Water Filters & Softeners

The purpose of a water filter is to remove impurities from your water. A water softener is designed to remove heavy minerals from your water. Both water filters and water softeners work together to improve the quality of your water.

Water Softeners

A water softener is designed to remove minerals from your water. Water softeners are installed when you have hard water, which means you have a lot of minerals in the water. 

Negative Effects of Hard Water

When you have calcium and magnesium in your water, you have hard water. Hard water isn’t bad for your health but can be hard on your plumbing system. 

Scale Build Up

Mineral deposits will show on your faucets, showerhead, coffee pot, and dishwasher. This build-up doesn’t look great and can add a bad taste to your water.

Dry Skin and Hair

Calcium and magnesium can leave your skin dry and your hair a little slimy. It can make your skin feel chapped and your hair brittle.

Stained Sink and Bathtub

The mineral residue can eventually leave your bathtub and sinks with a rust-colored stain around them. Constant cleaning is the only way you can avoid this.

Frequent Repairs

Hard water can cause mineral build-up in your pipes, which can lead to corrosion and other issues with your pipes.

Faded Clothing

Faded clothing can remove the color from your clothing and cause it to wear down faster. 

The negative effects of hard water can be combated by installing a water softener.

6 Types of Water Softeners

Faded clothing can remove the color from your clothing and cause it to wear down faster. 

The negative effects of hard water can be combated by installing a water softener.

1. Salt-Based Water Softener

One of the most common types of water softeners is a salt-based softener. They come in a variety of sizes. It works by drawing the heavy minerals into a resin, releasing sodium ions to complete an ion exchange. This adds a minimal amount of salt to the water. 

The resin has to be changed regularly to ensure enough sodium ions to exchange for the minerals. You can install a metered system that regenerates the water softener after a set amount of water passes through or use a timed system that restores the ions according to a time schedule. 

2. Salt-Free Water Softener

If you don’t want to add a small amount of salt to the water, you can install a salt-free water softener. 

They use a template-assisted crystallization (TAC) system to neutralize the minerals. The minerals attach to polymeric beads at the microscopic nucleation sites. This neutralizes the minerals so they don’t cause scaling or mineral buildup.

3. Dual-Tank Water Softener

A dual-tank water softener works like a salt-water softener, except there are two tanks for handling the water. This system has two resin tanks, so one is always working. A dual-tank water softener system can hadle large amounts of water.

4. Magnetic Water Softener

A magnetic water softener is really compact and is attached to your water pipes. It has to be plugged in or hardwired to your electric system. A magnetic water softener removes the negative and positive ions with a magnetic field, making the minerals soluble. 

5. Reverse Osmosis Water Softener

A reverse osmosis water softener uses high pressure to push water through a semipermeable membrane. 

These systems are typically used to soften water at a specific point and not for your home. They are a point-of-use system. 

6. Showerhead Water Softener

A shower head water softener is built into your showerhead, ensuring that you are bathing in water that isn’t full of minerals. You must change the cartridge every few months to keep the system working. 

At M&E Plumbing, we can help you choose the best water softener for your home.

Benefits of Installing a Water Softener

There are many benefits you will experience when you install a water softener. Here are just a few of the top benefits you will enjoy once you have a water softener in place: 

  • Better tasting water
  • Cleaner dishes without water stains
  • Better water flow in the shower
  • No hard water stains around plumbing fixtures
  • Softer and healthier hair
  • Plumbing fixtures that last longer
  • Brighter fabrics that last longer

Installing a water softener will make your life easier and eliminate the negative impacts of hard water on your home and your life. 

Water Filters

Water filters remove contaminants from your water, making your water cleaner and safer to drink. 

Common Drinking Water Contaminants

There is a wide range of contaminants that can get into your water. Six common contaminants occur most frequently in water systems that water filters are designed to treat. 

  • Bacteria: Some bacteria aren’t harmful, and others can damage your health. Bacteria can get into your water supply from run-off, broken lines, and fractured well casings. 
  • Chlorine: Most municipal water supplies are treated with chlorine to disinfect the water. Chlorine can add an unpleasant taste and smell to your water and be hard on your skin. 
  • Copper: When copper water pipes corrode, they can release copper into your water. Copper is also naturally found in rocks, soil, and water. Too much copper can be damaging to your gastrointestinal system. 
  • Fluoride: Most municipal water supplies contain fluoride to protect against tooth decay. However, too much fluoride exposure isn’t good either. 
  • Iron: Iron is naturally occurring and can add a metallic taste and smell to your water. 
  • Lead: Service pipes and other parts of the plumbing system can add lead to your water supply. Lead can have negative impacts on your health. 

A water filtration system can help remove any contaminants that you are dealing with from your water. You can have your water supply tested by M&E Plumbing, so you know what contaminants you are dealing with. 

How Water Filters Destroy Contaminants

Water filters destroy contaminants in many different manners. The type of water filter you need depends on what contaminants you are dealing with.  

  • Ultraviolet light: Ultraviolet light from UV filters work without any extra heat or chemicals. Water is exposed to UV light, which destroys harmful bacteria. 
  • Carbon block and activated carbon: A carbon water filter attracts and absorbs sediment and silt. 
  • Sand and sediment mesh: A mesh filter removes particles such as sand, clay, and dirt from your water. 
  • Reverse osmosis: A reverse osmosis process forces water through a semi-permeable membrane, which removes impurities and contaminants from the water. 
  • Infrared: An infrared filter uses heat and light to charge water, giving the water a softer feel.. 

Alkaline and water ionizers: The water passes over charged plates, which removes alkaline water from acidic water, creating softer and cleaner water.

Whole House vs. Under the Sink Water Filters

You can install a whole-house water filter or an under-the-sink or point-of-use water system, depending on your water needs. There are different benefits for each type of system. 

Benefits of a Whole House System

If you want to enjoy filtered water throughout your home, you will want to install a whole house water filter system. There are some clear advantages of installing a whole house water filter system. 

  • Lower costs: It can cost less to install a single whole-house water system than to install multiple point-of-use throughout your home. 
  • Convenient: When you have a whole house water filter system, you only have one filtration system you need to maintain. 
  • Lower maintenance costs:  A whole-house water filtration system requires less maintenance, thus lower maintenance costs than multiple point-of-use systems. 
  • Higher outputs: A whole house system can support higher water outputs than a point-of-use system. 

 

Benefits of Point-of-Use Water Filtration System

Some distinct benefits come with installing a point-of-use water filtration system. 

  • Easy to maintain and install: Under the sink water filtration systems are made to be set up in a matter of minutes and made to be easy for anyone to take care of. 
  • Low investment and upkeep costs: Under-the-sink water filtration systems are easy to take care of, with any disabled filters being affordably priced. 
  • Out of sight: An under-the-sink filtration system is hidden out-of-site and isn’t something that is going to degrade your home visually. 
  • Customization: Under the sink water filters come in many different sizes, types, and models, allowing you to pick the right filter for your needs.  

Water Filters & Water Softeners Near You in Grundy, Kendall, & Will Counties

Do you have hard water? Are you worried about contaminants in your water? We can help you figure out the best home water filter or softener system. 

Call us at 815-600-9215, or use our service request form to request a service call.

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