To put it simply, hard water is when there are unwanted trace minerals lingering in your water. This level is measured and used to determine your water hardness. Soft water, often achieved through water softener systems, contains little to none of those unwanted trace minerals.
What does that mean to you? Heat, soap and hard water do not play well together. You may notice that your skin feels slimy or not fully clean after bathing. Drinking glasses may appear cloudy. Scale builds up in plumbing, appliances, water heaters and fixtures. Cleaning becomes more difficult and laundry does not come out as clean.
Scientifically, water hardness is the amount of dissolved calcium and magnesium in water. It is measured in grains per gallon, or gpg:
SOFT WATER – Less than 3 gpg
SLIGHTLY HARD WATER – 3 to 7.5 gpg
MODERATELY HARD WATER – 7.5 to 14 gpg
VERY HARD WATER – Over 14 gpg
Hard water diminishes showerhead flow rate by 75% in less than 18 months
The water softener must regenerate once the resin bed becomes saturated with calcium & magnesium ions – recharging the bed once again with sodium ions.
In downflow brining, we lose approx. 18% of our brine just from dilution in the freeboard and the size of the downflow injectors. Reference: Michaud C. (2002)
Downflow water softener systems wash all the hardness & other debris through the clean portion of the bed – requiring it to be regenerated.
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Reverse Flow Regeneration preserves an unused portion of softening bed from unnecessary exchange saving salt. ‘Supercharged’ bottom portion prevents slippage for softer, consistent quality.
Precision Brining calculates the exact amount of brine required to regenerate, saving up to 30% more salt.
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These one-of-a-kind combination systems offer the same high-quality product water of having separate softener and filter units in a space-saving, one-unit design. The Paragon Combo Series will remove hardness, bad taste and odor caused by chlorine, chloramines or organic matter.
For those searching for a "water softener near me," Paragon Water in Houston and Dallas is the trusted water experts. We specialize in the best water softener systems for your home's or business' water, ensuring your water is consistently soft and free from hard minerals.
