It seems like everyone has a water softener or conditioner these days. With so many options, it can be hard to decide which one is best for you and your family. Here we’ll outline the differences between softeners and conditioners so that you can make an informed decision on what’s right for your household.
Hard water is something you may have heard of, but not sure what it means. Hardness in regards to water comes from its high level of dissolved minerals which usually consists mainly calcium and magnesium ions picked up over time as they percolate through the ground.
The most common impact of hard water is the mineral deposits left behind on surfaces that have come into contact with it. These are known as scaling, and they can be found in your bathroom or other places where you take baths at home – like shower doors for example! Scaling generally occurs when soap molecules attach themselves to calcium ions (which form part of many minerals).
You might think that your bathroom and kitchen surfaces are the only places where scale builds up, but it’s actually true for plumbing as well. Scale can affect heating appliances such as dishwashers or water heaters to reduce their efficiency – meaning shorter lifespans!
Softening your tap water will help you get rid of the hard and salty deposits that are left behind when it matures, leaving hair brittle or dry. Softened waters can also be better for skin because they’re less abrasive than fresh but not yet softened taps which might cause irritation in some cases.
A house water softener is the most effective way to deal with these problems. It removes hard minerals from your tap, while also removing chemicals and substances that give you an unpleasant taste or smell in the drinking water–among other things! Some conditioners offer some benefits of softer waters without having too much work on their shoulders by combining treatments into one device; others will take care of all aspects including filtration as well.
For some people, the choice between a water conditioner or softener is easy. Both systems filter your drinking water and make it healthier by removing impurities such as minerals that can build up in pipes over time (and cause iron overload).
But what about homeowners with different needs? Let’s take an insider look at these two types of filters so you know if one system will work better than another before making any decisions!
Best water conditioner
It’s no secret that tap water can be a hazard not just to our wallets but also our beloved fish. API Tap Anywhere offers convenience in one bottle by restoring the population of healthy bacteria living in your aquarium ecosystem, all the while neutralizing chlorine, chloramines and other chemicals.
It’s also highly concentrated so you can use it when changing water or adding fish to your aquarium tank. There are no restrictions on how much you dilute this product since its formula is safe for both fresh and saltwater fish!
API Tap Water Conditioner makes tap water safe for aquatic life by instantly neutralizing harmful elements that may be present in tap water like chlorine, chloramines (chlorine + ammonia), even heavy metals like copper. This prevents damage to gills of fishes as well as reduces stress during acclimation . It’s easy to use with any amount of water changes; just shake before using then add directly into your clean container – make sure to add slowly so the product doesn’t foam.
API Tap Water Conditioner instantly neutralizes chlorine, chloramines and other chemicals to make tap water safe for fish. You can use it when adding or changing your aquarium’s water, and also to make tapwater safe before putting new fish in the tank .
- Safe for fresh and saltwater fish
- Neutralizes chlorine, chloramines (chlorine + ammonia), heavy metals like copper (such as when adding new water to the tank)
- Has a strong chemical odor that needs time to dissipate before putting in your aquarium.
API MARINE STRESS COAT Water Conditioner is a proprietary formula that will quickly and safely remove chlorine, chloramines (chlorine + ammonia) as well heavy metals like copper. It also contains a slime coat and bacteria that will reduce stress and help promote healing. Reduce the effects of ammonia, chlorine, chloramines (chlorine + ammonia), heavy metals like copper & break down organic waste in aquarium water safely & quickly with API Stress Coat Water Conditioner.
API MARINE STRESS COAT Saltwater Aquarium Water Conditioner 16-Ounce Bottle (385D) is perfect for new set ups or saltwater changes to remove free chlorine from tap water. It also contains beneficial slime coat plus bacteria that reduces stress while promoting healing helping your fish recover faster after transport or illness! A great choice if you’re having problems maintaining healthy levels of nitrate reducing organics and phosphate in marine aquariums too!
Aquarium hobbyists have been using API’s water conditioners for many years. In fact, you can trace their origins back to the 1960s when a small company called Associated Chemicals Incorporated (API) made its first foray into the aquarium market by introducing products specifically designed for marine aquaria and other exotic fish species.
Good Quality Salt Water Conditioner ensures healthy growth of corals & invertebrates in saltwater tanks Contains slime coat plus beneficial bacteria that reduce stress while promoting healing Safely removes chlorine chloramines heavy metals like copper A great choice if your having problems mainta changes & helpining healthy levels of nitrate reducing organics and phosphate Organic waste break down is perfect new set ups or saltwater aquariums too!
- Good Quality Salt Water Conditioner
- Safely removes chlorine chloramines heavy metals like copper
- None!
Seachem Prime Fresh and Saltwater Conditioner is a multi-functional product that rapidly removes chlorine neutralizes chloramines detoxifies ammonia and nitrites. It also promotes the production of slime coat in fishes natural defense mechanism against disease and stress! Seachem Prime’s unique formulation will help protect fish with ich or other diseases as well as during transport from osmotic shock by stabilizing internal electrolytes to provide an optimal environment for healthy cellular function which helps prevent damage caused by rapid changes in ion concentrations across cell membranes. In addition, this remarkable formula also stimulates appetite through improved digestion enhancing the palatability of foods while reducing their waste!
Seachem Prime Fresh and Saltwater Conditioner is a concentrated conditioner for both fresh and salt water that removes chlorine neutralizes chloramines detoxifies ammonia nitrite, promotes slime coat generation in fishes natural defense mechanism against disease stress. It also enhances the uptake of oxygen through improved gill function prevents oxygen reduction during transport from osmotic pressure by stabilizing internal electrolytes to provide an optimal environment for cellular functions and help prevent damage caused by rapid changes ion concentrations across cell membranes. In addition, this remarkable formula stimulates appetite through improved digestion enhancing the palatability of foods while reducing their waste!
- Removes chlorine
- Neutralizes chloramines, ammonia nitrite
- Promotes slime coat generation in fishes’ natural defense mechanism against disease and stress
- Expensive.
Aqueon Tap Water Conditioner is a concentrated conditioner for both fresh and saltwater that removes chlorine neutralizes chloramines detoxifies ammonia nitrite, promotes slime coat generation in fishes’ natural defense mechanism against disease stress. It also enhances the uptake of oxygen through improved gill function prevents oxygen reduction during transport from osmotic pressure by stabilizing internal electrolytes to provide an optimal environment for cellular functions and help prevent damage caused by rapid changes ion concentrations across cell membranes. In addition, this remarkable formula is designed to prevent damage caused by rapid changes in ion concentrations across cell membranes.
Aqueon Tap Water Conditioner is a concentrated conditioner for both fresh and saltwater that removes chlorine neutralizes chloramines detoxifies ammonia nitrite, promotes slime coat generation in fishes’ natural defense mechanism against disease stress. It also enhances the uptake of oxygen through improved gill function prevents oxygen reduction during transport from osmotic pressure by stabilizing internal electrolytes to provide an optimal environment for cellular functions and help prevent damage caused by rapid changes ion concentrations across cell membranes. In addition, this remarkable formula is designed to prevent damage caused by rapid changes in ion concentrations across cell membranes.
- All in one product
- Easy to use
- Convenient for fish tank cycling and when you add new fish.
- Only available in a 16 ounce bottle that may not last long enough if using it on larger tanks or multiple aquariums.
Aqueon Betta Bowl Plus Water Conditioner & Dechlorinator is a safe and effective water conditioner for betta fish that removes chlorine neutralizes chloramines detoxifies ammonia nitrite, promotes slime coat generation in fishes’ natural defense mechanism against disease. It also enhances the uptake of oxygen through improved gill function prevents oxygen reduction during transport from osmotic pressure by stabilizing internal electrolytes to provide an optimal environment for cellular functions and help prevent damage caused by rapid changes ion concentrations across cell membranes. In addition, it also reduces heavy metal toxicity, enhances fish coloration and aids in the control of external parasitic infections.
Aqueon Betta Bowl Plus Water Conditioner & Dechlorinator is an excellent water conditioner for betta fish that’s developed with a patented formula to neutralize chlorine chloramines ammonia nitrite while enhancing slime coat generation, oxygen uptake, gill function or ion balance. It’ll keep your fish healthy active vibrant long-life!
- Promotes slime coat generation in fishes’ natural defense mechanism against disease
- Enhances the uptake of oxygen through improved gill function prevents oxygen reduction during transport from osmotic pressure by stabilizing internal electrolytes to provide an optimal environment for cellular functions and help prevent damage caused by rapid changes ion concentrations across cell membranes
- Reduces heavy metal toxicity, enhances fish coloration and aids in the control of external parasitic infections.
- None.
Best water softener
You’ve been fighting that pesky lime scale for years and yet you still walk into the kitchen to find that the faucet is starting to become iced over. Is it time for a change? A solution is on its way! Introducing Yarnas revolutionary Capacitive Electronic Water Descaler System- Alternative Water Softener Salt Fr . It will save you time, money and hassle by completely getting rid of those annoying limescale deposits and stains from your appliances! The signal-frequencies are transmitted via the ULTRA FLAT IMPULSE BANDS that are wrapped around the pipe. The bands form a frequency-field that changes the crystals in the water as it flows by. By providing an ultra-fast change in the molecular structure to prevent calcium compounds from adhering, lime scale is kept at bay. The best thing about this system is that it doesn’t need any salt or chemicals to do its work!
The whole house water conditioner will save you time and money by stopping calcium build-up before it starts. Besides providing your faucets with a clean surface, all of your appliances including; dishwashers, coffee machines , washing machines etc…will be protected against limescale build up ensuring them years of extra life! This full home reverse osmosis system can also help keep joints corrosion free while helping to reduce soap scum buildup on shower doors and other surfaces . Not only does it protect these vital areas but it also helps to reduce the amount of chemicals that are present in your water. This is great news for those with sensitive skin or allergies!
- No salt means lower electricity costs
- Lasts for years without the need to replace cartridges or pads.
- No water softener benefits like softer clothing, dishwashers that clean better and less soap scum etc.
The AO Smith Whole House Salt Free Water Descaler system is the perfect salt-free water softener alternative that will protect your appliances and surfaces against unsightly calcium build up. This system works by using a patented technology, which changes the molecular structure of hard water to prevent mineral deposits from adhering . The innovative design uses an advanced rechargeable battery pack so there are no chemicals or salt to add. Once the battery is installed, no additional maintenance or replacement parts are required .
The AO Smith Whole House Salt Free Water Descaler system comes with a six year warranty that covers all labor and it can be used in total home water conditioning applications including well water systems, low flow fixtures , ice makers, humidifiers , iron filters, boilers, steam generators and commercial appliances such as coffee equipment , dishwashers & laundry equipment . The whole house salt free water descaler will also work on both cast-iron and stainless steel pipes making this an ideal product for high end homes where damage from hard minerals build up needs to be prevented.
- No salt
- No chemicals, no maintenance required once installed
- Easy to install and use
- Works for both well water systems and home appliances such as dishwashers & laundry equipment.
- Must be charged every six months in order to function effectively.
The Hanning whole house water softener system is a salt free water softener alternative that will stop calcium and magnesium deposits from building up. This product uses advanced technology to prevent mineral build up while preventing the growth of bacteria , algae, mold and fungi . The heavy duty hard water filter can be used in the shower, kitchen sink and dishwasher.
The Hansing whole house water softener system is a powerful solution for hard water problems in any household with up to four bathrooms. The advanced technology reduces the amount of chlorine , calcium , magnesium ions which are responsible for decreased lathering power, scale build-up on dishes & faucets, dry skin/ hair/ clothes and poor taste . This product also reduces rust stains from sinks, toilets and showers while preventing pipe corrosion . It can be used with well or city water supplies when attached directly to your home’s main cold line.
This unit uses salt free regenerated cartridges that are activated once every six months with ordinary table salt (sodium chloride) if desired by the user – no need to buy expensive cartridges or salt. Lasts up to five years before cartridge replacement!
- No more buying cartridges, no salt needed.
- Eliminates the need to drain pipes for cartridge replacement .
- Water tank is easy to access and has a large capacity that can provide up to 12 months of soft water with average use per day (up to four bathrooms).
- Multiple installations required if you have a new home.
- The Hansing whole house water softener system is a salt free solution so it may not be as effective for extremely hard water areas.
The AFWFilters IronPro-Series is a combination water softener iron filter that reduces rust, sediment and the unpleasant odors caused by hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg smell). It can be used in conjunction with most other filtration systems. This product is ideal for well water treatment in households of up to four people. Treats up to 64,000 grains.
This product comes with a high-quality Fleck 5600SXT digital valve that allows for easy programming of the IronPro’s settings and supplements its iron removal capabilities by filtering out other contaminants such as sediment, sand, rust particles and more. The filter reduces chlorine taste and odor in water by removing harmful chemicals like lead or mercury. Other notable features include: an external dial control system featuring LED diagnostics which make it easy to monitor device performance; built-in bypass valves (ensure uninterrupted water flow if there is any need to shut down the filtration process); corrosion resistant brine tank; solid construction made from durable stainless steel that can withstand years of use without breaking down. This unit has a connection size of ½” and it comes with all necessary parts for installation.
This product is ideal if you need to address multiple water problems at once. The combination function improves the taste, appearance and odor of your drinking water by removing hydrogen sulfide (bad smell), manganese (reddish-brown stains) iron , sand, silt, rust particles and more while also reducing chlorine odors in tap water caused by chemicals such as lead or mercury that can be harmful when ingested over an extended period of time. It should be noted that this device doesn’t remove fluoride from water but its primary focus is on treating hard well water which may contain high levels of these contaminants mentioned above.
- Easy to install
- Affordable price for its great performance
- It may require backwashing which is done manually by draining the system and flushing it with clean water every six months.
The Shower Filter 15 Stage For Hard Water is an advanced shower filter that will improve the quality of your water in just fifteen minutes. This product comes with two cartridges which should be replaced every three months under normal use. The five-inch universal fitting allows it to fit most standard shower heads.
The Shower Filter 15 Stage For Hard Water is a cost-effective way of improving your water quality without having to purchase an entire new system, and doesn’t require any plumbing skills or special tools. It’s the perfect choice for those who want clean, soft hair & skin with no mess or fuss! This product has over one hundred positive reviews on Amazon at four stars out of five due to its high performance in removing chlorine combined with it being very easy to install without any leaks that some hard water filtration systems may experience.
The Shower Filter 15 Stage For Hard Water is an excellent option for those who want to improve the quality of their water without having to invest in expensive systems. It comes with two cartridges, each lasting three months under normal use making this product not only cost-effective but also very efficient at removing chlorine from the hard water leaving you feeling refreshed and moisturised after every wash.
- Universal fit, compatible with most shower heads
- Five-inch universal fitting allows it to fit standard shower heads
- Two cartridges which should be replaced every three months under normal use
- No cons available.
Water Softeners
A water softener is a system that uses ion exchange to remove the hard minerals in your tap water by swapping them out for softer, more benign ions. As mentioned above, these are usually only found in areas where there is high hardness of water supply.
The most common type of residential home water softener works with an ion-exchange resin tank and one or two brine tanks (which hold salt). The incoming line goes into the top of the resin tank while outgoing lines go through either side so they can be used simultaneously when needed. Water flows back and forth between each tank until it has passed through both several times before exiting at its final destination within your house.
As you use hot water throughout your day, softened calcium deposits are attached to the resin. This causes a steady stream of calcium ions that are then pumped into your brine tank using an electric or gas-powered water softener pump. When there is enough accumulated salt in this brine tank, it’s time to regenerate the resin so it can be used over again.
The process of removing calcium with a water softener is known as ion exchange. As the softened water flows through your home’s plumbing, it will have an impact on several areas where hard minerals can build up.
When you use hot tap water to shower, wash dishes, or prepare food – these activities are releasing more calcium into your water supply. When the softened water flows through your home’s plumbing, it slowly releases calcium ions into each pipe and fixture as it goes about its business before finally leaving the house.
Over time, these hard minerals accumulate in pipes and other fixtures within your walls or under sinks where you prepare food or wash dishes – especially if there are cracks or leaks. The more calcium that is released into your water supply, the harder it becomes to remove these deposits from your plumbing fixtures or walls by hand even if you are using harsh chemicals.
Water Conditioners
Water conditioners, on the other hand, are a type of water filtration system that uses one or more chemical media to remove unpleasant tastes and odors from your tap water. These can be found in homes with well water supplies where there is high levels of dissolved minerals in the ground supply.
A typical house water conditioning system will consist of three tanks: one for chemically conditioned filtered water , another tank for pre-softened incoming line (usually filled with potassium chloride), and an additional brine tank which houses salt. The incoming pipe enters this third brine tank through a valve so it doesn’t have direct contact with the softened calcium ion flow coming into your home – these two systems should never be combined as they would cancel each other out.
The conditioning process is slightly different than a water softener. Instead of physically removing the minerals, it uses potassium chloride to stop them from coming back into your tap water by swapping out calcium and magnesium ions with an equal amount of potassium ions which are more benign for home plumbing systems .
This type of system can typically keep up with regular use so you won’t notice any drop in performance as time goes on – even if you have a large family or do lots of dishes every day at home. This also means that no brine tank will be needed since there isn’t going to be excessive amounts of calcium buildup over time along the incoming line like there would be using softened conditions because they cancel each other out.
Water Conditioner vs. Water Softener – Differences
A water softener actually removes magnesium, calcium and silica ions leaving the water with only small quantities of temporary hardness. The use of a softener allows for an ion exchange process in which these minerals are replaced by salt – leading to healthier drinking supplies that won’t cause sanding teeth or bleeding gums!
When it comes to keeping your plumbing system healthy, a water conditioner can only do so much. The minerals found within the liquid solution still remain but they don’t build-up on surfaces and as long as these healthy minerals aren’t damaging or irritating them in any way its advantage for you!
Water conditioners are an important part of the water treatment process. They tackle other issues aside from hard-water problems like iron buildup or lime scaling that can occur in pipes, faucets and tanks alike when you have high concentrations of magnesium 40 – but this term is used broadly to refer any type system for treating your tap supplies!
Benefits of a water conditioner
- Low maintenance
An average water conditioner will work on a family of four and if the house has two bathrooms, it can be used for up to six months without needing replacement since these units are built with an internal membrane which filters out all sediments that blocks ion adsorption.
A typical system features at least one tank dedicated entirely to chemically treating your water supply . This means there is no need to change or refill brine tanks as you would do with traditional softener systems. The only maintenance required is changing prefilters every few months because they tend to clog due to dust found in residential areas – this part does not require much effort either but make sure you buy the correct replacements your supplier when needed so you don’t have to pay for anything unnecessary.
- Environmentally friendly
Since water conditioners do not use potassium chloride, they are considered more environmentally friendly than softeners. This is because the chemicals used in a brine tank can lead to health problems when absorbed continuously over time by people and pets .
If you want your family to drink clean tap water without worrying about harmful effects on their skin or hair, then getting a house water conditioning system will be one of the best decisions you make for them! Not only that but it’s also better for the environment since there won’t be any extra salt added into our waterways which causes damage to marine life.
- Low media consumption
With water softeners, you will need to add more salt into your tank in order for it to work properly. As time goes on and the amount of minerals builds up inside your brine tank, these salts start dissolving .
This can be quite wasteful especially since some people would rather use softened water than drinking tap water with its high mineral content because they find it easier on their appliances like dishwashers or washing machines which saves them money instead of buying bottled water every week at the supermarket! Another reason why using softened household liquid is not recommended is that when dissolved , higher amounts of sodium are found in foods thus creating an imbalance in daily consumption – this could lead to serious health issues if continued over a long period of time.
- Diversity of applications
When you buy a water conditioner, it can be used to treat hard and soft waters alike since this device is very versatile.
The process of “conditioning” or removing hard ions from your water supply creates an end result that closely resembles distilled liquid – in other words, the minerals have been effectively removed so when boiled down, the resulting liquid has a neutral pH and is therefore safe for drinking.
Benefits of a Water Softening System
- Water Heating Efficiency
One of the best benefits that comes with owning a water softener is an increase in your heating system’s efficiency.
When hard minerals are allowed to accumulate inside pipes, they reduce their internal diameter which reduces hot-water flow . This means you would need more time for your shower to heat up or spend more money on keeping warm at least a gallon of water at all times. Since softened hot-water uses less minerals, there is no scaling or corrosion – this means your heating pipes will last longer and you won’t need to call the plumbing company for repairs anytime soon!
- Water Flow Rate
Another benefit of owning a water softener is the increase in your home’s plumbing system’s flow rate.
When you have hard minerals stuck inside pipes, it will reduce their internal diameter which restricts the amount of liquid that can pass through – this means whenever you turn on any faucet or appliance connected to these lines , the water will take longer to come out.
- More Efficient Cleaning
Hard water cannot be used to clean effectively since it leaves a buildup of minerals called “lime scale” that can damage appliances and fixtures.
This is why when you have softened liquid, the cleaning process becomes much easier because there aren’t any salts left behind which could ruin your tools or dishes – this means no more damaged dishwashers or stained bathtubs!
- Lime/ Stain-free Surfaces
When water doesn’t contain any dissolved salts, it is much more difficult for lime scale to form and leave stains on your fixtures.
The other good news about having soft water that you should know about is that if there are no minerals left behind once the liquid evaporates , then neither will any mold or mildew – this means all your shower curtains, tiles and countertops will be safe!
- Skin and Hair
People who have a hard time with dry skin and brittle hair usually find relief when they switch to softened water. This is because the minerals found in tap water can leave a residue on your skin which results in itchiness, flaking or redness . The same thing happens if you have dyed or bleached hair – it will become dull and brittle if you wash it with hard water.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
Now that you know the difference between a water conditioner and water softening system, it’s time to make your decision. The best way to choose is by considering what type of problem you are trying to solve for your home or business. We recommend checking out our blog post on how do water softeners work? It will help explain some of the benefits and drawbacks of each option so you can easily determine which one is right for you!