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