bothered by the taste.

Myth #4: Hard water works well for bathing, cleaning, and laundry

Truth:  Hard water often leaves behind a residue that contains minerals which are not the best for bathing, cleaning, or laundry.  Water that goes through a water softener is known as soft water.  Soft water is ideal for bathing, hard water is known to create dry hair and skin because of mineral deposits that it leaves.  In laundry and household cleaning hard water is known to leave stains and create a filmy residue that is not found in water that has gone through the rejuvenation process that takes place within water softening units.

The experts at Reynolds Water Conditioning have a solution to your homes unique water quality needs including: arsenic, bacteria, chlorine, rotten egg smell, fluoride, hard water, iron, lead, acid, tannins, radon, and more.  More information on our water treatment solutions including water softeners and conditioners, water filtration and purification, reverse osmosis drinking water, and iron & odor removal can be found online at https://reynoldswater.com.

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Removing Iron and Manganese from Well Water

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How many homeowners can honestly say they would be okay drinking water from their taps that comes out brown?  ZERO, that’s how many!  Brown water occurs because of contamination in their water from Iron and Manganese, common elements found in well water.  Thankfully there are water treatment options available to remove these contaminants.  Both Iron and Manganese are found in soil thus washing into the well water drinking supply.  The good thing is that you don’t have to live with contaminants in your water.

Contaminants in your homes water supply certainly can be a nuisance. Iron and Manganese cause several issues including metallic tasting water, stained laundry, clogged plumbing, and an oily or crust sheen on the surface of the water. This is one of the reasons high levels of the contaminants are treated using whole house water treatment systems.

In 1974 the federal government set in place visual standards for water because of the effects of Iron and Manganese.  Although state health-based standards are not in place for metals in drinking water, there are some concerns that high levels of manganese are bad for formula-fed infants. Infant formulas naturally contain manganese, so the National Health Department recommends mixing formula with water with a low manganese level. 

Iron and Manganese Testing

It is easy to recognize elevated levels or iron and manganese in water including a bitter, metallic taste and orangish-brown staining on bathroom fixtures, clothes, and more.  It is however important to test the water before treating it in order to determine the amount of minerals and metals that are in the water.  Two types of metals are commonly found in a homes water supply including reduced and oxidized.  Water that has a reduction in iron and manganese often looks clear, initially however will form solid orangish brown solid particles.  Water with oxidized iron and manganese will have visible particles upon being drawn from the well. 

Water Treatment Options

Once your well water is tested and you are told what type and amounts of iron and manganese are in the water, water treatment specialists like the ones at Reynolds Water Conditioning can help you determine the best treatment option for your home.  It is important to note that some filtration such as oxidation filtration which injects oxygen into the water to remove impurities only removes iron.  The water will need an additional chemical treatment to remove manganese. 

Water softeners are often installed to treat hard water.  They can also remove small amount of iron and manganese.  Water softening units use an ion exchange process which replaces iron and manganese with sodium.  The metals are removed from the softeners filtering resin through a process of backwashing. 

Another treatment option to remove iron and manganese from water is through a point of use reverse osmosis systems.  This treats water at the tap which is usually where drinking and cooking water is drawn from.  The filter uses different membranes to remove unwanted molecules in water to be filtered from the water.  Although this is a fairly simple method of getting water without metal it does not treat water throughout the house.  Thus, staining will still occur in bathrooms and in laundry and water in other parts of the house will have the metallic taste. 

The experts at Reynolds Water Conditioning have a solution to your homes unique water quality needs including: arsenic, bacteria, chlorine, rotten egg smell, fluoride, hard water, iron, lead, acid, tannins, radon, and more.  More information on our water treatment solutions including water softeners and conditioners, water filtration and purification, reverse osmosis drinking water, and iron & odor removal can be found online at https://reynoldswater.com.

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Picking The Best Water Softeners For You

Using the best water softeners can prevent expensive household problems such as clogged pipes and plumbing fixtures, dry skin and hair, stiff laundry, and cloudy glassware. These machines can make home appliances like shower heaters and coffee makers last longer and work more efficiently. They can also prevent ugly orange or brown residue from staining your bath tubs, sink and bathroom tiles.


All these problems are caused by too much calcium, iron and magnesium in your water. The ions in these elements cause water to become hard. To be able to select the best solution to eliminate hard water, you have to find out the hardness level of your household water. You can do this by calling in a water treatment company or testing your water yourself with a hard water test kit found at hardware stores.

best water softeners


Getting the right size is also an important factor in picking the best water softeners. The size of your water treatment system is determined by the amount of softening sodium beads you will need to effectively eliminate hard ions. This is calculated by balancing the level of your hard water number to the amount of sodium beads you need to swap the hard and soft ions.


It can be confusing to calculate the exact amount of softening ions you need but to cut the long story short, an average household consisting of 4 people will need about 32,000 grains of water softener. This is based on a water hardness level of 10 grains which is the average water hardness number in developed countries. Be aware though that the level of hard water may differ in various locations and water sources.


The best water softeners for specific households are also determined by personal habits of the home owners. So, one softening system may not be best for all types of people. Some people are better off getting an automatic recharging unit that recharges ions by time or by using a meter. This is convenient if you do not want to keep recharging the machine yourself. Other people with varying degrees of water usage are better off using a manual recharging softener.


Another factor that determines which softener is best is dictated by health issues. The most common and affordable type of softening system uses sodium to remove hard water. But sodium contains salt which can be bad for people with high blood pressure, a history of stroke, heart or kidney disease. For people with salt restricted diets the best water softeners would be potassium based softening systems.


Before purchasing a softening system for your home, it would be wise to consult with a professional water treatment company. This way, you won’t risk buying the wrong kind of softener. The pros can gauge what types of softeners are best for each household based on an accurate hard water test and water usage habits of the home owners. — Published on January 30, 2019

Original Source: https://thriveglobal.com/stories/picking-the-best-water-softeners-based-on-water-usage-and-hardness-levels/

Original Date: Jan 30 2019

Written By: Holly Phillips

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Best Options In Treating Your Homes Water Supply

When it comes to figuring out the what the best option is for treating your homes water supply there is a lot of confusion and conflicting information within the industry.  Homeowners will find a variety of solutions when it comes to water treatment including solutions that treat the whole house and point of use options.  Although some within the industry like to sell water treatment options as interchangeable it is crucial that homeowners understand that each treatment option is unique and deals with removing different contaminants through difference processes.  Each system has distinctive qualities in how they treat the water in your home. 

Whole House Water Treatment Solutions

Water Filters and Water Filtration Systems: Water filter systems often use a carbon filtration solution to treat foul odors and improve the taste of water throughout your home.  Carbon filters are known for treating a variety of elements in water including: chlorine, chemical tastes & odors, organic chemicals, and pesticides.

Municipal city water sources are known for their overpowering use of chlorine.  The installation of a whole house carbon filtration system is often recommended to stabilize drinking water and making bath water less irritating to sensitive skin.  Some private wells may also benefit from the installation of a filtration system especially those in more urban settings where organic chemicals are used in treating crops.  These chemicals can run off into water sources or soak into the Earth affecting the quality of the water coming from the well.

Water Softeners and Water Conditioners:

Water softeners and conditioners are common and well-known amongst homeowners for removing hard water minerals and preventing limescale build up in appliances and plumbing.  Hard minerals such as calcium and magnesium can be found in both city water and private well water.  Soft, scale-free water can be delivered throughout the house with the installation of a whole house water softening unit. 

Reverse Osmosis:

The biggest misconceptions in water treatment center around reverse osmosis systems.  Reverse osmosis systems are commonly mistaken for providing the same treatment to your homes water as water filters and water softeners.   RO systems should not be advertised to treat chlorine, foul odors, hard water, or iron removal.  Reverse osmosis water treatment systems have a semipermeable membrane that removes 95 to 99% of contaminants from your homes water.  However, the membrane contained in RO systems don’t compare to the carbon filtration or water softening units.

In fact, chlorine and hard water can actually taint the RO membrane.  In fact, water should be treated before it is sent through a reverse osmosis system.  When RO systems are used in conjunction with a water softener and filtration system you will prolong the life span of your RO system thus leaving you with the highest quality drinking water.

The experts at Reynolds Water Conditioning have a solution to your homes unique water quality needs including: arsenic, bacteria, chlorine, rotten egg smell, fluoride, hard water, iron, lead, acid, tannins, radon, and more.  More information on our water treatment solutions including water softeners and conditioners, water filtration and purification, reverse osmosis drinking water, and iron & odor removal can be found online at https://reynoldswater.com.

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Benefits of Reverse Osmosis and a Water Softener

Hard water is not uncommon.  In fact, it is said that up to 85% of homes in the United States have hard water.  Many of these homeowners are treating their hard water issue with the installation of a water softener.  Although a water softener can help with the hardness of your homes water and remove slight impurities it doesn’t get them all.  In order to remove a greater number of impurities in your homes water along with the sodium from your water softener, it is often recommended to have a reverse osmosis unit installed. 

The combined use of both a water softener and reverse osmosis systems provides high quality water.  The reverse osmosis membranes are delicate.  A RO system alone will be inadequate in a home with hard water because of the amount of calcium and magnesium in the water.  Calcium and magnesium are the main minerals that make water hard.  A RO has a small sediment filter, but it is not nearly big enough to remove the calcium and magnesium impurities that a water softening unit does.  Homeowners that install a water softener with a reverse osmosis drinking water system will extend the life of the RO membranes.  The water softener/conditioner works as a protective barrier for the RO. 

Increased drinking water quality is another reason that homeowners should consider installing a whole house water softener and a point of use reverse osmosis system in the kitchen.  This allows the water coming from the kitchen tap and the lines going into the refrigerator to be of the highest quality.  A reverse osmosis water treatment system takes the water a step further than what your water softener can which helps to ensure the water that you are ingesting is of the purest quality. 

Another benefit of using a combination of a water softener and reverse osmosis system is the savings in energy expenses, increased lifespan of household appliances, and a decrease need for soap, shampoo, and detergents.  Reverse osmosis systems eliminate the need for bottled drinks which saves families a great deal of money. 

Homeowners can see how the installation of a softener and RO in combination with one another will reduce household expenses and top-quality water. 

Choosing A Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System

If homeowners have a whole house water softener installed, consider a RO system that does not interfere with its operation.  Evaluate a variety of systems from level of noise they make to how complex filter maintenance is. Using a RO system with your homes water softener allows you to give your family the highest quality drinking water.  Who doesn’t want that for their family’s water supply?

The experts at Reynolds Water Conditioning have a solution to your homes unique water quality needs including: arsenic, bacteria, chlorine, rotten egg smell, fluoride, hard water, iron, lead, acid, tannins, radon, and more.  More information on our water treatment solutions including water softeners and conditioners, water filtration and purification, reverse osmosis drinking water, and iron & odor removal can be found online at https://reynoldswater.com.

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Answers to The Top 5 Questions About Water Softeners

soapScum

There are many questions that people have when contemplating the installation of a water softening or filtration unit in their home.  Professional water treatment specialists such as the professionals at Reynolds Water Conditioning can help.  Below you will find the top questions we receive on a regular basis when clients are considering treating their homes water supply.

What is Hard Water?

Hard water is water that contains more than 1 grain per gallon of minerals that include magnesium, manganese, calcium, and magnesium carbonate.  Our professionals can test the water in your home to determine if you have hard water or if there is another issue affecting your homes water supply.

Should I Have Concerns About Hard Water?

Hard water can affect your home in a number of ways, in particular the fixtures and plumbing fixtures.  Heat dissolves the minerals in hard water which causes the minerals to re-crystalize and create what is known as scale.  Scale affects all appliance that use running water and reduces their life space.  This can include your homes water heater, dishwasher, washing machine, ice maker, water dispenser, and more. 

Another common concern that comes from hard water is the soap scum that builds up in your showers.  The combination of soap and hard water forms a scummy substance that deposits on your shower and also your skin. Even after rinsing really well, hard water can leave soap residue to build up on your skin thus leading to skin irritation.

Should I Soften My Water?

Of course, softening your water, like any decision around your home is a personal decision.   Hard water does have obvious affects on your home as stated above.  If you choose to soften your hard water with the use of a water softener, you will find yourself using less soap, less detergent, and fewer chemicals overall.  You will notice that you no longer have to work so to get your dishes and clothes clean.  A water softener will also reduce the scale build up on glasses and dishes as well as on faucets, fixtures, and plumbing. 

Are There Any Reasons I Would Not Want to Use a Water Softener?

There are two types of water softeners: those that use salt to regenerate and those that use potassium chloride.  If you need a low sodium diet it is important to consider the options in water treatment.  When people are talking about water softeners, they are often talking about using water softeners that use salt.

Why Do Water Softeners Add Salt to Soften Water?

Water softeners use salt ions that attract hard minerals in water including magnesium and calcium ions, and then depositing them on water softener resin.  Salt ions trade places with mineral ions which is why the water from the water softener contains more salt than “normal” tap water.  There is about an extra 150 to 300 milligrams per quart of water which works out to about the same amount that you would find in a slice of bread.

The experts at Reynolds Water Conditioning have a solution to your homes unique water quality needs including: arsenic, bacteria, chlorine, rotten egg smell, fluoride, hard water, iron, lead, acid, tannins, radon, and more.  More information on our water treatment solutions including water softeners and conditioners, water filtration and purification, reverse osmosis drinking water, and iron & odor removal can be found online at https://reynoldswater.com.

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What You Need To Know Before Purchasing a Water Treatment System

waterTreatment

First things first, have the water in your home tested by professional water treatment specialist.  Take labeled water samples from each faucet in your home in for treatment.  Believe it or not water from the kitchen sink may not test for the same contaminants as the water in the bathroom or laundry room.  This could happen for a number of reasons but is important to ensure proper treatment of the water in your home.  Processing different points of access will also allow you to recognize issues that can be corrected with whole house water treatment systems such as water softeners or point of use water treatment solutions such as reverse osmosis and water filtration systems. 

If the water in your home tests positive for contaminants, then the installation of a treatment system could be the next necessary step in remedying the issue.   When you have to install a water treatment solution it is important that you understand these systems will require routine maintenance and care.  It is crucial that homeowners understand that containment free water requires effort on the part of the homeowner no matter water treatment solution is installed.  Water filtration systems will need new filters installed, water softeners will require the input of salt or potassium chloride, and reverse osmosis systems will require cleaning of existing filters and new filters. 

It is important for consumers to be smart when having their water tested.  Some man-made chemicals that have been found in the water supply of homes have been associated with serious health problems.  These contaminates are not always found in without special analysis.  If you suspect the results of your water tests are inaccurate then it is important to have the water tested more thoroughly by a state certified laboratory.  Most general water treatment companies can see basic water quality components such as water hardness, pH, arsenic, iron, and sulfur. 

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After you are sure the results of your homes water are accurate and have been analyzed to your satisfaction the levels that have been detected will tell you what type and level of water treatment is needed. 

Once this process has been satisfactorily completed the next step is to choose a system to treat your homes water.  Depending on your water analysis you can determine if you need whole house treatment, point of use treatment, or both.  Choose products that come from companies that can offer an established reputation and can offer referrals.   Often times companies that sell water treatment systems such as reverse osmosis, iron filtration, water softeners and conditioners will also offer service plans, maintenance options, and salt and potassium chloride delivery. 

The experts at Reynolds Water Conditioning have a solution to your homes unique water quality needs including: arsenic, bacteria, chlorine, rotten egg smell, fluoride, hard water, iron, lead, acid, tannins, radon, and more.  More information on our water treatment solutions including water softeners and conditioners, water filtration and purification, reverse osmosis drinking water, and iron & odor removal can be found online at https://reynoldswater.com.

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How to Make Softened Water Drinkable – Too Much Sodium?

How to Make Softened Water Drinkable

How to Make Softened Water Drinkable

(Newswire.net — January 3, 2019) — Altering the hardness of water might make it undrinkable, and this is mostly due to the fact that the ion exchange principle used to strip hard water of its minerals results in a spike in sodium levels. Calcium and magnesium ions all get replaced with sodium, so you find that soft water has a considerably high sodium content. So are you looking for ways on how to make softened water drinkable? This article will go into detail about all of the key points revolving around softened water and how you can ensure that you’re not drinking too much sodium.

Making Softened Water Drinkable

Sodium is a mineral we need to have in our diets. Though sodium chloride—otherwise known as table salt—is probably our biggest source of the mineral, it occurs naturally in other foods we eat. It is a vital component in certain cell functions, so having sodium in our diets is necessary for good health.

Sodium chloride is only about 40% sodium. In small or appropriate quantities, sodium is not harmful to us, but when too much sodium is present in the body, problems begin to manifest. Heart disease and high blood pressure cases have already been linked to high sodium levels in the blood, and as a result, the Water Quality Regulatory board restricts the ingestion of water with a sodium content higher than 200 mg/liter.

How Do You Ensure Softened Water is Drinkable?

First of all, it is important to note that water exists in various degrees of hardness. The harder the water is, the more minerals (calcium and magnesium) it contains, and the more sodium is produced during the ion exchange process. Softening water that is very hard will likely lead to high sodium levels.

Typically, water softeners add 46 mg/ liter of sodium for every 100 mg/liter of hardness minerals present in the water. Therefore, a softener will produce 184 mg/liter of sodium in water that contains 400 mg/liter of calcium carbonate, and that’s rather high.

To reduce water hardness, some people use osmosis water filters, which eliminate most of the minerals present in hard water. This way, the sodium levels remain low even after the softening process. Too much sodium is bad for our health, but how much is too much?

The average human being consumes 3240 mg of sodium on a daily basis—8.1 grams of salt, all of which comes from food, beverages, and water too. Water that contains 400 mg of calcium carbonate per liter is considered very hard, and using water softener will cause sodium levels to go beyond the recommended daily amount. Some places have predominantly hard water sources, and in such places, using a water softener outright is not a reliable way to make drinking water with a suitable sodium content.

Other Ways to Get Clean Drinking Water

If softening water in your region causes it to have higher than average sodium levels, you can drink it the way it is. Although if you’re looking for a way on how to make softened water drinkable, water softening experts at Clear Water Concepts mention that you should consider a hard water tap or reverse osmosis system can be just as ideal a source of drinking water provided you install filters for debris and bacterial contaminants. In some areas, drinking unsoftened water is mandatory as the alternative poses health risks due to high sodium levels. You can consult your local water company to learn about the hardness of the water in your region, and whether it is safe to drink softened water.

Bottom Line

Water is usually undrinkable due to its hardness level. That’s why many people have opted to implement water softeners in their home where the calcium and magnesium in the hard water gets replaced with sodium ions. Since soft water does have a decent amount of sodium in it, many people are skeptical of whether it’s drinkable or not. This article went over how to make softened water drinkable by using a hard water tap or reverse osmosis system to ensure that softened water is safe to drink.

Original Source: https://newswire.net/newsroom/blog-post/00106748-how-to-make-softened-water-drinkable.html

Original Date: Jan 3 2019

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Manta Rays May Lead Us to Better Water Filtration

Most water filters work by a sieve principle, in which waterborne particles that are too large to pass through a filtration membrane’s pores end up collecting on its surface. The problem is, such filters ultimately get clogged with trapped particles. The manta ray, however, has developed a work-around that could be applied to human technology.

Although manta rays may be big and weird-looking, they’re harmless to humans. They feed entirely on plankton and microcrustaceans which they filter out of seawater.

It was already known that filter-feeding fish generally do so by gulping water into their mouths, then forcing it out through their gills. On its way out, the water passes through closely-spaced rows of hook-lined appendages known as gill rakers – plankton too large to pass through the gaps between the hooks get trapped, and are subsequently swallowed.

Scientists from Oregon State University, however, recently noticed that manta rays have uniquely modified gill rakers which take the form of long, parallel arrays of leaf-like lobes (see the photo below). As expelled water flows through them, it forms into swirling eddies which cause plankton to ricochet off the lobes and back into the mouth cavity.

Essentially, the modified rakers form a filter that repels particles instead of trapping them. Not only does this mean that the system is very resistant to clogging and can operate at high flow rates, but it also allows the animals to retain prey that’s much smaller than the gaps in the rakers.

“We are currently looking at whether we can adapt this mechanism for engineered systems,” says assistant professor Jim Strother, co-author of a paper on the study. “For example, one future direction is exploring whether this can be applied to wastewater treatment in order to address the emerging threat from microplastics pollution.”

Original source: https://newatlas.com/manta-ray-water-filtration/56550/

Original Date: Sept 27 2018

Written by: Ben Coxworth

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