Florida Water Treatment’s Frequently Asked Questions

When water is referred to as ‘hard,’ it simply means that it contains more minerals than ordinary water. Calcium and magnesium are generally the two main minerals referred to when dealing with hard water. When the amount of dissolved calcium and magnesium increases, so does the degree of hardness in the water.

Hard water is known to clog pipes and complicate soap’s ability to dissolve in water. Due to increased hardness deposits (or scale), hard water also significantly decreases the life of your water pipes, household appliances (dishwasher, washing machine, A/C unit, etc.), as well as any plumbing fixtures in your home. These can all cause costly repairs if damaged by hard water. Installing water treatment in your home, such as a water softener, can aid in eliminating these negative effects.

When water contains a significant amount of calcium and magnesium, it is hard water. Water softening is a technique that removes the ions that cause the water to be hard. In most cases, a water softener removes the calcium and magnesium ions; however, iron ions may also be removed during the softening process. The most efficient and reliable method of water softening is to connect a water softener unit directly to the water supply.

A water softener is a unit that is used to remove the hardness in the water. It functions by removing the calcium and magnesium minerals that make the water hard.

Hard water is known to clog pipes and complicate soap and detergent's ability to dissolve in water. Hard water can also increase calcium and limescale deposits and buildup, which can significantly reduce the life of many household appliances. Having hard water can also increase the cost of domestic water heating by about fifteen to twenty percent. Having softened water in your home significantly increases the life of your hot water heater, dishwasher, laundry machines, faucets, plumbing fixtures, and many more. Softened water also contributes to increased performance and longer lifespan of solar heating systems, air conditioning units, and many other water-based applications.

Water softeners work through an ion exchange process. Softeners remove the positively charged ions calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+) using negatively charged resin filter media. Softeners are also sometimes applied to remove iron. Many softener devices can remove up to five milligrams per liter of dissolved iron. Softeners can operate automatic, semi-automatic, or manual. Each type is rated on the amount of hardness it can remove before regeneration is necessary. When a water softener regenerates, it collects the hard minerals that have collected on the resin and flushes them away to a drain. At this time, it also recharges the resin so it can continue to remove the hardness effectively. When an ion exchanger is applied for water softening, it will replace the calcium and magnesium ions within the water with other ions (for instance, sodium or potassium). The exchanger ions are added to the softener reservoir (in this case called a brine tank) as sodium or potassium salts (NaCl and KCl). The sodium or potassium is then rinsed away with clean water to not add excess amounts into your home's water.

A water softener’s lifespan depends greatly on your individual water chemistry; however, a good water softener will last many years. Many reliable water softeners need little maintenance besides occasional check-ups and adding salt.

There are several types of salt available for use in water softeners. Rock salt, solar salt, and evaporated salt are all good to use. Pellets or block salt are not recommended, as many contain an adhesive that can cause your unit to malfunction over time. If you are concerned about your sodium intake, potassium can be a good alternative to use.

Both sodium and potassium create the ion exchange needed for your water softener to function properly. Since they both do the same thing for your water softener, one is no better for your water softener than the other. Potassium is usually used if a person is under strict instructions from a doctor to limit their sodium intake.

Especially when using rock salt, solar salt, or evaporated salt, there can be residual sediment that is a result of the natural refining process. This can cause the water to look a little dirty. This is completely normal and should not cause alarm. The brine solution in your brine tank is only used to recharge the resin; it is then discharged and rinsed away.

Generally, it is not harmful to mix salts in the water softener. However, it is always best to allow the existing salt in your tank to get low before replacing it with an alternative salt.

This depends on your water usage and how often your unit regenerates. Depending on the size of your equipment, your water softener can use between 6 and 10 pounds of salt per regeneration. Checking your salt level about every month or so is recommended. Salt should always be kept in the unit to guarantee a satisfactory production of water. Please note that you can allow the salt to go all the way down before refilling. When filling your salt tank, you should fill it to about half full, no higher than three-quarters – this prevents bridging and should keep your unit functioning properly.

When you add salt to your brine tank, it dissolves slowly to form a brine mixture to be used during regeneration. Therefore, before the salt can work, it needs a little residence time within the brine tank. If you immediately start a regeneration cycle after adding salt to the brine tank, the water softener may not work according to standards. When water softening does not take place, it could also indicate a softener malfunction or a problem with the salt being used.

The cost of a water softener greatly depends on the type of water softener and the quality of its components. Some softeners are more efficient than others, and as a result, the prices may differ. There are time-operated softeners and water meter-controlled softeners available. The meter-controlled softeners produce the softest water per pound of salt. However, the benefits and cost savings obtained through using softened water greatly outweigh the cost of the water softener unit itself.

Florida Water Treatment's water softeners are custom-built for each of our customers, so no two units are exactly alike. We don't take a one-size-fits-all approach and do not mass-produce our equipment as national brands do. We build your equipment based on what your individual water quality concerns are. If you would like an estimate on what it would cost to install a water softener for your home, please call us at 727-736-2747, and we would be happy to assist you.

The running cost usually includes the cost of the salt, which varies based on water usage. You should also have regular maintenance checks performed on the system to maintain the quality of the water and ensure your softener is running efficiently.

Softened water still contains all the natural minerals that we need. It is only deprived of its calcium and magnesium, and minimal amounts of sodium (or potassium) are added during the softening process. That is why, in most cases, softened water is perfectly safe to drink. Please note that using softened water when in an area with very high hardness for the preparation of baby formula or for customers on a strict sodium-restricted diet, a medical professional should be consulted prior to consumption.

The amount of sodium added to your water through the softening process depends on the level of hardness of your water. Hard water contains calcium and magnesium, which is replaced with sodium during the softening process. The higher the concentration of calcium and magnesium, the more sodium is needed to soften the water. Even still, the amount of sodium that results from softened water shouldn’t be cause for concern.

The amount of sodium that results from the softening process is minimal. As a rule, the amount of sodium in an 8-ounce glass of softened tap water is less than 12.5 milligrams of sodium. According to the Food and Drug Administration nutrient guidelines, this is in the very low sodium range.

Softening will not deprive you of essential minerals. Softening deprives drinking water of minerals that cause the water to be hard, such as calcium, magnesium, and iron.

Softening will not deprive water of its essential minerals. Softening deprives drinking water of minerals that cause the water to be hard, such as calcium, magnesium, and iron.

Just like any other household appliance, regular preventative maintenance is recommended to ensure your water softener is functioning to the best of its ability. Generally, your softener should be checked over about every 12 to 18 months.

No. In fact, when you use a rinse aid (such as Jet Dry ®) with softened water, it can cause your dishes to come out spotty. To explain, when you have hard water, the rinse aid attaches to the hardness in the water to allow it to be easily washed away. When you have softened water, there is no hardness for the rinse aid to attach to. Therefore, it attaches itself to your dishes, causing a 'film' to form on your glasses, plates, and utensils. So, what detergent should you use when using softened water? Just know that you don't need anything fancy. Plain dish detergent should do – just make sure it doesn't have a rinse aid mixed in!

Under normal circumstances, it is usually not necessary to clean out a brine tank. Unless the salt being used is unusually high in insoluble matter or there is a serious equipment failure within the brine tank. In that case, the brine tank should be cleaned to prevent equipment malfunction.

When loosely compacted salt pellets or cube-style salt is used in a brine tank, it may form tiny crystals of evaporated salt, like table salt. These crystals may bond, creating a thick mass of hardened salt in the brine tank. This phenomenon, commonly known as 'bridging', can interrupt brine production. This is why it is important to fill your brine tank past three-quarters, as overfilling your unit can encourage bridging. Brine production is the most important element for refreshing the resin beads in a water softener. Without brine production, a water softener is not able to produce soft water.

When the water does not become soft enough, you should first consider problems with the salt that is used or mechanical malfunction of your softener's components. When these elements are not the cause of the unsatisfactory water softening, it may be time to replace the softener resin or perhaps the entire softener. A common sign of resin needing replacement is reduced water pressure. If you ever experience reduced water pressure with your water softer, the water softener should immediately be placed in bypass, and you should call your service company for service.

You should not notice reduced water pressure if your home has a quality water softener that is correctly sized for your house and family size. If you are experiencing reduced water pressure, you should put your unit into bypass and call your service company for service immediately.

The Water Quality Association has performed studies on this subject. These studies have indicated that a properly placed septic tank that works adequately cannot be damaged by brine that is discharged from a water softener. Softened water can also reduce the number of detergents discharged into a septic tank.

Lead pipe systems must be replaced before softened water can flow through them. Although lead pipes in hard water areas may not cause a problem, it is advisable to replace them anyway. When naturally or artificially softened water ends up in these lead pipe systems, it may cause the pickup of lead.

With modern water softeners, it is very possible to take them along during the moving process. Installation techniques involve quick-fitting connections, like those used for laundry machines. All that must be done is closing off the inlet and outlet valves of the softener and opening the bypass valve, allowing hard water to flow to the storage tank and household pipes. After that softener is disconnected, it can be moved to its new location and plumbed in there. It is important to note that when moving from city water to well water, your current water softener might not perform if it is not suited for well water use. Also, the new home’s size should be taken into consideration when deciding whether your current softener is the proper size for the new home.

As brine alters the osmotic pressure that plants rely upon to regulate water needs. Also, direct discharge of either sodium or potassium chloride should be avoided.

There are cases to be noted in which people with dry skin conditions have benefited from the use of softened water. This is because softened water is gentler for hair and skin.