Why hard water is a problem
Water with a lot of calcium and magnesium is called hard water. Over time it settles as limescale in pipes, valves and nozzles, leading to higher energy use and a shorter life for pumps and heating systems.
How ion exchange works
The solution is an ion exchanger with resin. As the hard water flows through, the resin swaps calcium and magnesium for sodium. After a while the resin is saturated and must be regenerated with a brine made from salt tablets.
- Hard water is led through the resin
- Calcium and magnesium bind to the resin
- Sodium is released into the water
- The resin becomes saturated over time
- Salt tablets dissolve and regenerate the resin
Tablets or granulate?
Salt tablets dissolve evenly and give stable regeneration with little sludge, which makes them the most common choice in professional systems. Granulate dissolves faster and can suit cases where regeneration has to happen quickly, but it leaves more sediment in the tank.
The right type of salt makes maintenance easier and extends the life of the system.
Do not use table salt
Ordinary table salt contains additives that can damage the resin in the ion exchanger, and should therefore never be used for regeneration.
Want to know more?
Contact us for advice on the right type of salt for your system.
