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1) The body
of a water softener is
a tank filled with resin beads.These
beads are covered with sodium (or sometimes potassium) ions. As hard
water passes through, the resin beads act like a magnet,
attracting calcium, magnesium, iron and manganese ions (hardness) in
exchange for the sodium or potassium ions. The ion
exchanged depends on the type of regeneration salt or salt substitute
placed in the brine tank. In some cases we recommend a salt additive to
minimize iron fouling of the beads.
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2) Eventually the resin beads
become saturated with mineral ions and have to be "recharged". This
process is called regeneration, and is conducted by the control valve
which is usually on the top of the tank. The control valve is the brain
of the system.
Some control valves regenerate on a preset time schedule while others
are triggered by volume. Newer electronic systems are programmable for
both.
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3) During regeneration, a strong
brine solution is flushed through the resin tank, bathing the resin
beads in a stream of sodium ions which replace the accumulated hardness
ions. Precipitated iron is both backwashed away and dissolved by salt
additives.
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4) The brine solution, carrying
the displaced nuisance mineral ions, is then flushed down the drain by
fresh water. The regenerated resin beads can be used again and again.
Often water softeners operate over 10 years before the beads (or the
entire system) need to be replaced.
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