Water Softeners

Do you have stains or buildup of lime/calcium on your sinks, tubs, showers, faucets, inside your toilet tanks, and even the toilet bowls? Does your water taste or smell odd or foul? Then you probably have HARD WATER! The water in our area is harder than 85 % of the country! Take a look at this map of water hardness concentrations by area!

WHAT SIZE WATER SOFTENER DO YOU NEED? DETERMINING THE GRAIN

A water softening system is most likely installed at the Point of Entry (POE) – the point where water first enters your home. Therefore, the size of the softener should reflect not only the hardness level but also your household’s daily usage. Therefore Water Treatment is done at POE and all water use fixtures, appliances and the entire plumbing system within the home are thus protected!

Usually, the capacity of a water softening system is expressed in grains*, which indicate the number of grains in hard water it can handle between regenerations. The higher the grain, the higher the capacity.

Here’s a good formula you can use to determine your softener capacity:

Capacity = Number of People (+1 for appliances) x Hardness x 80 Gallons x Days Between Regeneration

Notes:

• The hardness must be in grains per gallon. Add 5 grains for every part per million of dissolved iron detected.
• 80 gallons represents the average amount of water used per day by one person. Actual mileage may vary, so feel free to adjust the number accordingly.
• Regeneration should not be more often than once every 3 days, since the backwash does involve wasting some water, depending on the size of the softener. Plus, it typically takes an hour or two at a time, during which you will have no soft water. On the other hand, the duration between regeneration should not be longer than 14 days, even if your system is a high grain water softener. Otherwise, a foul smell from the minerals, especially iron, is sure to emerge.

Example:

For a family of four, with hardness level being 9 gpg, and a 7-days-regeneration cycle, the minimum water softener hardness capacity would be:

(4+1) x 9 x 80 x 7 = 25,200 grains.

If the water has iron at 1.5 ppm, the minimum water softener hardness capacity would be:

(4+1) x (9 + 5 x 1.5) x 80 x 7 = 46,200 grains. **

*NOTE: Our average water hardness in Boerne to New Braunfels, Spring Branch to Converse, Helotes to La Vernia is 15-25 grains per gallon. In the extreme we have measured hardness at Private Wells as high as 48 to 58 grains per gallon!

Minerals in Hard Water will cause yellow stains and buildup over time, deposited as “scale” that if not prevented can be difficult to remove from water use appliances and fixtures and cause damage to and shorten the useful life expectancy of all water use appliances(Washing machine, Dishwashers, including your Electric Water heater, which is your second highest cost every year after your HVAC system! HARDNESS will eventually build up in an untreated homes pipes and sewer lines, clogging them and even causing leaks which can result in expensive plumbing repairs! Its a fact and recommendation by local San Antonio Energy provider, CPS, that if you have soft, conditioned water, you can literally save 10-15% a year on your energy bill! Not to mention the savings in not replacing your water heater every few years because of calcium deposits build up inside and other appliances damaged by the Hardness or “ROCK” deposits! So, soft water will literally save you thousands over the years in expensive appliance replacement, plumbing repairs and much, much more!

 

Texas Absolute Water Testing and Solutions use American Made, Water Treatment Products exclusively! They will help eliminate the effects of hard water by removing the calcium and magnesium found there. Water is treated at the point-of-entry to the home, extending the useful life of water heaters, coffeemakers, humidifiers, and household plumbing by as much as 30%.

 

Soft Water is a Difference You Can See & Feel

In the Bathroom

Soap and shampoo will lather better. Hair and skin will feel noticeably cleaner, softer and not as dry. No soap scum or mineral deposits to clean off sinks, showers, tubs or toilets.

In the Laundry

Clothes will be softer, cleaner, whiter and brighter. Plus they will last longer. Using soft water increases the life of clothing, towels and linens up to 33%. Without hard water service issues, washing machines last longer, too.

In the Kitchen

Dishes, cutlery, bake dishes, glasses all will clean more easily, and be spot free, without the film glasses get when etched by mineral-laden water.

  Throughout the House

Water-using appliances will last longer and run better. Why? Because water heaters, washing machines and dishwashers using hard water can wear out 30% faster.

How a Water Softener Works

The hard water passes through the media tank that contains resin beads coated with sodium ions. The calcium and magnesium ions are exchanged for sodium (or potassium) ions, thus softening the water.

When the beads have trapped the hardness and need to be regenerated, the control valve charges them with brine (salt and water solution) from the brine tank. As regeneration occurs, calcium and magnesium (hardness) ions are freed from the beads, replaced with sodium or potassium ions; and the system is ready to soften water again.

How the Water Softener Regeneration Process Works

There are 3 basic types of water softener controls that are used in residential applications to manage the regeneration process. The control valve will manage the frequency of recharging the resin beads that clean the water and flushing the contaminated water out of the system.

Computerized Control

The most popular of the 3 types, computerized systems regenerate based on actual water usage. If you are away on vacation or if you have guests staying, the control will adjust accordingly. Computerized controls are programmed with grain capacity of the softener, water hardness and how many people are in the home. Since this type of unit only regenerates when necessary, it is the most efficient in salt pellet usage.

Timer Controlled

This type of system regenerates based on a time clock. The control is set to run at a predetermined time, regardless of the actual amount of water that has run through the system. Timer controlled systems tend to be less costly than computerized, however salt usage tends to be higher and there may be times when un-softened water is delivered due to higher than expected demand.

Manually Controlled

Although rare, there are some applications where a manually controlled system is needed. Manual systems simply use a lever control valve that regenerates when you want it to. An example of a manual control application is when a permanent drain is not available and a hose is temporarily used to flush the waste water. It’s best to oversize the system in this case so that the system doesn’t need to be regenerated as often.

Popular Mechanics.com/How Water Softeners Work! 

Water Treatment Solutions

Water Treatment Products by Texas Absolute Water Testing and Solutions are custom configured and “bedded” with specific, High performance, specialized “media” mix for treatment to meet your specific needs! Ask your Texas Absolute Water professional for the details! Not an “Off the Shelf”, mass-produced system so many offer! “Over Built” to provide the ultimate in reliability and results! Texas Absolute Water will visit your home to conduct a water quality test and site assessment that includes:

• Testing Water Quality for Hardness (calcium & magnesium), Iron, Hydrogen Sulfide (H₂S) and Acidity (pH).
• Assessing the results of water tested by an independent laboratory for microbial, organic, inorganic or mineral contamination or substances, if necessary, such as in Private or Commercial Wells.
• Performing a visual inspection of the homes plumbing and water consuming fixtures and appliances.
• Determine your average water demand based on the number of people in the home and water consuming fixtures and appliances. Your water utility bill showing cu/ft used for the prior 3 months can also be used to determine your average water demand.

Your Water Treatment Professional will analyze the test results and make recommendations on the type and size of equipment that will best take care of your water quality problems and fit your lifestyle. Depending on the test results additional equipment such as Iron & H₂S Filters, Whole House Filters, Scale Control Device or Point-of-Use Reverse Osmosis systems of varying capacity and quality of performance may also be recommended. Wells, Commercial or Medical applications all require specific prescriptions of filtering media and mix of equipment to complete the proper treatment and achieve the expected results!

Point of Use

Whether you just want the fresh, clean taste of bottled water without the expense and waste, or you need protection from waterborne contaminates, a Point-of-Use System may be the best choice for you.

Point-of-Use (POU) systems come in several varieties but what they all have in common is that they serve as a final barrier to the contaminants of concern just prior to the point that the water is used or consumed.

POU systems are less costly than Whole-House Softening and Filtration systems however they will only treat the water at a specific outlet. Most POU systems are installed on the countertop or under a kitchen or bathroom sink.

With a POU Water Filtration System, you can have delicious, sparkling-clear drinking water without the high cost of bottled water or expensive water dispenser equipment and delivery contracts. Since these systems use your homes water supply, you’ll also never run out! Fruits and vegetables will be cleanly rinsed and your soups, sauces and cooked meals will all taste better. It’s also great for your pet’s health!

Standard 3 stage Reverse Osmosis system with Holding tank and faucet

 

Higher capacity and performance 4 Stage Reverse Osmosis for Point of use at Kitchen sink and through the Fridge for Crystal Clear Ice and the best tasting FOOD GRADE (< 50 ppm) water for cooking and drinking!     

5 Stage Reverse Osmosis Filtration

What Is Reverse Osmosis?

The name may sound technical, but osmosis is a natural organic phenomenon that occurs in nature on an everyday basis. RO systems force water under pressure through a semi-permeable membrane and a series of pre-filters then into a storage tank that holds the treated water until it’s needed. A dedicated external faucet is included so that the stored water is only used when desired. Daily production is up tp 50 gallons per day!

• RO system filter modules include, depending on 3, 4 or 5 stage type:
  • A pre-filter that captures larger particles, chlorine, and other substances
  • A semi-permeable membrane filter that captures finer contaminants as small as 5 Microns! Note: We can only see 65-70 micron particle!
  • An activated carbon filter that takes care of residual taste, odor and additional organic contaminate.
  • Holding Tank to reserve the Filtered water with dissolved solids of just 10-20 ppm! Capacity is normally 2.5-5 gallons
  • Final Taste and Odor filter prior to dispensing for final use through a dedicated faucet at the sink, installed through the countertop.
• RO systems reduce bacteria, cysts, sediment, chemicals, lead & other heavy dissolved metals, dissolved solids, chlorine taste, and odors.
• Maintenance includes periodic replacement of the pre-filter, semi-permeable membrane and activated carbon filter cartridges.

 

 

 

** Credit for this section to Luna Regina of  Healthy Kitchen 101