Water softeners and filters are both recommended to improve water quality, but what’s the difference? Before installing one in your home, you’ll want to be sure it addresses your specific needs.
Depending on your needs, you may need a filter, a softener, or both. Find out how softeners and filters differ, how they work, and which one is best for you.
What’s the Difference Between a Water Filter and a Water Softener?
Filters and softeners both improve water quality, but employ different systems to address separate concerns. Filters remove contaminants that pose a health risk, while softeners remove minerals that can cause issues with pipes and appliances.
Hard water contains a high concentration of dissolved minerals, typically calcium and magnesium, gathered from rocks and soil. These minerals do not pose a health risk; in fact, calcium and magnesium can provide health benefits. However, while they’re safe to drink, they can irritate skin and hair and impact pipes and appliances.
What Does a Water Softener Do?
A softener helps remove calcium and magnesium minerals that contribute to hardness. They achieve this through ion exchange, where water passes through a tank of resin beads coated with sodium or potassium ions. Calcium and magnesium ions stick to the resin beads, replacing the sodium or potassium ions. The outgoing water is softened now that the calcium and magnesium are replaced by sodium or potassium.
Because the resin beads can become oversaturated with calcium and magnesium ions, the softener undergoes a regeneration process. During this process, debris is flushed, a brine solution is introduced to recharge the resin beads with sodium or potassium ions, and the excess brine is flushed with calcium and magnesium ions. After regeneration, the system is ready to soften again.
Softeners offer a wide variety of benefits, from helping to prevent clogged drains to prolonging the life of your water heater. They also reduce skin dryness and itchiness and improve hair health. Furthermore, softeners reduce soap scum for more efficient cleaning and prevent scale buildup, boosting the life and efficiency of appliances.
What Does a Water Filter Do?
A filter helps remove contaminants and impurities, such as sediment, chlorine, heavy metals, bacteria, viruses, and more, as they pass through the filter. These filters make water cleaner and safer to drink by using a physical barrier or chemical reactions. In addition, filters improve taste and smell.
A variety of methods can be used—for example, activated carbon filters, which are made from coal or wood, remove chlorine, odor, and certain chemicals. Reverse osmosis filters use a semipermeable membrane to remove a wide range of contaminants. Ceramic filters use a porous ceramic material to trap larger particles. UV purifiers use ultraviolet light to kill bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
Installation methods differ by filter. Whole-house filters are installed on the main supply line to treat all household water rather than a single faucet. Under-sink filters are installed below a sink to treat the supply for that specific faucet. Countertop filters also treat a single sink’s supply, but sit on the counter and connect to the faucet.
Which Is Better, Water Filtration or a Water Softener?
Filters and softeners effectively address specific issues. A filter is the better solution for removing harmful impurities, and a softener is the better option for reducing mineral deposits.
Do I Need a Water Filter and a Water Softener?
Whether you need a filter, a softener, or both depends on your needs. A filter is useful if you’re concerned about contaminants or unpleasant tastes and smells. Filters are also essential if you use a well, as this source is not regulated like public sources.
A softener is useful if your water is considered “hard,” or has a high dissolved calcium and magnesium concentration. Hard water is typically above 7 grains per gallon. Signs of this include scale buildup, dry skin and hair, spots on dishes, and stiff laundry.
When to Use Both Systems
Both a filter and a softener are recommended if you’re concerned about hardness and contaminants. Neither system can do the job of its counterpart. While a filter removes various impurities, it doesn’t remove the minerals that contribute to hardness.
The Importance of Water Filtration
How Water Filters Improve Your Health
Filters improve health by removing harmful contaminants from drinking water, such as sediments, heavy metals, and bacteria. This is especially an issue if you use a well, but even public sources can have trace contaminants. These contaminants are not only harmful to ingest, but they also dry and damage skin and hair. Not to mention, using a filter also improves taste and odor, encouraging better hydration. Overall, they present a more environmentally and cost-effective solution to bottled sources.
The Filtration Process Explained
One of the most popular methods of filtration is reverse osmosis. Contaminants are propelled through a semipermeable membrane against the natural direction of osmosis. The membrane ensures that only water passes through and contaminants are left behind. However, while it’s effective at removing impurities, it also strips essential minerals, resulting in what’s referred to as “dead” water.
Woder’s Selective Filtration™ technology addresses this issue. It’s adept at getting rid of impurities while leaving essential minerals, so 99.99% of contaminants are removed while maintaining those minerals vital to your health. Woder filtration systems can be installed under your sink or directly to supply lines with inline fittings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the Disadvantages of a Water Softener?
Because softeners replace calcium and magnesium ions with sodium, people on low-sodium diets may opt for an alternative solution. If your home uses galvanized steel pipes, softened water can be corrosive to them, releasing lead or copper into the supply.
Should I Install a Water Filter or Softener First?
Filters are typically installed before the softener, especially if there are high sediment, iron, or chlorine levels. Installing the filter first protects your softener from damage and ensures it works efficiently.
Is a Water Filter or Water Softener Better for Your Hair?
Both filters and softeners benefit hair by reducing dryness and breakage. Softeners help hair products lather and penetrate hair better, while filters reduce chlorine damage and improve color.
Water Treatment Improves Quality And Protects Health
Filters and softeners address different issues. A softener may be in your best interest if you’re concerned about limescale buildup. However, softeners don’t ensure your water’s safe to drink.
Woder offers U.S.-made filtration supplies that remove contaminants while maintaining essential minerals. Contact Woder for long-term business relationships. We provide filtration solutions to organizations. Reach out today for a discounted quote.
