Soft water, is water that has been treated to remove these minerals, so that homes can use the water without complications. The softening of water is carried out by a filtration system using specially formulated salts.

How hard water is formed

Hard water is formed when natural water gets filtered through layers of sedimentary formation. Limestone is one of the most common sedimentary rocks that cause water to accumulate minerals before it reaches the water table.

Natural filtration removes several unwanted constituents of ground water, but in the process it infuses ground water with natural minerals at high levels of concentration.

The most common minerals that find their way into water passing through sedimentary rock are calcium, magnesium and manganese. This mineral-heavy water is what is drawn out of the earth and pumped into your homes.

Hard water is the standard source of water for homes and establishments built over water tables that accumulate water filtered through sedimentary layers.

The effects of hard water

Minerals present in hard water are not actually harmful in themselves. In fact, in small quantities, these have beneficial value for the human body. The trouble is that hard water carries excessive amounts of these minerals. The effects of hard water can range from troublesome to dangerous.

The first casualty of hard water is your home’s plumbing system. Pipes, taps, basins, tubs all develop grit and grime over time as the hard water passes through them. The sediment builds over time, and these can be difficult to clean; often it becomes necessary to buy cleaning agents to remove the stains.

Hard water is also bad for washing utensils, clothes, hair bathing. It leaves behind a gritty film on dishes and prevents clothes from retaining their smoothness. People often complain about their hair and skin feeling rougher because of bathing in hard water.

The biggest danger lies in the consumption of hard water. Excessive build-up of mineral deposit in the body can cause clogging of arteries with plaque. It can pose a serious threat to the kidney, which is unable to completely filter the large quantities of deposit that accumulate in the body regularly.

Hard water also affects industrial units adversely. Corrosion of larger pipes, massive maintenance costs - these are all major concerns for commercial establishments dealing with hard water.

Softening water

A standard filter will not be able to separate the minerals from the hard water - they are too small and fine to be trapped by traditional filters.

The solution to the problem of hard water is to install a water softener a combination of a softening system and special salts, which interact with the filter, can successfully remove the hardening elements of water. The resulting soft water is safe for daily use.

A water softener is a device fitted to your water mains. It consists of a filter tank that holds several tiny resin beads within it. These beads are large enough to trap the minerals within them, as well as be trapped themselves by the softener’s filter.

When the special salt is added to the tank, the chemical reaction with the resin beads causes electrically charged ions to form. This is called ionisation, and it results in the minerals attaching themselves to the charged ions, and thus to the beads.

Once attached to the ions, they get filtered out as the water passes through the softener’s filter and into the pipeline. the water finally entering your home system is cleansed of the minerals and is soft water.

Advantages of using a softener

You will immediately enjoy the positive benefits a water softener brings with it:

• Less time spent cleaning and washing, as soft water leaves no stains and grit
• Cleaner and longer-lasting pipes, taps and fittings
• Cost-savings, as you no longer require cleaning agents, excessive detergent, fabric softeners etc
• Large-scale savings for commercial units as maintenance costs come down significantly
• Ease of bathing and washing. Users enjoy the beneficial effects of soft water on their skin and hair
• Healthier water entering your body, protecting you from the dangers of mineral build-up

Choosing softener products

While choosing a water softener, consider the capacity, efficiency and longevity of the appliance. We offer the following water softening options:

• Meter-Controlled Softeners
• Timer-Controlled Softeners
• Non-Electric Softeners
• 10Ltr Softeners
• 15Ltr Softeners
• Over 15Ltr Softeners
• SALT
• Softener Fittings & Accessories
• Hardness Test Kits