The Water Softener Blog

Arsenic is a naturally occurring element that can silently contaminate private well water across the United States. Invisible, tasteless, and odorless, arsenic often goes undetected until a proper water test reveals its presence. For homeowners who rely on private wells, understanding how arsenic gets into groundwater—and how to treat it—is critical to our health and safety.

What is a Water Softener? A water softening or water conditioning system (as it is sometimes referred to) is an essential appliance for homes dealing with hard water. These systems remove hardness minerals—mainly calcium, magnesium, and some iron—from your water through a process called ion exchange, delivering softened water that helps protect plumbing fixtures and water-using appliances from hard water scale and iron staining. In short, a water softener enhances your home’s efficiency, extends plumbing fixtures and appliance life, extends water heater life and makes water heaters much more efficient, and considerably reduces soap and detergent usage for dishwashing, clothes washing, and washing anything, including you! 

Clean, safe drinking water is essential to our health, but well water and city tap water often contain contaminants that can affect taste, safety, and overall well-being. Residential reverse osmosis (RO) systems are the perfect solution for homeowners looking to provide their families with high-quality, purified drinking water. In this article, we’ll explore how reverse osmosis systems work, the filtration stages involved, the contaminants they remove, how they can improve your health, the typical cost of a residential under-sink system, and the filter maintenance required. What is a Residential Reverse Osmosis System? A residential reverse osmosis system is a water filtration system typically installed under the kitchen sink or in the basement. It uses advanced membrane technology to remove harmful impurities and contaminants from tap water, providing clean, great-tasting drinking water directly from a dedicated faucet.  How Does a Reverse Osmosis System Work? Reverse osmos...

During a recent online "water treatment discussion forum" there was a questioned posted regarding health issues the person was having and how, or if, they could be related to their water.  After a very lenghty discussion. Which invloved getting much more detail from the original person posting the discussion, getting more in depth as to exactly what their health issues were, doing some research myself, drawing on my thirty six of  professional experience in the water treatment industry and helping customers having health issues from drinking water contaminated with BPA, we came to an educated, researched based conclusion. Her health issues are related to drinking from plastic water bottles contaminated with BPA chemicals. This article sheds light on the health hazards of BPA and BPS chemicals in water, how we can avoid BPA and BPS chemicals in our drinking water and, most importantly, protect our health.  _____________________________________________________________ What ...

When it comes to residential water softeners, the control valve is the heart of the system. It determines how efficiently your water softener system regenerates, it helps determine how long a water softener system lasts, and how easy it is to maintain and service. In 2025, several major brands continue to dominate the residential market. Including Clack, Fleck, Autotrol, EcoWater, Culligan, Kinetico, Whirlpool/GE, and Water Boss. "The Water Softener Blog" is diving in-depth for you looking at the leading water softener systems and companies. What makes each one stand out in today’s market, which models have proven reliable over time. We have a ranking chart for water softener systems for you. We delve into water softener models and the best water softener systems that are user and service friendly for  DIY homeowners. 1. Clack Water Softeners Models: WS1, WS1.25, WS1.5  Reputation: Highly reliable, easy to service, water treatment dealer sales and plumbing supply sto...

Potassium Chloride Water Softener Salt:  A Healthier Alternative to Traditional Sodium-Based Salt Water softeners play a vital role in improving water quality in households and industrial settings by removing hardness-causing minerals such as calcium and magnesium. Traditionally, these systems have used sodium chloride (common salt) as the regenerating agent. However, an alternative is gaining traction among health-conscious and environmentally minded consumers: potassium chloride . Though it serves the same primary function in softening water, potassium chloride differs significantly from regular sodium chloride in its composition, benefits, and considerations.                                             Can I Use Potassium Chloride Instead Of Salt In My Water Softener?

Water softeners are essential for households dealing with hard water and iron, which can damage plumbing, reduce the efficiency and lifespan of appliances, and leave residue on dishes, clothing, and plumbing fixtures. A key component in this system is water softener salt , which helps regenerate the softener's resin beads and keep the system running smoothly to provide worry free soft water. Types of Water Softener Salt Water softener salt comes in various forms, including pellets, crystals, blocks, and compacted flakes. Among these, Dura C ube and Hardi Cube salt —formed into small, compacted flakes—is popular due to its high efficiency in regeneration cycles and clean operation. When shopping for water softener salt, consumers often encounter options like Morton , and Diamond Crystal   Pellet  Salt , Diamond Crystal Solar Salt ,  Dura-Cube , and Hardi-Cube . While they may appear similar, there are notable differences in quality, purity, and performance of your wat...