Water Treatment Systems

If you have recently discovered you have hard water in your home, you may be looking to purchase a water treatment system to help soften or purify your water. There are four different types of water treatment systems including water filters, chemical water softeners, mechanical water softeners, and magnetic water conditioners.

Water filters are made to filter drinking water that is coming from the tap. These water filters usually come as a portable unit that you could take with you from house to house should you move a lot. The benefits of water filters is the water that is output by the filter is suitable for drinking, the filter removes chlorine, and the water is softened. One drawback of water filters is that they do not prevent lime scale deposits on heating systems, fixtures, or pipes. Some large refrigerators with water dispensers can offer filtered water from a built-in filter.

Chemical water softeners are used in the laundry, as chemicals are added to the water during the washing process. Chemical water softeners help to lengthen the lifespan of clothes by removing the calcium and magnesium, but they do not provide drinking water fit for humans.

Mechanical water softeners are permanently installed with your plumbing and replace the calcium and magnesium found in hard water with sodium. This does prevent lime scale, but this is expensive and may not be suitable for those who have dietary sodium restrictions. You should check with your doctor before installing one of these systems in your home as it will add sodium to the water you drink out of the tap.

Magnetic water conditioners are also permanently installed in the plumbing of a home and are a relatively new concept. These systems make water fit for drinking, prevent lime scale buildup on pipes and fixtures, and increases heating efficiency. Magnetic water conditioners don't actually soften the water. Instead the system alters the calcium ions, so they cannot cause lime scale and the problems associated with its deposits and buildup. Calcium still remains in the water, and individuals can benefit by getting some of their daily requirements of calcium from water in this system.

There are four main water treatment systems you can choose from to install in your home should you be desiring a break from hard levels of water, or would like purified water to drink. Each water treatment system has many benefits as well as a few drawbacks. Each homeowner is different and should choose a water treatment system that is geared to their specific needs.