Water conditioners are the best alternative to a water softener if you are concerned about sodium in your water. The key difference between water softeners and water conditioners is water conditioners don't remove the minerals from hard water. Remember, the main impact of hard is scaling.
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.
A Low-Sodium Alternative to Traditional Water Softener Salt.
Potassium Chloride works in water softeners the same way that traditional water softener salt (sodium chloride) does, by replacing hard water minerals. The primary difference is that hard water minerals are replaced with potassium instead of sodium.
Water descalers work well as alternatives to water softeners. They offer the same benefits but without any downsides. A water descaler doesn't replace calcium and magnesium with sodium but alters their shape with crystals, so they don't stick to the pipes or appliances.
Disadvantages of home water softening
Can corrode your pipes. The corroded metal from the pipes can end up in your water. This can contribute to elevated lead and copper levels in drinking water. Potential health effects from additional sodium.
One of the most costly signs that you need a water softener is having your water heater breakdown or fail. Heating hard water exacerbates the formation of scale deposits in the system and takes its toll on your water heater's heating elements which will decrease its efficiency.
A salt-free water softener does not exist.
The ion exchange process used by water softeners doesn't work without the sodium ions displacing the calcium and magnesium ions that create water hardness.
Learn more about Kinetico Water Softeners
If you are looking for a system to reduce scale buildup caused by hard water, Kinetico offers a Scale Reducing System. The SRS doesn't use salt, and only treats the hot water in the home. Heating water accelerates the production of hard water scale.
A salt-based water softener will make your water healthier, and a salt-free system won't. Therefore, we always recommend salt-based systems to clients looking to get the most benefits possible. But this is not to say you should never choose a salt-free conditioner.
Boil the Water
The simplest method of softening hard water is by boiling it. When you boil water, the salts precipitate leaving clean, soft water.
Baking soda and vinegar are both natural disinfectants that can be used to turn hard water to soft water. They eliminate the scaly coating that occurs in hard water as a result of mineral deposits. To use baking soda, fill a tub halfway with water and add half a cup of baking soda to meet the requirement.
Boiling water is certainly one of the most effective ways to soften it. The boiling will have the effect of draining the hard water minerals to the bottom, like calcium and magnesium.
Vinegar doesn't just soften water and increase the cleanliness of the clothing you wash, when used in laundry, it softens fabrics and whitens whites, and in the dishwasher, it acts as a rinse aid for spotless dishes.
While both can be used to prevent limescale buildup and hard water damage to plumbing and appliances, water softeners offer additional benefits beyond scale prevention. Some homes may be more suited to a water conditioner than a water softener, and others may need to reap the benefits a water softener provides.
📌 Key Takeaways: California, Massachusetts, Texas, Connecticut, Michigan, and Wisconsin all have bans or regulations on water softener use.
The benefits of making soft water with a water softener are usually the best option but if you don't want to buy salt or have high blood pressure, a salt-free water conditioner is also a great option.
Cons of Buying a Salt-Based Water Softener
Most salt-based water softeners are more expensive than their salt-free counterparts and require maintenance to clean out the resin bed and replenish the salt.
The upside of a salt-free water softener – beyond the no-salt requirement – is that it doesn't use electricity or chemicals and creates no wastewater. The potential downside is that salt-free systems don't technically remove hardness, which means some issues — such as scale buildup — will not be entirely eliminated.
Unlike a water softener which has proven scientific evidence to back it up, there is actually little scientific evidence to suggest that magnetic water softeners are effective at softening water. A magnetic water conditioner will not offer any where near the same rate of efficiency as a water softener.
It prevents scale buildup in your home! Most compellingly, a salt-free water softener system extends the lifetime of plumbing by preventing scale buildup (or to use the scientific term, “calcification”) in pipes and fittings.
Pro: Nicer laundry, skin, and hair
“After using a water softener, the brightness of your clothes will stay intact longer, your skin will be softer, and you will use less soap, as soft water will not dilute as much,” says Rodriguez. Hard water can create build up on your hair and make it look dry and brittle.
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.