How Does a Water Softener Work: Parts and Process

A hard water supply is a common household problem resulting in staining, dry skin and hair, and other issues. Removing the minerals in hard water requires a water softener. Yet many homeowners question, “How does a water softener work?” 

Knowing the key parts of a water softener and how they work is crucial before getting one for your home. Keep reading to learn about what a water softener is, how it works, and its essential parts. Our Bozeman water softener company can help when you’re ready for installation.

What Is a Water Softener?

A water softener is a filtration system that turns hard water into soft water by eliminating magnesium, calcium, and other minerals to improve water quality.

Hard water has a high mineral content that can be potentially harmful. Appliances that use hot water face shorter lifespans, while household members may experience itchy skin and dry, frizzy hair.

Improved water quality results in less scale buildup in your home’s plumbing system. Appliances that use water will last longer, and you’ll have better water pressure from the decreased scale inside your home’s pipes. 

How does a water softener work if it has significant scale buildup? The unit must work harder to filter your water. You’ll hear cracking and popping sounds as the calcification on water heating elements stretches. 

How a Water Softener Works

The most common hard water minerals include:

• Calcium
• Magnesium
• Iron
• Manganese

How does a water softener work to remove these minerals? It uses an ion exchange process to attract harmful ions and eliminate the scale-causing elements. 

Hard water enters the control valve via the water supply line. The control valve sends water through the mineral tank. Resin beads with oppositely charged sodium or potassium ions attract magnesium ions and others and remove them as water passes through the mineral tank. Then, the distribution tube sends the soft water into your home. 

Water Softener Parts

Three main parts comprise a whole-home water softener. The mineral tank, control valve, and brine tank aid in ion removal and help regenerate the negative ionic charge in the tank’s resin beads when necessary. 

1. Resin or Mineral Tank

The resin tank is where softening occurs. It holds tiny plastic beads, or resin, that filter hard water before sending it to your faucets and hot water appliances. Water that exits this tank will be soft unless the beads don’t have enough of a negative charge.

2. Control or Head Valve

The head valve is typically at the top of the mineral tank. It facilitates the softening process and directs the water flow to different locations depending on the appropriate function. 

Many energy-efficient water softeners allow you to program specific settings. The unit detects regeneration needs by tracking the amount of water entering the resin tank. Before the tank’s resin beads stop effectively removing water hardness, the control valve can initiate a regeneration process to maintain softening abilities.

3. Brine Tank

The brine tank stores several hundred pounds of salt to create the sodium chloride solution that facilitates ion regeneration. When the control valve detects an inadequate softening ability, it triggers the brine tank to release this solution into the mineral tank. Individuals requiring a low-sodium diet may consider potassium chloride for water softening.

Other essential components work with the above parts to facilitate softening, such as the:

• Valve motor: This component controls the rotor valve to initiate regeneration or softening functions.
• Fill tube: The part runs from the brine tank to the control valve. It allows the mineral tank to fill with brine for regeneration and makes brine tank refilling possible.
• Distribution tube: This tube channels softened water back to the top of the mineral tank and the head valve. The head valve then directs the water to various areas in your home.

Water Filtration Installation Services

In conjunction with hard water softeners, water filtration system installations prevent hard water from wreaking havoc on your plumbing system and health. Premier Systems is the Bozeman area’s local plumbing authority. We can install a water softener with an entire-home water filtration system to improve water quality and remove destructive minerals.

If you’re still wondering, “How does a water softener work?” the technicians at Premier Systems in Bozeman, MT, are ready to provide additional information. We’ll help you determine whether you need water quality control solutions and answer your questions.

Learn more about whole-home water filtration services when you call our experts. Contact our friendly plumbers and HVAC technicians today at 406-708-4601.