How Does a Water Softener Work?

Depending on the size and brand of the water softener you purchase, you can expect to get several years’ worth of softened water from it. The basic design of a water softener is pretty similar in just about all models. The outer casing of the water softener is a tank that is filled with small resin beads. These resin beads are covered with substances called sodium ions.

When the hard water enters your home and reaches the water softener, it first passes through the resin beads. These resin beads act like small magnets and pull out all of the magnesium and calcium from the water. Those two minerals are responsible for the poor quality water that homeowners are so desperate to get rid of.

Over the course of normal use, the resin beads inside the water softener will get saturated from all those mineral deposits. The beads will have to be recharged to treat more hard water. The recharging of the resin beads is known as the regeneration phase and is usually done by way of the control panel at the top of your system.

It is during the regeneration process that a brine solution will be flushed throughout the resin tank. The resin beads will in a sense be bathed in a flow of sodium ions. These new sodium ions simply replace the magnesium and calcium that have accumulated in the tank. Once the water has been treated or softened, it can then be sent throughout the home, where you can enjoy the better quality water in your shower, sinks, and washing machine. The calcium and magnesium in the brine solution are then flushed out of the home with freshwater by way of the drain. Once the resin beads have been regenerated, they can be used again and again.