The benefits of soft water
It's not possible to demonstrate soft water on a website so we
can only describe the changes you will see and feel once you get rid of your hard water problems.
Your bath water will feel smooth and silky. Soap and shampoo will create bubbles that last until you have
finished your bath. You will not want to get out but when you do your skin will be soft and smooth, not like it was with hard
water when it felt as though your whole body was covered with a flaky, itchy residue. Your hair will be softer and easier
to manage. And you won't have to clean the scum line round your bath - there won't be one.
In the kitchen, the water you use to wash dishes will have far more suds but you will use less washing up
liquid. The sparkle will return to your taps, sink and draining board; your work surfaces will no longer have a dull, smeary
film after you wipe them over.
These are the things you will notice a few days after installation. They are probably enough to make you
wonder why you didn't buy a water softener earlier but the same changes will occur in your washing machine, your dishwasher,
your electric shower, and your hot water storage tank. Your laundry will feel softer and last longer once the damaging effects
of hard water are no longer present. In short, once you have experienced the benefits of softened water, you will never want
to be without it.
How does a water softener work?
All water softeners work on the same basic principle: water from the
rising main goes straight into the water softener and passes through a resin filter bed which removes mineral deposits like
magnesium and calcium. The water that goes to your storage tanks and taps is then free of these contaminants.
When the filtration material starts to lose its efficiency, a brine (saltwater) solution is used to back-flush
the trapped deposits harmlessly down the drain. This re-energises the resin beds and the soft water cycle recommences.
The recharge frequency is either based on a time cycle set according to the number of people in the household;
or the amount of water passing through the unit is measured by a built-in water meter.
How long before the benefits are noticed?
Installation is usually completed within two to five working
days of placing your order. If you have a direct feed system (as used with combination boilers) the soft water will start
to flow immediately after the first salt recharge. If your water passes through a cold water storage tank and is heated in
a hot water cylinder, the softened water will gradually replace the water already stored in the tanks and the effect will
be slightly delayed. This process can be hastened by running off the stored water but, even if you don't, the changes will
soon be apparent.
What about the existing limescale in my water system?
Once soft water starts flowing through your system,
the corrosion build-up will begin to reverse. It's a lengthy process but the pipes and tanks will clear in time and your heating
costs will start to reduce.
Which water softener do I need?
We supply a wide range of water softeners to suit all domestic
and industrial environments. All are reviewed on the website
