A water filter doesn't treat water hardness like a softener. Instead, it removes chemicals and contaminants like pesticides, herbicides, chlorine and biological organisms. Some of these chemicals and organisms may be naturally occurring; others may come from pollution sources in your region.
Whole house filters aren't designed to tackle hard water. Instead, these systems use a filtration media to trap contaminants like chlorine, heavy metals, and nitrates.
For the best quality water, a combination of water softening and whole-house filtration is the ideal solution. The minerals from hard water can decrease the effectiveness of whole-house filtration and decrease the quality of the water — and your lifestyle and pipes.
The most common way to treat hard water is with a Water Softener. This is a water filtration system that filters out the hard water minerals in your water. Was the water travels into the filter, it passes through a bed of resin that traps the calcium and magnesium, which are then replaced with sodium ions.
If you're serious about resolving your hard water issues, the best thing to do is buy a water softening system. Ion exchange softener systems are the only solution for physically removing calcium and magnesium ions from your water, eliminating mineral deposits around your home.
Soften your kitchen water by boiling: Boiling will make the salts in water sink to the bottom of the boiler. You can then scoop out this water or pour the water in another pot leaving the deposits in the end. Install an ion-exchange filter to your kitchen faucet or use a water pitcher filter.
Using a water softener is the easiest way to convert hard water into soft water. Here are some of the benefits of using a water softener: Hard water leaves white spots behind. But, using the water treated with a water softener can rinse the residue of soap keeping the dishes clean and no white spots left on them.
The best filters for hard water are activated carbon filters, reverse osmosis filters, or water softeners. However, reverse osmosis filters remove all compounds and minerals from the water, so you would need to remineralize your water to add calcium and magnesium.
Water filters and softeners fix two different types of water problems. Water filters remove contaminants, while water softeners remove only calcium and magnesium from the water source. Which type of water treatment you choose depends on what type of water problem you have.
Water softeners do not filter water, they only remove calcium and magnesium minerals to address hard water. In order to remove contaminants so water is safer for drinking, cooking, and showering — you'll need to use a water filter even if you already have a water softener installed.
Water described as “hard” contains high amounts of dissolved calcium and magnesium. Hard water is not a health risk but is a nuisance because of mineral buildup on plumbing fixtures' and poor soap and or detergent performance. Water is a good solvent and picks up impurities easily.
Advantages of home water softening
Prevents build-up of minerals (scale) on the inside of pipes, fixtures, and hot water heaters. Lengthens the life of some appliances. Reduces or prevents mineral spots on glassware. Prevents or reduces soap films and detergent curds in sinks, bathtubs, and washing machines.
You are not required to have a water softener for your home appliances, but having one could make them work better and possibly improve the look and quality of your water.
If you have very hard water and you're concerned about sodium, the best way to make soft water drinkable is to use a reverse-osmosis filter.
The Reason Hard Water Damages Hair
It can also make hair dull, frizzy, stiff, and more prone to tangles. These effects are heightened when hair is washed with hard water over a long period of time. The buildup may be more difficult to penetrate with serums, masks, or other treatments.
Installing a whole-house water filtration system costs $850 to $5,400 on average. An under-sink water filter installation costs $170 to $580. A well-water filtration system costs $800 to $4,000 installed. Water filter prices are $20 to $100 depending on the system type and size.
Pros of a Whole-House Water Filter System
Softens hard water. Pipes are less likely to clog and you could extend the lifespan of your appliances. You may even notice an improvement in your skin and hair, and your glassware and clothes may be cleaner.
Reverse osmosis (RO) is the ultimate in water filtration. This superior purifying process provides the highest quality water conveniently at the turn of a tap.
The most effective way to address hard water is with a water softener. Water is softened when calcium and magnesium—the hardness ions—are collected by tiny resin beads through a process called ion exchange. The resin beads are charged with sodium or potassium ions.
The time a water softener takes to soften your water supply is referred to as the regeneration cycle. This is when all the sediments that make your water hard are flushed out. A typical regeneration cycle takes between 60 and 90 minutes. Some may take a little longer.