A soft water system is becoming increasingly popular with homeowners who want to soften their water. Soft water has many advantages, but also some disadvantages that you should be aware of before choosing a water softener for your home. We'll tell you everything you need to know about the soft water system, from advantages and disadvantages to installation costs.
A soft water plant is a device that softens hard water by removing the minerals needed for the Hardness of water are responsible (calcium and magnesium), removed from water and replaced by sodium ions. This is how soft water is produced. When soft water is mentioned in the following text, it means softened water from which the calcifying substances have been (partially) removed.
A softening system uses various methods, such as ion exchange or reverse osmosis to “soften” or soften the water. Soft water is, in contrast to hard water, better for household appliances, as it causes less to no calcium deposits and thus extends the life of the devices. Soft water is also more pleasant for skin and hair — it is less irritating to the skin and makes the hair smoother. Fewer calcifying substances in the water also cause less calcium deposits on fittings, faucets or showerheads.
However, a water softening system, also known as a soft water system, also has disadvantages that you should be aware of in advance. The most common problems include the increased sodium content of water and the fact that some important minerals (calcium and magnesium), which are important for human nutrition, are removed from the water. The additional water consumption and the costs of maintaining the system, as well as the time and costs required to replace spare parts and replacement resin, must also be taken into account.
How useful a softening system is depends on various factors: If hard water causes problems, such as calcium deposits in household appliances, or causes skin irritation, then a soft water system can definitely be a sensible solution. In addition, hard, very calcareous water can drive up energy costs under certain circumstances, as calcium deposits in electrical appliances or in hot water boilers mean that more energy has to be used.
In principle, a soft water system with a water hardness of more than 14 °dH is useful, i.e. if you live in a region with really hard water. You can test the hardness of your drinking water yourself in advance using test strips provided for this purpose or simply check with your water supplier on the Internet.
Because of the very high purchase costs (up to 4,000€ for a single-family house), it should be carefully considered whether a water softening system is worthwhile for your home. If you want to avoid deposits in pipes and equipment, soft water systems can be a good solution. However, there are also cheaper alternatives, such as so-called Lime protection systems. Here, the lime is not removed from the water, but caused to crystallize (seed crystal formation). This does not reduce the water hardness, but the crystallization of the lime results in lower calcium deposits.
The installation of so-called lime protection systems is simple and often maintenance-free. Lime protection systems are installed near the house water connection and do not have to be refilled with regenerating agents. Many such systems also require no additional energy to operate.
The costs of a soft water plant depend on various factors, such as the size of the plant, the technology selected and the installation costs. As a rule, however, you can expect a price of between 1,000€ and 4,000€ for a water softening system for a single-family home. However, it is important to stress that this is a long-term investment that pays off over the long term by extending the life of household appliances and saving cleaning supplies and energy costs.
A soft water system can offer many advantages and is in many cases a sensible investment for a single-family home. The increased consumption and the additional space required for the plant are points that should not be ignored. As with any major purchase, it is therefore important to inform yourself well in advance and weigh up your individual needs before making a decision. As an alternative to the classic soft water system, AQON PURE offers the AQON PURE lime protection system an innovative plant that does not require running costs and chemicals and yet enables an effective reduction of calcium deposits. Find out more about the lime protection system now AQON PURE.
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