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One thing you should not consider is using both systems. Using a water conditioner before a water softener will change the hardness particles making the ion-exchange in a water softener ineffective. Conversely, using a water softener before a water conditioner will remove the hardness particles leaving the water conditioner mostly useless.

It is very important you fully understand the difference between a water softener and a water conditioner before you get one installed. Without the proper knowledge, you may end up with a water treatment system that doesn’t fit your home or business’ needs.

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“Water conditioner” is a broad term for a wide variety of products and technologies. Here are the most common types of water conditioners.

In the water softener tank, there is a bed full of resin. Resin are tiny little plastic beads that hold sodium ions. As hard water flows through the resin, hard water particles stick to the resin beads and are replaced with sodium.

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However, there are multiple reports and reviews that the products don’t live up to consumers’ expectations. It is recommended that consumers should carefully investigate product claims prior to making a purchase of a specific device.

Without sodium, you cannot soften water. That is a scientific fact. So, while a salt-free water conditioner can change particles for a certain amount of time, the water is still hard and will revert back to hard water at some point.

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Unlike a water softener, a water conditioner does not remove hardness particles from your water supply. It “conditions” water and changes the chemistry of the particles for a certain amount of time to keep it from building up.

Sodium is a soft mineral that won't cluster or scale in plumbing, appliances, dishes or your skin. There is a myth that soft water is unhealthy to drink because it contains a lot of sodium. However, in reality, the amount of sodium that is added is less than a slice of bread.

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Water softening and water conditioning are two terms that are thrown around a lot the water treatment industry. However, many people do not understand the difference between the two.

Once the resin is full of hard water particles they must be backwashed (or regenerated). The regeneration process takes salt water from the brine tank and washes it over the resin. This washes the hard water particles off the resin and replaces it with sodium again. Regeneration typically happens every 2-10 days depending on the size of the water softener.

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Water conditioners range greatly in their effectiveness. Some claim they are over 90% effective in stopping clustering or build up in plumbing.

The truth is, there is no such thing as a salt-free water softener. What they are actually mistakingly referring to is a water conditioner.

There are pros and cons to both water treatment systems. However, we always recommend a water softener over a water conditioner because it will actually remove the hardness particles from your water and is also far more effective. It also has added benefits of keeping hardness particles off your appliances, your clothes, your skin, and will reduce soap and detergent usage.

A water softener works by actually removing the hardness particles (like calcium and magnesium) from your water supply. This is done through a process called ion-exchange.

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If you are concerned about other containants or sodium in your drinking water you can always add a filter or reverse osmosis system. Installing these systems after your water softener will remove things like sodium, iron, chlorine, and more from your drinking water.