Interior Decorating Information

What are Water Softeners?


Soap scum. Stiff clothing. Clogged pipes. No matter what you try, it's hard to get your surfaces clean. Scale builds up. Dishes come out of the dishwasher with spots on them. All of these problems occur because of hard water, a frustrating but fixable situation.

The term, ""hard water,"" refers to water with a high mineral content. The most common minerals that cause water hardness are calcium and magnesium. As water is absorbed into the ground, the minerals are pulled from the earth and eventually end up in a household's water supply. Hard water can clog household plumbing.

Water hardness, or how much of a mineral is present in water, is measured in grains per gallon (GPG), parts per million (PPM), or milligrams per liter (MG/L). Water up to 1 GPG is considered soft, water; from 1 to 3.5 GPG is considered moderate, and water 3.5 to 7 GPG is hard water. Kits used to test water hardness can be purchased at a pool supplier or from a water softener dealer.

Many water softeners plug right into the household water supply. Ionic exchange water softeners consist of negatively charged plastic beads, a brine tank, and a regenerating system with a timer or other monitoring device. Sodium or potassium chloride is added to the brine tank when regeneration is necessary. Home water softeners range in price from $400 to $1,200, and the salt ranges from $5 to $7 per bag. Price depends on type, size, and type of softening agent. Alternatively, magnetic water softeners consist of only 2 magnets attached to the outside or inside of water pipes.

Water softeners work by replacing ions of the minerals that cause hardness with ""softer"" ions. Water is filtered through charged plastic beads and the magnesium or calcium ions are replaced with sodium or potassium ions. In the case of magnetic water softeners, magnetic energy causes chemical changes in the minerals.

Using water softeners poses no health risks, except for those who are on sodium-restricted diets. Keep bottled water on hand for cooking and consumption, or use potassium chloride instead of sodium chloride to soften. Potassium chloride is more expensive than sodium chloride. There are also no health risks associated with choosing not to soften water.

Water Softeners Info provides detailed information about magnetic and ionic exchange water softeners, home water softener systems and kits, product reviews and comparisons, water softener salt, and more. Water Softeners Info is the sister site of Dishwashers Web.


MORE RESOURCES:

Interior decorating trends toward rich color, vintage look
Tampabay.com, FL - Nov 10, 2008
By Scripps Howard News Service Economic extremes call for color extremes. Check the predictions for colors at Color Marketing Group, which has been ...


Huffington Post

Addicted to (Pretty)Porn: One Woman's Story
Huffington Post, NY - 35 minutes ago
It could be about baking, or interior decorating, textile design, fashion or photography. As long as there are dreamy white people floating through, ...


In the Parks: Santa flips his disco
Mercury-Register, CA - 12 hours ago
"She's down the street talking to Sue Corkin about doing some interior decorating at the North Pole," he chuckled. "Then she's going to talk to Rudy ...


Champlin High seeks money for makeover
Minneapolis Star Tribune, MN - 18 hours ago
Even if Champlin Park gets the donations it needs for an interior decorating facelift, where does it start? "We just don't have one spot where we can focus ...


Stay-at-home mom Leslie Fox just blocks from home when killed ...
MLive.com, MI - Nov 30, 2008
Before Leslie Fox gave birth to the twins, she was in the house cleaning and interior decorating business, Nora Fox said. Nora Fox said her sister was quite ...


Specialty dealer adds motorcycles
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, FL - Dec 1, 2008
Evans can help a client with all of their interior decorating needs. TEGrity Solutions has announced the opening of its Web Site development services for ...


(News from Poitou Charentes) Four Charente Christmas Crackers ...
VEF French Property, UK - Dec 2, 2008
The property is habitable and just needs some interior decorating to finish it off (see reference: 520366). We also have a lovely cottage, ...


Moffly Media Cutting Staff and Production Schedule
Westport-News, CT - Nov 28, 2008
At Home in Fairfield County magazine, a publication dedicated to interior decorating that was launched three years ago by the Moffly family, ...


Bedroom of dreams places priority on beauty, comfort
NewsOK.com, OK - Nov 29, 2008
... recoup from the day and sleep restfully,” says Esther Sadowsky, owner of the interior decorating company Charm & Whimsy in New York. ...


Appeal for cash as residential home faces closure
South Devon Herald Express, UK - Dec 1, 2008
The council is already providing some materials and manpower to tidy the grounds and to do some interior decorating.

Interior-Decorating - Google News

home | site map | Nautical Decor
© 2006