Water Filter vs Water Softener

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