Hard Water (a brief overview)
 

85 percent of the United States has to cope with hard water, which is water with excessive levels of calcium, magnesium and other contaminants. The minerals present in hard water can accumulate in the form of a hard scale which can build up and eventually spot and stain finishes, clog pipes and damage water-using appliances. These minerals also affect the cleaning ability of soaps and chemicals. 

 

 

The U.S. Department of the Interior classifies hardness based on the grains per gallon (gpg) concentration of the hardness minerals. See chart on right.

 

If you live in an area of moderately hard or hard water, you may not be fully aware of the problem as it is difficult to see or taste any difference between hard and soft water.  Even moderately hard water can make a noticeable difference in the ease of cleaning, the effectiveness of cleaning products and the life of plumbing, fixtures and water using appliances.

 

Cleaning with Hard Water

 

Hard water has a direct effect on all cleaning tasks. All water based cleaning and washing is less effective and efficient with hard water. Cleaning with hard water requires greater physical effort and the use of greater quantities of cleaning agents. Using hard water increases the time required for typical cleaning tasks by almost 50%.

 

Hard water should be removed from paint, glass and high gloss or high profile surfaces. Residual hard water that dries on a finish will leave spots which over time can be difficult to remove as the minerals in the spots remain active and will etch a finish.

 

How Soft Water is Made

 

Softening hard water typically involves the use of ion exchange water softener. A typical water softener works on the principal of "cation exchange" in which the ions of hardness minerals (an ion is an electrically charged atom or group of atoms) are exchanged for sodium ions, effectively reducing the concentration of hardness minerals to insignificant levels. As the water enters the softener is passes over a resin bed in a special tank. The resin is made up of tiny beads of styrene and divinylbenzene which attract and hold sodium or potassium ions. The beads will exchange these ions whenever they encounter another ion such as calcium or magnesium.

 

After a period of use the sodium or potassium ions are completely exchanged and the unit has to be "backwashed" or "regenerated," which recharges the resin beads with sodium or potassium ions. This requires the use of sodium or potassium chloride which is loaded into a "brine tank" where it dissolves in water forming a brine used to recharge the system.

 

Conclusion

 

Soft water saves time, energy and money. Soft water reduces the amount of chemicals required to properly clean. Soft water reduces labor and maintenance times. Soft water eliminates the possibility of hard water spotting.