How Does a Water Softener Work?

There are many types of water softeners available today, however, they all work in the same basic way. All water softeners operate by removing calcium, magnesium, and other hard minerals from a homeowner’s water supply. Water softeners use a process called ion exchange, where magnesium and calcium ions are exchanged for sodium. All units have a mineral tank, which is often referred to as the “heart” of the system, this is the place where the water is essentially “softened”.  Hard water will pass through a collection of negatively charged plastic beads, otherwise known as media. Once the magnesium and calcium are removed from the water, it will be deposited on the plastic beads. This is how the water gets softened. The water softener simply replaces the calcium and magnesium ions with sodium ions. There are chemical treatments that can remove magnesium and calcium, but a water softener is ultimately the best option.