Using a Water Softener Tank Diagram to Understand the Water Softening Process

If you're like most people, the mere sight of an instructional manual can make your head spin. Let's face it. Technical information can be scary. It's not the fault of the writer. It’s difficult to explain technical information. When it comes to water softeners, a picture is worth a thousand words. In terms of water softeners, a water softener tank diagram can help you understand how the process works.

You might think you don't have to worry about how the softener works since you are having someone install the system for you. It's a good idea for you to understand how it works in case of a malfunction, also to know exactly what is going on with the water in your home. If you're only researching water softeners, you can review information online and typically view a tank diagram for each system you review.

When you are shopping for a water softener, you may come across a water softener illustration for two or more models. The two most common types are those with a single tank and those with a dual-tank system. While not all water softeners are designed the same, they basically go through the same phases to soften water. If you were to look at a tank diagram, you would be able to see how the process works. Most softeners go through a simple 2-step process to soften water.

The initial stage of water softening, called ion exchange, is the gathering of the minerals causing the hard water. For a majority of water softeners this involves the hard water minerals being replaced with sodium, potassium, or a chemical. In a water softener tank this stage is characterized by a series of particles being exchanged with another. The hard water particles are removed from the water being treated and eventually flushed from the tank, while the treated water is made available for use.

A water softener basically performs the initial step of the process once each day. Once the water has been treated it must prepare for the next stage of the process, which is essentially making way for the next load of water to be treated. This step, referred to at the regeneration process, refills the main tank with softening crystals for the next treatment.

As you see, while softening water may seem like a technical process, viewing a water softener tank drawing breaks the process down so that it is easier to understand.

 

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