What is Water Softening?

The Water Softening Process

It may sound strange, but water can be on a spectrum of hard and soft. The hardness rating is a measurement of the amounts of calcium and magnesium, along with other minerals, present in the water.

It may not sound like a big deal, especially since we eat and drink those minerals every day. But high concentrations of these minerals change the texture of your water. This can lead to changes in the way you cook, bathe, and operate your home.

Why Hard Water is Bad

Though hard water will not harm you, it will harm your plumbing system. Hard water leaves behind mineral deposits throughout your pipes, faucets, showerheads, and water heater. Over time, this can close off pipes, clog your plumbing fixtures, and damage your water heater.

We don’t want any of these things to happen. On top of these structural damages, hard water can make it hard to wash your hands, as soap will have a hard time working into a lather. You may even notice that your skin is especially dry after showering or that your clothes come out of the wash a bit stiff.

What Will Softening Do?

Water softening is a process that removes these minerals from your water in order to improve it for all daily uses. Softening is different than filtration, which also removes impurities from the water supply. However, these systems are often combined to perform both essential cleaning tasks.

Water softening takes place in a filter, where the calcium and magnesium minerals are “pulled out” of the water before it travels through your home. Many methods include the use of sodium (not salt) to remove these minerals, but there are a variety of options available.

Improving Florida’s Water

The Aztec Plumbing & Drains team is one of the industry leaders in Florida, providing expert water filtration services to homeowners. Contact us today at 239-212-0299 to learn more about how we can help improve your water.