Water Softeners vs. Salt-Free Water Conditioners and Descalers

Living with scale build-up means dealing with a multitude of small annoyances that add up to big problems. From build-up that flecks the shower door and dishes, to perpetually dry skin, there are a million reasons to say goodbye to scale buildup — but not all water softeners are created equal, in fact, there are two completely distinct ways to treat scale buildup and hard water issues. Let’s break them down.

The more common method for treating scale buildup and hard water is to utilize the ion exchange process, commonly called water softening. This is a process where water is pumped through a brine solution into a resin tank where resin beads trap the hard water minerals in exchange for sodium. The beads are then flushed out.

This process does a great job of solving scale buildup. It removes excess minerals, making your water feel softer, too. Practically speaking, this means your skin will have that silky feel after a shower, soap will lather better, and you’ll reduce stains on your wine glasses. A Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) meter reading will reflect this, too. Once the minerals are removed, the TDS measurement decreases.

Those considering a salt-based softener should be aware, however, that there are a few things to consider before purchasing.

Salt softeners require some hands-on maintenance. They require the user to purchase bags of salt and replenish the tank regularly. The amount of salt needed will depend on a specific water source and how many people are using water in the home. This does sometimes affect the taste and the functionality of your water. For example, you may not want to use your newly-softened water on your plants as the sodium levels may be too high.