I usually try to discourage people from making the leap from a typical salt water softener to a magnetic treatment system. The conversion is quite often too radical and quite a bit more than the person is willing to accept. It relative really, if you are used to hard water and convert to magnetically treated water you should notice quite an improvement in the quality of your water. It may even taste and smell better (if it was bad). But, if you come from softener water, many would consider the transformation to be a step down from what they were used to.
You can\’t expect the same results if you are using magnetics to replace chemicals and electricity. Some of the aspects of softened water are not reproduced with magnetic softeners. The salt softened water feels slick and doesn\’t leave a film or white spots. While magnetically treated water may leave a film that simply wipes away, and it doesn\’t feel slick.
So what are advantages that would make you want to make the change? I\’ve seen many homes that have the kitchen faucet bypassed from the salt water softener because it\’s not considered healthy to drink, while it\’s widely accepted that magnetically treated water is good for people, pets, plants,and the environment. Many Counties in the US are outlawing salt-based water softeners, because the salt goes is back in the groundwater.
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Water Softener or Water Filter?
Water, the substance we depend on for survival; odorless, colorless and tasteless yet fundamental to the survival of all life. Water will dissolve nearly everything it comes in contact with and carries that with it. Knowing that our water supply is safe is important and knowing potential problems with the water coming into our home and how to make our water safer and better for us is equally important.
There are a number of potential problems that can occur with the water that comes into our homes; high levels of calcium, minerals and sediment, otherwise known as hard water. Hard water can be really difficult on your home’s plumbing and appliances and for many years people would turn to water softeners that use salt to lessen the harmful effects of hard water.
Unsafe water is another problem we face with our water today. Water with bacteria, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and carcinogens are in large numbers in the public and well water systems. It is common for people to install under sink water filters to provide safe and filtered drinking water. Often the best drinking water filters are installed to remove as many contaminates as possible. This takes care of just the drinking portion of the water we use every day.
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Comparing different water softeners is important so you can find the best choice that fits your needs and budget. Don’t just get the first water softener you see out there. Make sure to consider at least three water softeners and pick the best package for you.
Take a look at what the top three brands of water softeners offer and figure out which would bring you the best set of benefits.
#1: nuvoH2O Whole House Water Softener
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In many North American cities, it is naturally occurring ground water sources that supply our households with water. In places where the bedrock is soft limestone, the water dissolves some of this rock creating “hard” water. In some places, the water is so hard that the deposition of this mineral content on household plumbing fixtures, hot water tanks, coffee pots, dishwashers and other places renders many of these devices unusable in short order. Hard water also reacts with soaps and detergents making it very difficult to properly launder clothes. The cost to homeowners in terms of shortened appliance lifespan and increased water heating costs (due to fouling of hot water heater elements) is substantial.
Since the 1950′s the answer to this problem has been the water softener. As with most technology of this vintage, traditional water softeners are grossly inefficient and more alarmingly they represent a significant environmental threat. This environmental threat has been recognized by several cities in the USA and in some places such as California’s Santa Clarita district, these old style softeners have been banned outright.
The problem with water softeners stems from the mechanism by which they operate. Water flows through a tank filled with tiny resin beads. These beads attract calcium and magnesium (the “hardness”) and bind them to their surface. In exchange, the resin releases sodium. Once all the resin in the softener is saturated with hardness, the tank is flushed with concentrated salt brine that recharges the resin. After this process is complete the brine solution is sent down the drain. A water softener for a single home can conservatively discharge 500 pounds of salt directly into the environment each year. In some US cities as much as 42% of homeowners own a water softener. You can begin to understand the quantity of salt being discharged by water softeners and the environmental impact this represents.
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