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Questions? +32 460 226 991 (English), +33 644 634 490 (French). EU-wide delivery!
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Do you have unsatisfactory water quality at home and are wondering how to improve this situation? In that case, it's time to get a water treatment system. Find out how to choose and install one.
A water treatment system generally removes dissolved substances from water. Most commonly, these are dissolved minerals – calcium and magnesium, which cause hard water. Therefore, a water treatment system is essentially synonymous with a water softener.
Many people confuse a water treatment system with a water filter. However, they are not the same. A filter removes solid particles from water, i.e., undissolved impurities, which it captures in a fine mesh. Therefore, filters are most commonly used in households that draw water from their own sources. Water treatment systems, on the other hand, operate on the basis of various chemical reactions.
Hard water is generally water with a mineral content of more than 12 °dH, water with a hardness above 21 °dH is very hard or mineral water. The optimal water hardness for households is 8 °dH – above this threshold, water creates unwanted limescale. Therefore, you should consider softening if your water hardness is above 8 °dH, which is the case for most Czech households.
You can inquire about water hardness from local waterworks or have a professional water analysis done. A professional analysis is essential if you draw water from your own well or borehole. The results will also help you set the optimal output water hardness. Faster but less accurate results can be obtained from test strips available at drugstores. However, you can also recognize hard water without measuring simply by the fact that limescale forms on taps and appliances.
Soap lathers beautifully in soft water.
And why soften water at all? Hard water causes limescale formation, which is unsightly, clogs faucets and pipes, and reduces the lifespan of electrical appliances by up to a third. Limescale also increases the energy consumption of appliances that heat water (boilers, kettles, coffee makers, etc.). In hard water, you also use more cleaning and cosmetic products. Besides financial savings, soft water also brings benefits such as healthy skin and hair.
With a treatment system, you can soften water throughout the entire property or only at certain taps. Treatment systems can be used for water from waterworks as well as from private sources (wells, boreholes) and are suitable for households, apartment buildings, and large commercial properties.
Choose a water treatment system based on several criteria:
Although most water treatment systems are designed for softening water, there are other types – for example, systems for removing iron, manganese, chlorine, nitrates, etc. Water softeners are further divided into 2 basic types, each operating on a different principle:
Ion exchange water softeners, also known as brine or cation exchange softeners, adjust water based on the output hardness you set. Using salt, they absorb dissolved calcium and magnesium ions and release sodium ions. Calcium and magnesium are then flushed into the waste. Ion exchange water softeners are very effective and ensure the best possible water quality, as all desirable substances remain in the water.
Less common are the so-called catalytic water softeners. These do not remove minerals from water but only convert them into crystals. The composition of the water remains the same, but limescale does not form. Since these crystals remain in the water, it is advisable to combine a catalytic softener with a mechanical water filter.
Ion exchange, and also catalytic treatment systems, are the only effective water softeners on the market. However, you may also encounter other types. The so-called reverse osmosis systems also serve to soften water, but they cannot be recommended for households.
These devices remove all dissolved substances from water, resulting in pure H2O. However, such water is not drinkable. For human health, a certain content of dissolved minerals and other trace elements is vital. Reverse osmosis systems are only used for industrial and laboratory purposes. Additionally, you may come across magnetic water softeners on the market, but their effectiveness has not been proven.
Honeywell hard water treatment system for households
The size of the treatment system will be calculated by a specialist based on your normal water consumption in the household. The number of household members is usually indicated for water treatment systems. A system that is too small requires more frequent regeneration, while one that is too large is associated with higher water and energy consumption. Our calculator can also help you choose the appropriate size of the water treatment system.
A water softener for a family house should primarily provide the option of precisely setting the output water hardness. Modern water softeners can also automatically optimize their performance based on actual water consumption or alert you to the need to insert a regeneration tablet. For even greater comfort, choose a device with remote control capability via a mobile app.
Always entrust the installation to professionals, as the water softener must be installed on both the water supply and the waste and electricity, and it is necessary to consider the flow and pressure of the water. The temperature and humidity of the environment where the softener is placed are also important to ensure its proper function. A specialist will also help you set the optimal output water hardness based on the input hardness, water source, your needs, and whether the water will be used as drinking or utility water – utility water can be softer.
You must then regularly (approximately once a week) insert regeneration salt tablets into the treatment system, which regenerate (restore the function of) the cation exchange resin. If your water consumption is higher than the capacity of the softener, more frequent regeneration will be necessary. Additionally, you need to consider replacing the cation exchange resin, which has a lifespan of about 10 years.
In our offer, you will find ion exchange water softeners from the leading manufacturer Honeywell with an approximate capacity for 7, 15, or 21 people. The smallest ones easily fit under a kitchen sink, while the largest can be installed even for a small apartment building. We are happy to assist you with the selection.
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