What's the difference between Water Softening and Water Conditioning?
Water conditioning and water softening are two different water treatment processes that are often confused with each other. While both processes can improve the quality of your water, they do so in different ways.
Water softening removes hardness minerals from water, such as calcium and magnesium. Hardness minerals can cause scale buildup on plumbing fixtures and appliances, as well as make it difficult for soap and detergent to lather. Water softeners typically use a process called ion exchange to remove hardness minerals. In this process, the water is passed through a resin tank that contains sodium ions. The sodium ions displace the calcium and magnesium ions in the water, leaving the water soft.
Water conditioning, on the other hand, does not remove hardness minerals from water. Instead, it changes the chemistry of the minerals so that they are less likely to cause scale buildup. Water conditioners use a variety of different technologies to achieve this, such as electromagnetic fields, templates, and catalytic media.
Here is a table that summarizes the key differences between water conditioning and water softening:
| Characteristic | Water conditioning | Water softening |
|---|---|---|
| Removes hardness minerals | No | Yes |
| Changes the chemistry of hardness minerals | Yes | No |
| Uses ion exchange | No | Yes |
| Adds sodium to the water | No | Yes |
| Benefits | Reduces scale buildup, improves taste and odor, removes chlorine | Reduces scale buildup, improves lathering of soap and detergent, reduces skin dryness |
Many of our water purification systems may come with a lifetime warranty, so you can be sure that you are making a wise investment. Learn what water softening or water conditioning system is best for your family. Contact us today to learn more about our water treatment equipment and how they can benefit your family.
