Many private well owners throughout Utah and Wyoming opt to have well water softening systems installed. Should you join them?
To decide, you’ll probably need more information. This handy guide, with answers to the most common questions about softeners for private wells, explains what you need to know.
No. 1: What is Well Water Softening?
Well water is typically loaded with minerals, particularly calcium and magnesium. As such, it is considered hard water.
Softening works to remove these lingering minerals from your household supply. The concept is similar to filtration, but softeners can treat the entire private well.
No. 2: Why is Water Softening Necessary?
Hard water is safe to drink and use, but it can damage your plumbing and appliances. Over time, mineral deposits collect in the pipes, narrowing their openings. Pressure becomes restricted, and eventually the pipes become clogged.
Plus, hard water doesn’t dissolve soap very easily. So it creates soap scum and lime scale build-up on appliances and fixtures and leaves clothes looking dull and dingy.
Softening helps prevent these negative effects.
No. 3: How Does Well Water Softening Work?
Softeners are essentially specialized ion exchangers. They contain resin beads with ions that have an opposite charge to the mineral ions present. Because of this electrical charge difference, when hard water flows through these beads, the two sets of ions essentially trade places.
In other words, the minerals cling to the resin beads and, therefore, are removed from the household supply.
A good softener can last for decades, though it will occasionally require maintenance.
No. 4: Does Softening Add Salt to a Private Well?
Salt is used with many softeners but very little is absorbed by the water. In fact, most people don’t detect a difference in taste. But, the added salt could be an issue for anyone on a low-sodium diet.
To avoid this, some softening systems now use potassium chloride instead of salt. Homeowners can also install a separate intake line in the kitchen for drinking water that doesn’t pass through the softener.
No. 5: Is Softened Water Safer to Drink?
Softening improves water quality but it doesn’t ensure that it’s safe for drinking. Only minerals are removed – not any pollutants or contaminants.
To make sure your private well is safe from hazards, you’ll need to have it professionally tested at least once every year. An expert can check for the presence of coliform bacteria, nitrates, arsenic, radon and other elements common in Utah and Wyoming groundwater sources.
If you would like to learn more, Mike Zimmerman Well Service LLC, offers a range of treatments, testing and softener systems for private wells throughout Utah and Wyoming. To schedule a complimentary professional consultation, or to explore your well water softening options, contact us today.
