Blog

Plumbing in Fort Worth, TX – Understanding water softeners often involves terminology that the average homeowner will not understand. In this article the terms will be explained as simply as possible, in order to provide you with a basic comprehension of the device before purchase. A water softener can benefit your plumbing in Fort Worth, TX, read on to understand how it works.

First, a water softener treats hard water. You may want to have a better understanding of the term. As the water filters through the soil into underground reservoirs, it picks up minerals from the soil and rock. Magnesium and calcium are two common minerals in this process, and is present in 85% of the U.S.’s ground water supply.

High levels of calcium can cause multiple problems with your plumbing in Fort Worth, TX, including clogged pipes, build-up on faucets and shower heads, and shortened hot water heater life cycles. It reduces the ability of soaps to lather and causes dull hair and spotted dishes. It causes unsightly scale in toilets and can clog faucet aerators.

Water that smells like rotten eggs is caused by hydrogen sulfide gas. It’s primarily identified in ground water. Hydrogen sulfide and its offensive odor can also be introduced into drinking water through the water heater due to a magnesium rod present in a number of the appliances. The rod can chemically convert naturally occurring sulfates in water to hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide is a nuisance and is not considered a hazard at typical concentrations.

There is a variety of water softening systems available on the market, each created to take care of specific minerals in water. A standard water softener may not take care of your water problem, requiring a system specifically designed for your water quality issue. For example, water that contains tannin, nitrates and radium will require a system specified for them. In this article, we will discuss the water softeners that remove the most common minerals causing issues in a home’s plumbing in Fort Worth, TX, calcium and magnesium.

How it Works
A water softener removes the calcium and magnesium in hard water by use of plastic beads and cleans itself periodically by a process called regeneration.

Water softeners have three main components: A mineral tank, brine tank and control valve. In smaller capacity models the mineral tank and brine tanks are combined into one cabinet, but the two tanks are separated within the cabinet.

Mineral Tank:

The mineral tank is where the water filtration takes place and the hard water is softened (calcium and magnesium are removed) by passing through the plastic beads.

The plastic beads have a negative charge and attract positively charged calcium and magnesium minerals from the water. So essentially, water softeners utilize the principle that opposites attract to remove hard water minerals from the water and attach them to the plastic beads, leaving water that won’t harm appliances or your plumbing in Fort Worth, TX.

The Brine Tank

The brine tank contains the brine solution of water saturated with salt or sodium. If you’re on a restricted low sodium diet this can be an issue for you as some of the sodium is transmitted into the drinking water.

In addition, the sodium chloride can adversely affect the bacteria in septic systems required for the breakdown of waste. Due to this, water softener sodium chloride brine discharge into septic systems has been banned or limited in several states. Systems in the affected states use potassium chloride, which is considered environmentally friendly, and doesn’t affect your health, watersheds, the environment or your septic system. Potassium chloride works the same way as sodium chloride, without the issues sodium causes. However, potassium does have a higher cost than sodium.

The Control Valve and Regeneration

The control valve determines when it’s time to clean the plastic beads to rid them of the minerals calcium and magnesium that they hold, in order to continue to provide protection of the home’s plumbing in Fort Worth, TX. To clean the beads the water softener uses a process called regeneration which consists of three cycles: Backwash, Recharge and Rinse.

Backwash

Regeneration begins with a backwash cycle where the valve reverses water flow in the tank and flushes the tank of debris out the drain.

Recharge or Regeneration

In the recharge cycle the brine solution is pumped into the mineral tank. The extremely concentrated salt solution with its positive electrical charge is attracted to the negatively charged plastic beads and forces the minerals off the beads. The magnesium and calcium rich salt water is then flushed out of the tank and down the drain.

Rinse

The tank is then filled and rinsed with water and the process repeats itself, with the beads once more coated in either sodium chloride or potassium chloride continuing to provide protection for your plumbing.

Summary

Water softeners use chemistry to remove minerals from the water, extending the service life of water using appliances, the homes fixtures and other plumbing in Fort Worth, TX, and provides other benefits. A variety of systems are available to provide a system specific to your water mineral problem. A Benjamin Franklin plumber will be glad to assist you in the selection of an appropriate water softener, and provide the professional installation onto your home’s plumbing that you require.

About Benjamin Franklin Plumbing in Arlington, Texas

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing in Arlington, TX has professional plumbing in Fort Worth, TX servicing Fort Worth and surrounding areas. Our experienced, courteous and friendly plumbers provide on time plumbing related services to not only Arlington but surrounding areas also. If you are in need of a professional plumber that you can count on for plumbing repairs, maintenance and / or installation then you can count on us at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing in Arlington, Texas.

Ben Franklin Plumbing is a leader in the field for plumbing related repairs. We are also one of the most trusted plumbing service brands in the industry with high standards of service that you can rely on. When you contact us you can rest assured knowing that you are receiving the best plumbing in Fort Worth, TX.  Our commitment to service and excellence is reflected in our stone solid A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. If you have a plumbing related problem in your home or business and you need help, do not hesitate to contact us today. Our professional, courteous and friendly plumbing in Fort Worth, TX will be more than happy to assist you and answer any of your questions and schedule an appointment with you to assess the plumbing related problem and resolve it at your earliest convenience. Give Benjamin Franklin Plumbing in Arlington, Texas a call today if you are looking for professional plumbing in Fort Worth, TX. If there’s any delay, it’s you we pay^®