HOW WATER SOFTENERS WORK

INTRODUCTION
Wells, rivers, lakes and oceans all have different types and levels of contaminants.
These contaminants, other than living organisms or turbidity are in the form of
dissolved solids. The total dissolved solids are all the salts or minerals contained in
the water source. These salts and minerals can be broken down into ions. The
positively charged ions are called Cations and the negatively charged ions are called
Anions. The hardness ions are primarily calcium, magnesium and iron which are
Cations. The hardness in water causes scale to form inside pots and pans, pipes,
water heaters or boilers.
The Ion Exchange Process
Water Softeners remove hardness from
water by a process known as ion
exchange. The media, called resin; in
the softener is charged with sodium (or
potassium) ions. When the hardness
ions come in contact with the resin
beads the hardness ions are collected
and the sodium (or potassium) ions are
released, thus the term ion exchange.
The hardness ions are exchanged for
sodium (or potassium) ions. The typical
cations found in the raw water are
exchanged within the resin bed for
sodium or potassium, as shown in the
illustration. Normally, when two-thirds
of the resin bed is exhausted, the
softener will allow hardness to slip
through. When this occurs, it is time to
regenerate or recharge the resin bed
using a salt and water mixture, known
as brine. Sodium chloride (NaCl) or
potassium chloride (KCl) are normally
used for this purpose. Regenerating the
resin bed refreshes its ability to
exchange ions.
SERVICE and REGENERATION CYCLES

The Service Cycle

The Service Cycle is the normal
softening cycle. The water flows
through the valve into the top of the
tank then down through the resin to
the lower collector. As the raw water
passes through the resin, the hardness
is removed by the ion exchange
process. It then passes through the
slots in the collector and up the riser
tube through the valve to the outlet for
use by the household as softened
water.

The Backwash Cycle

The Backwash Cycle is the first cycle of
regeneration. The water flows into the
valve, down the riser tube and out through
the collector. The water then flows up
through the resin expanding it and out the
top of the tank to the drain. The expansion
mixes up the resin and washes the turbidity
and other contaminants, which were filtered
out during the service cycle, down the
drain.

The Brine Draw Cycle

The Brine Draw Cycle is the second
step of the regeneration cycle. Brine
(salt) is drawn into the valve with the
eductor and injected into the top of the
softener tank. The brine flows down
through the resin exchanging the
sodium portion of the salt (NaCl) for
the hardness ions collected on and in
the resin bed. This cycle continues until
all the liquid in the brine tank has been
drawn into the Softener Tank.

Slow Rinse Cycle

Slow Rinse begins when the ball in the aircheck at the bottom of the Brine Tank seats.
Water continues to flow through the eductor
into the top of the Softener Tank and down
through the resin. The excess brine and the
remainder of the hardness is rinsed out of
the resin during this cycle. The water flows
into the lower collector and up the riser,
through the valve to the drain.

The Fast Rinse Cycle

During the Fast Rinse Cycle the water
enters the top of the Softener Tank and
flows down through the resin at an
increased flow rate. This high flow rate
compacts the resin bed and rinses out
the last of the brine and hardness.

The Refill Cycle

During the Refill Cycle, the water is directed
back to the brine tank. Each gallon of water
will dissolve three pounds of salt. The water
lifts the air-check ball off seat and fills the
brine tank to a pre-determined level based
on time. The softener continues in the Fast
Rinse at the same time it is in the Refill
Cycle. After Refill the softener returns to the
Service Cycle.

Now that YOU know how a softener works, we need to determine what size
unit would work for YOUR home.