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Water Softeners work by the water passing through a bed of resin (this looks like sand). As the water runs through the resin, it absorbs and takes in the hardness from the water. After so much has passed through the resin this needs to then be regenerated. The regeneration is like a cleaning cycle that all softeners need to do. You can purchase salt that acts as a cleaner for the resin. The regeneration process takes up to half and hour to do and as a user this should happen more often for there to be continuous soft water.
You can purchase different types of water softeners.
- In-line filters – In line filters are mainly for water boilers. These act like a softener but are smaller and fit into the machines instead of being external.
- Manual Softeners – Manual softeners means the user of the softener has to manually switch of the unit and take the top off and add the salt to the unit its self and flush it through for the regeneration process to take place. Manual Water softeners come in different sizes.
Image showing 8 Litre
- Automatic cold softeners
- Automatic hot softeners. – Automatic softeners are automatic because when the regeneration takes place it automatically does this process with out any input from the user.
Automatic units will do the regeneration process at a set time. this in normally done at night when the unit is not being used. Automatic softeners need a supply of electricity however there is non electric units if required. When buying this the customer only has to top the salt bin up ever 2-3 weeks.
Please Click here to see why it is important that you have a Manual, Automatic softeners or In-line filter.