Are you frustrated with the hard water sticking to surfaces in your home?
Maybe you’re experiencing dry skin and hair and have been told that hard water is to blame?
A water softener could be the answer you need, but you may want a salt-free water softener to get the best results.
Let’s breakdown the hard facts about salt-free water softeners so you can decide if it’s right for your home.
Salt-Based vs Salt-Free Water Softener
First things first: what is a salt-free water softener, and how is it different from a salt-based water softener?
Salt-based water softening works by removing magnesium and calcium from the water supply using a negatively charged resin bed that attracts those minerals.
It then uses salt to clean and regenerate the resin bed.
The sodium ions replace the hard water minerals that are trapped in the resin bed, which then get flushed out.
The salt-free water softening process is very different.
Instead of removing magnesium and calcium, it changes them chemically, which means there is no need for salt to replace them in the water supply.
An easier way to think about the salt-free process is by calling it “water conditioning” rather than water softening.
When the magnesium and calcium minerals are changed, they are still present in the water.
But they do not stick to surfaces the way that un-filtered hard water does.
Why would you choose a salt-free water softening system? Let’s look at the benefits next.
Benefits of a Salt-Free Water Softener
There are tons of benefits of a salt-free water softener, but the main one is that they are virtually maintenance-free.
You don’t have to deal with waste-water, they don’t use electricity, and there’s no salt to replace.
Since there’s no water waste or electricity used, salt-free water softeners like this water filter system are a more eco-friendly choice for your home.
Another reason people choose a salt-free water softener over a salt-based one is that they prefer the way the water feels.
Some people don’t like the slippery feeling of water that salt-based systems provide.
Salt-free systems can also remove existing scale in your plumbing and prevent it from building up in the future.
They can also drastically reduce the white build-up around your appliances and shower, which makes them much easier to clean.
From a health standpoint, there are also extra benefits to using a salt-free water softener.
If you have cardiovascular issues and want to limit your sodium intake, you don’t have to worry about it being in the water.
Since salt-free systems don’t remove magnesium or calcium, you still get the benefits of those minerals in your water, which is better for your health.
What Are the Best Water Softeners?
Choosing whether you go with a salt-based water softener or a salt-free water softener is mostly a matter of preference.
If you want the hard water minerals totally removed from your water, you should go with a salt-based system.
However, if you want to leave the minerals in your water and still see some of the benefits of softer water without any maintenance, you should go with a salt-free water softener.
For more of Kelly’s thoughts on things, check out the rest of the blog.