| Several years ago I moved into a new home | | | | |
| located in a rural area that was not supplied | | | | I decided on a simple but high quality |
| by the nearest municipal water system. My | | | | cartridge filter and a water softener that |
| source of fresh water was a drilled well. The | | | | required salt pellets for constant optimum |
| water is of very good quality but is very | | | | softening. The salt used by the softener does |
| hard water. I really did not fully understand | | | | not actually enter your water supply. I found |
| the term "hard water" for several years but I | | | | that it's only purpose was to flush out a |
| have finally come to grips with issues | | | | special media bed that has special physical |
| related to hard water. | | | | qualities that attract the minerals like a |
| | | | magnet. Many people are under the misguided |
| I have been using a water conditioning system | | | | belief that salt goes into your useable water |
| produced by Culligan since I moved into my | | | | - not so. |
| home. I thought it was a water softener. | | | | |
| Everyone called it a water softener and that | | | | The media bed requires flushing at regular |
| is what I called it. I got a little | | | | intervals to continue working at peak |
| discouraged with the system performance and | | | | performance. The system will shut down at |
| began considering a change. The Culligan | | | | predetermined times and close itself off from |
| system required the addition of peroxide to | | | | your water supply. It then takes the salted |
| operate correctly and I was using nearly 10 | | | | water into the media bed. This will cause the |
| gallons per month. My water was still showing | | | | accumulated minerals to release from the |
| some iron and system pressure was falling | | | | media. It is all flushed into your waste |
| considerably. | | | | water system by a separate plumbing |
| | | | connection. Once this cleaning cycle |
| I began researching water softeners. To my | | | | completes, the system re-opens and sends |
| surprise I was not operating a water | | | | fresh, conditioned water to your water supply |
| softener. It was merely a deluxe "water | | | | again. |
| filter". The water was passing through a | | | | |
| media bed that filtered the water but it did | | | | This is the point where I discovered "soft |
| not soften it. I realized at that point that | | | | water". I was amazed. After I installed my |
| two completely distinct processes were | | | | new filter and conditioner it took about 2 |
| involved in proper water conditioning. | | | | days to fully displace all previous water |
| | | | from the water heater and storage system. Now |
| For optimum water quality the water should be | | | | when I take a bath the difference is |
| filtered and then it should be "softened". I | | | | absolutely amazing. After several years of |
| found that the softening process removed | | | | "hard water", the water now truly felt soft |
| dissolved minerals that a filter allowed to | | | | and slippery. This is soft water. Soap |
| pass through. That accounted for the mineral | | | | lathers so much better and laundry detergent |
| build-up on my appliances such as electric | | | | can be reduced considerably yet with better |
| tea kettle and porcelain fixtures etc. | | | | results. |
| | | | |
| Even system iron is present in different | | | | This was my education regarding water |
| forms. Some iron is actually dissolved in the | | | | softening and water filtering. There is |
| water and passes through a filter. It will | | | | considerable difference between the two |
| however solidify when it is not circulating. | | | | processes. I hope this will help someone |
| It contributes a very large build-up inside | | | | still lucky enough to be using fresh |
| hot water heaters. | | | | underground water. |