water_soft_feat

What is Water Conditioning?

What Is Water Conditioning/Water Softening? 

Water conditioning is the process of removing or altering minerals, chemicals, and contaminants from a water source. Every day, it seems there is a growing concern   about our water supplies containing a lot of contaminants such as calcium, lime, chlorine, ammonia, chloramines, and many other harmful chemicals. (Not all water contaminents, especially when it comes to minerals, are bad for your health, but can nonetheless be harmful to your plumbing.)

Water softening is the removal of calcium, magnesium, and certain other metals in hard water.  Soft water also extends the lifetime of plumbing by reducing or eliminating scale build-up in pipes and fittings. Water softening is usually achieved using lime softening or ion-exchange resins.

There are salt-based water softeners which use brine and special resin beads in separate tanks.  These beads have a negative electrical charge that attracts the positively charged mineral ions of hard water while giving off sodium ions. The attraction causes minerals such as calcium and magnesium to adhere to the resin beads as the water passes through the tank, resulting in soft water.

Salt–free water conditioners use potassium chloride and function more like a descaler than an actual water softener.  This prevents minerals from depositing through the system and can cause damage.

Calcium and lime deposits over time will harm:

Pipes                              

Water Heaters

Faucets

Dishwashers

Coffee Pots

Sinks and showers

If you have ever seen the grainy white film on your coffee pot or on your faucet, that’s it.

How to Know if Your Water Softener is Working

The easiest way to determine how soft or hard is to look for hard water spots in your shower, or just pay attention to how you feel after a shower. Is your skin dry? Do you need more soap than usual to lather? Does your coffee pot get a water stain on the bottom? All of these are signs that your water is  your water might be hard. 

Are Water Softeners Going to be Banned in New Jersey?

California was the first to ban traditional salt based water softeners due to the problems salinated water can reap on farming. Texas, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Arizona have all created laws affecting water softeners all or in part for this reason.

While there have been no efforts yet to ban traditional water softeners in New Jersey, a large portion of the state is still comprised of farming communities, and it wouldn't be unheard of for New Jersey politics to mirror those of California's on environmental issues. For this reason, you may want to consider salt-free or reverse osmosis option if replacing your water softener. 

 

 

reverse osmosis

A Better, Healthier Home Water Solution: Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Systems

HERO375_ reverse osmosis

Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Systems

There's no question that water is the healthiest beverage. And luckily, more and more Americans have stopped buying soda and other unhealthy beverages and started picking up water in an effort to improve their health. Unfortunately, many still have to go to the store for their healthy beverage of choice because their home water supply tastes of chemicals and contaminants.

What is Reverse Osmosis?

Osmosis is a natural phenomenon wherein a weaker saline solution tends toward a stronger saline solution. Reverse osmosis is a water purification system that involves forcing water through specialized membranes that remove foreign contaminants, solid substances, large molecules, and minerals.

What can Reverse Osmosis Filter?

The following is a list of just some of the many contaminants and minerals that can be filtered from water via reverse osmosis.

Lead – People are often aware of the dangers of lead in paint. But few realize that lead can enter their water supply as well, often resulting from the corrosion of older fixtures or the solder at pipe connections. Excess lead in the body can lead to brain damage, cause anemia in children, affect fertility, and cause nerve and muscle damage.

Arsenic – Arsenic is a contaminant that can be found naturally occurring in the environment, or as a result of human activity. In either form, long term exposure to high levels can result in heart disease as well as lung, skin and bladder cancer.

Copper – While copper is a necessary mineral for the body and can be consumed via shellfish, whole grains, beans, nuts, potatoes, organ meats, and other foods, an excess of copper can be toxic and may kill liver cells or cause nerve damage.

Nitrites & Nitrates – High levels of either of these are toxic in humans, animals, and especially in infants. Run off from areas where there are high levels of fertilizer or sewage can increase the level of nitrites in the water supply.

Radium – Radium is a naturally occurring radioactive substance and can be found in the water supply. A small level of radium can be processed by the liver, but after that the rest remains in the body, increasing chances of bone, breast and liver cancer.

Cyst (cryptosporidium) – Cryptosporidium infection (cryptosporidiosis) is an illness caused by these parasites. When entering the body, the cryptosporidium travel to the small intestine and burrow into the walls of intestines causing diarrhea, dehydration and lack of appetite. These parasites can come into the water supply via feces.

Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) – While a high level of TDS is rarely toxic, they negatively impact the taste of the water.

Safe Water for a Compromised Immune System

Delicious tasting water is its own reward, however some require a water purification system due to a compromised immune system. Those with cancer or other diseases that wear the body down and make one susceptible to toxins and infections can benefit greatly from the purified water from a reverse osmosis system. If you or someone in your home is suffering from ongoing illness, a reverse osmosis filtration system can help to put everyone’s mind at ease.

Delicious Water, Every Time

The most remarkable result of a Reverse Osmosis system is the taste of the water. So many of us are accustomed to the high salt levels left behind by traditional water softeners that we don’t realize how significant the taste difference can be.

Are you ready for delicious tasting water, straight from the tap? Call Jersey Plumbing Service Today: (908) 281-7101 

Jersey Plumbing Service
PO Box 7371
Hillsborough, NJ 08844
Click to Email Us
Fax: 1-908-647-1517

NJ Masters Plumbers License #7359

Copyright © 2018 All Rights Reserved
Site Designed & Managed by Lattice Marketing