[RE-wrenches] Efficient water softener?

[Kurt Albershardt]

On 2/27/09 12:20 AM, Bill Loesch wrote:
> My compliments to solve a water quality problem. Tremendous benefits 
> for every other water using appliance, valve, and faucet in the dwelling.

Agreed, and I'll add that it's critical to have the water tested before 
you propose a treatment strategy.  Almost all softeners will benefit 
from a sediment prefilter (anything from a simple 4x10 cartridge system 
to a multi-stage mixed media system with backflush.)  Small amounts of 
iron can be removed by a softener, but will require some minor tweaks to 
the standard setup:  You can have Turbulator distribution tubes 
installed in the tanks, which will agitate the media more vigorously 
during regen and help kick up the (heavier) precipitated iron 
particles.  Then toss a cup of powdered citric acid into the brine tank 
every few months (lowers the pH of the brine, increasing iron 
solubility.)  Specialized resins are available for all sorts of issues.

We are about to try a completely different method of dealing with scale 
based on a ceramic media with a nanoprofiled surface which causes the 
calcium and magnesium ions to form microscopic crystals, thus preventing 
their adhesion to surfaces.  They have some convincing case studies with 
4,000 PPM feed water, and (unlike softened water) there would be no 
compatibility issues with stainless HX surfaces.






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