What Is the Difference Between a Water Filter and a Water Softener?
While water filters and water softeners do have some similar duties, they are very different in how they work. The most common source for water in municipal systems is underground water, which has a higher percentage of minerals compared to surface water. A higher mineral count is a significant factor in making water “hard.” Knowing the difference between the purpose of a water filter and a water softener can help you decide which is right for you. What Is a Water Softener? A water softener technically filters water, but it only filters out minerals that cause hardness and scale. They often use salt and ion-exchange resins to remove calcium and magnesium from the water. These ions are replaced with sodium ions. Because of this, salt-based water softeners need to be refilled with salt regularly. Non-salt-based systems don’t require the same maintenance but can be damaged by trace amounts of oil. Magnetic systems are cheaper than the other two types of softeners but