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We've put together a list of the frequently asked questions. If you have additional questions or would like to set up a water consultation, please feel free to contact us.
Why do I need a water treatment system in Florida?
If I have a water softener, do I need a drinking water system?
Do water softeners put salt in the water?
What is a "no salt" system?
How does this two tank system keep me in soft water 24 hours per day?
Why do I need a water treatment system in Florida?
Over 85% of the United States has hard water, but Florida has some of the hardest water you'll find anywhere. Most of our water comes from the Florida aquifer and is pumped up through lime stone deposits. By the time the water gets to our homes, it has accumulated high levels of dissolved minerals like Calcium and Magnesium. Look at the chart below from the Water Quality Association:
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Most of the water in Central Florida is between 15 and 25 grains per gallon, so you can see why hard water becomes such a problem for your home. Since hardness is really dissolved rock, the average family of four will have more than 15 pounds of rock per year in their water for each grain of hardness
These mineral deposits in your home from hard water can:
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- Clog plumbing and water bearing appliances
- Increase energy costs for water heaters
- Build up scale on fixtures and shower doors
- Produce cloudy ice cubes
- Make unsightly rings in the toilet and bathtub (soap scum)
- Dry out skin and hair
- Leave spots and stains on dishes and silverware
- Turn white fabrics gray and fade colors in the laundry
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If I have a water softener, do I need a drinking water system?
Water softeners improve the water we bathe in and clean with throughout the home. Softeners are not purifiers and will not reduce a wide range of potential contaminants.
The water in our area also contains high levels of total dissolved solids (TDS) and chlorine creating bad tastes and odors. Many consumers want to purify their water for drinking, cooking and ice cubes with a reverse osmosis system. Reverse osmosis purification systems can be installed at locations where purified water is needed.
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Do water softeners put salt in the water?
A water softener does not put salt into the water. It merely exchanges calcium ions in the water for sodium or potassium ions. The amount of sodium or potassium coming through in soft tap water is extremely low.
For example, in 10 grain hard water, the amount of sodium in an 8 ounce glass of soft water is typically equivalent to the sodium in one slice of white bread. Soft water, by dietary standards, would be considered a "low sodium" beverage. Consumers may use potassium as a regenerant if you prefer not to clean out the system with sodium. Be sure to check on the efficiency of the water softener before using potassium as it is higher priced and 25% less efficient than sodium as a regenerant.
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What is a "no salt" system?
"No salt" systems are not true water softeners. The only way to remove hard water deposits from your home is through the ion exchange process of a softener. No salt "softeners" do not remove any hardness minerals from the water. These types of systems are typically whole house carbon filter systems called conditioners. They improve bad tastes and odors and reduce chlorine, but will not prevent hard water problems.
If a consumer is looking to protect their home from hard water damage, they should shop for a real water softener. The claims made by these "no salt" systems are not certified by any third party testing lab such as the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) and companies that sell these systems often make unsubstantiated statements about their products.
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How does this two tank system keep me in soft water 24 hours per day?
Twin Tank Design Soft water is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Service keeps switching from tank to tank, so one tank will always be ready to soften your water, no matter how much water you use in a day. Your system will be able to clean itself with clean, soft water too. And that keeps it operating at top capacity.
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