Salt-free water conditioners work by producing a catalytic reaction to convert calcium and magnesium in water to form calcite crystals which are then carried away by the water flow once they reach a sufficient size (the nanometer range).
Thus, saltless water conditioners do not physically remove water hardness, but change the dissolved calcium carbonate into a type of calcite crystal that cannot attach to pipes or appliances to create hardness deposits. The treated water will gradually remove existing hardness deposits, as well.
Better referred to as “No-salt water conditioners” these also require less maintenance than normal softeners because they don’t need to be back washed or regenerated – this makes them cheaper due to decreased water and energy usage, and eliminates the need to replace the brine solution, further increasing your savings over a normal water softener.
Normal water softeners can be easily replaced by saltless conditioners, as well. You will see the same effects as with your normal softener, except that your water may not have that slippery, slimy feeling often reported with soft water because saltless conditioners don’t remove hardness, but crystallize it.
You’ll also notice the water will taste and feel better compared to standard sodium-softened water due to the reduced concentration of sodium in the water.
If you are interested in softening your city water for your whole house without using salt softeners, then we recommend our “no-salt water softener” system that works well and comes with a whole carbon filter.
For a standard 2.5 bath household with 4 people, we recommend the 4.0 liter model. The carbon filter is separate and is easily installed before the conditioner. It will remove chlorine, tastes, and odors. We also have whole-house carbon filter systems that last for years and are more economical to operate than carbon cartridges.
If you have any further questions about water softeners or other water filtration systems, e-mail us at support@cleanwaterstore.com, get in touch on Facebook, or use our online contact form, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
Also see: Hard Truths About Soft Water
United States Geological Survey (USGS) – Water Hardness and Alkalinity: The USGS provides comprehensive information on water hardness, including its causes, measurement, and geographical distribution across the United States.
URL: https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-school/science/hardness-water
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – Water Softening: The EPA offers guidance on water softening and provides information on the different types of water softening processes, which can be useful for understanding the context of salt-free water softeners.
National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program: This program provides information on water-quality conditions, including water hardness, and how water quality varies across the country.
Water Quality Association (WQA) – Water Hardness: The WQA is a not-for-profit association for the residential commercial, and industrial water treatment industry. Their site offers resources on understanding water hardness and the effectiveness of different treatment methods.
URL: https://www.wqa.org/learn-about-water/common-contaminants/hardness
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