Water Softeners Manufacturers Selection Guide
Water softener design
A timed controller regenerates at timed intervals. Timed control is wasteful because the softener may regenerate before the resin has been exhausted or if the resin is exhausted before the regeneration is due hard water will only be available.
Volume controlled or metered water softeners, measure the amount of water flowing through the softener and regenerate the resin beads when they detect that they are exhausted.
For a meter controlled water softener to calculate when the resin has been exhausted it needs to know the hardness of the water and the amount of water that has been used. Therefore, a water softener set to the exact hardness of the water is going to be more efficient than a softener that uses a pre-set hardness range.
Electric softeners are the most widely-used type of system. Electronic softeners – technology is used to record the water usage and control the regeneration process. Non-electric water softeners rely on water pressure to measure the water use and operate the valves.
Single vs. twin tank softeners (or block salt softeners)
All ion-exchange water softeners work on the same exchange principle. However, not all water softeners are the same. Research and development has greatly improved systems over the years, with manufacturers improving upon:
- Durability and safety of the materials,
- Improved control mechanism,
- Ensuring water flows evenly within the resin bed,
- Optimum water contact time for the exchange process, and;
- The effectiveness and cost efficiency of the regeneration process.
Methods of controlling a water softener
A timed controller regenerates at timed intervals. Timed control is wasteful because the softener may regenerate before the resin has been exhausted or if the resin is exhausted before the regeneration is due hard water will only be available.
Volume controlled or metered water softeners, measure the amount of water flowing through the softener and regenerate the resin beads when they detect that they are exhausted.
For a meter controlled water softener to calculate when the resin has been exhausted it needs to know the hardness of the water and the amount of water that has been used. Therefore, a water softener set to the exact hardness of the water is going to be more efficient than a softener that uses a pre-set hardness range.
Electric softeners are the most widely-used type of system. Electronic softeners – technology is used to record the water usage and control the regeneration process. Non-electric water softeners rely on water pressure to measure the water use and operate the valves.
Single vs. twin tank softeners (or block salt softeners)
The main differences between the two types of softeners are:
- Single tanks offer on demand soft water v twin tank 24/7 softened water
- Single tank electronic technology improves efficiency v twin tank non-electronic
- Single tank is a simpler design with less component parts v twin tank complex design
- Single tank for even water flow v twin tank can fluctuate water flow when in regeneration
- Single tank softeners use tablet or granular salt v twin tank are designed to use block salt.
Finding the right water softener
Before selecting your water softener, always ask:
- Whether the design is suitable to ensure the home’s water will be completely softened,
- The water softening capacity of the softener,
- How much salt and water is used in the regeneration,
- Whether any after sales service is available,
- The price (a good quality water softener will be more expensive, but reliability and lower running costs makes them a very good long term investment over the cheaper systems available on the market).
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