Salt VS Salt-Free Water Softeners: What's the Verdict? - Angel Water, Inc
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ก.ย. 2021
- The Verdict: Should I Pick a Salt or Salt-Free Water Softener?
At Angel Water, our mission is to make your water healthier for your home and family. With that in mind, here’s our professional opinion on salt vs. salt-free water softeners:
A salt-based water softener will make your water healthier, and a salt-free system won’t. Therefore, we always recommend salt-based systems to clients looking to get the most benefits possible. But this is not to say you should never choose a salt-free conditioner. On the contrary, we sell
saltless softeners right alongside their salt-based counterparts. And it could be the solution you’re looking for if the only problems you have are lugging salt and scale buildup in your plumbing.
But we want to be clear that a salt-free system won’t eliminate hard water. We’ve had many people come to us complaining about this. So, we want to protect you from that disappointment by keeping you from making that mistake.
Angel Water is a water treatment education and equipment provider in Barrington, IL. Our mission is to show you what’s in your water and help keep your water healthy. We serve clients with city or well water in Chicagoland.
We offer water testing and a large selection of products for any budget, including chlorine injection systems, reverse osmosis systems, water softeners and more. Our team of licensed plumbers also provides installation and repairs. Call us today at 847-382-7800 to learn more.
We offer water filtration products and services for clients in Algonquin, Arlington Heights, Barrington, Barrington Hills, South Barrington, Port Barrington, Lake Barrington, Buffalo Grove, Carpentersville, Cary, Chicago, Crystal Lake, Des Plaines, Elgin, Elk Grove Village, Evanston, Fox River Grove, Fox Lake, Hanover Park, Hoffman Estates, Inverness, Island Lake, Kildeer, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Lake Zurich, Lake in the Hills, Lincolnshire, Long Grove, Mettawa, Mount Prospect, Mt Prospect, North Barrington, Palatine, Prairie Grove, Rockford, Rolling Meadows, Round Lake, Schaumburg, Streamwood, Wauconda, Wheeling, Winnetka, Woodstock, and all other surrounding communities. We also now have a location in West Palm Beach, Florida!
Angel Water, Inc.
28214 W Northwest Hwy
Barrington, IL 60010
(847) 382-7800
www.angelwater.com/
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Great explanation of the benefits of softened water over "conditioned" water.
Excellent information. Thanks so much for making this video.
Simply excellent explanation of the FACTS. I am General contractor and have been instrumental in the installation of many systems. I like the simplicity of a salt system. If a Customer is concerned with the salt used I advise them to use Potassium instead. It is about 3 times the cost but then you have all the benefits of a system. I personally have not ever use potassium in my system. I vent my system into the sewer not a planter.
I wouldn't exactly call these facts without presenting any links to lab controlled tests between the two types of systems.
@@aaronbrown5252 Right, maybe observations would be more accurate.
Thank you for the comment! We do carry Potassium Chloride as an alternative for our customers, but two systems on the market have achieved virtually a chloride free discharge. Kinnetico and Ecowater. So if the concern is chloride discharge down the drain or excess salt in the drinking water these two systems may be beneficial to your customers and save on Potassium costs. Potassium Chloride is a fortune today.
Thank you for the comment. Absolutely right.. I have had 26 years experience and sell both types of systems. I do think a video with the studies to back the experience we have is a great idea. @@aaronbrown5252
Its not a small thing to get the salt out of a descaling system. The rinse cycle raises the water bills, I have to lug salt down into a basement, the plants hate conditioned water, and I can taste the salt every morning in the tap. After over 20 years of using a water softener, anything sounds better than using those systems again.
And putting lots of salt into the wastewater system so it ends up in the environment and/or has to be removed from treated water is not good. The main reason why salt-free conditioners are useful is that they protect your equipment and plumbing at very small environmental cost. This guy doesn't even mention that distinction.
Sounds like you have an old softener that doesn’t have an ion exchange resin. Those don’t make your water salty, the rinse cycle is once every 2 weeks using only 35 gallons of water and you only need to fill the salt once per year. Certain brands with nsf certification don’t have a ton of salt going into the waste water systems.
@@xxwookeyhe did
Time for a new softener. New softeners are way more efficient than an old school softener that regen’s every week. The salt in the water is so minimal.
How do you all feel about the Culligan system?
Thanks! This was great! What brands for salt softeners would you recommend?
Great information and science based. There is too much marketing around salt free systems.
Im all on board with the salt system, but I cant seem to figure out if it is bad for septic systems. Some people say its bad others say its fine. What are your thoughts on this?
Great explanation 👍🏼 - thank you
Excellent information thank you.
Thanks for this! People needs this information.
Thank you!
What are the disadvantages of salt water softeners?
Thanks for the info I’m looking for a water softener and I keep seeing these salt free water softener adds so this is helpful no need in doing business with a company that starts out by lying to you
Yes... they are playing on the desire to eliminate the hassle of buying and lugging salt into your home. We sell both systems, we simply allow the customer to understand both Pros and Cons and then let them make the decision. Thank you for the comment
@@AngelWater My understanding is that in some areas (LA is one, I know there are others), they have made salt-based softeners illegal due to harmful salt run-off. So the salt-free ones are simply the only ones on the market. And it's hard to understand that they don't effing work.
Great explanation... Straight to the point and easy to understand. What are your thoughts on the kinetico softeners?
Kinetico water softeners do not require electricity due to their twin alt system. But a water softener that does require electricity costs about 10 dollars a year in electricity.
GREAT TRUTH
I have a salt softener and haven't noticed any of those benefits. Soap usage is the same. My skin and hair feel the same. Water usage has increased for two reasons, system regeneration and longer showers trying to rinse off the soap.
I'm going with a Kind water system with TAC technology in my new house. There's a research paper from Arizona State University showing that it is effective at preventing hard scaling. The price of the unit plus 20 years of filters is cheaper than a new soft water system.
Kind is a brand new retailer and not a manufacturer as a result they are trying to sell you a salt free system, some people like them, most people don't. Read that study closely because all they analyze was the scale build up within the plumbing.. it did not address the buildup on your shower stalls, dishwasher, dishes, washing machine, clothing. The fact you are spending so much time rinsing off the soap means you should reduce your soap usage by one tenth.
When you drastically reduce your soap you will find amazing benefits that you will not find switching to a salt free system. By the way you can also install a bleeder valve which then will allow a little hardness into your home.
Hope this helps!
how much salt ends in in the drinking water? In other word, how much does it increase the sodium in the drinking water?
Thanks 🙏 a ton ❤
Of course.. here to serve :)
I have a water softener, water test says I now have " soft water". But I have this hard to remove white residue build up on shower heads, under the water dispenser in the fridge, on dishes, in the sinks. I was told this is sodium/salt residue from the water softener?
You shouldn't get that. I suspect they didn't set the softener to the correct hardness and/or capacity. If it is a timed system, you may need to have your interval between regens shortened.
Can you make an in-depth review and comparison between puronics and spring well companies please.
Is it normal to taste some salt in your water, like I can taste it after coming out of refrigerator
Hey Nessa, thanks for your question. Old water softeners or malfunctioning water softeners have salt in the water. A salinity tester is a device that will confirm or deny this. Modern, high quality water softeners won't leave you with a salt taste in the water. How old is your water softener and when was the last time you had it serviced? What model is your softener? Are you on city water or well water? -Dave
Hi Andrew
I came across your video today. I have an appointment with Rainsoft to install a salt free system on Tuesday. Sounds like I am not going to get what I expected. Would Eco Water be the way to go? I live in NJ. Times are hard and I am not looking for added stress and expense. Thanks and hope you see this in the next 24 hrs and can respond so that I can cancel.
What did you end up doing?
Wow, I am so sorry. I didn't respond earlier. I somehow missed your comment. Thank you for watching the video. I hope your water is great.
Great info. But it sounds like salted water softeners are the best, but there must be some downsides to it too. How often do I need to change the salt?
Yes downside is that you have to buy salt for it regularly which is dependent on water quality and how much water you use per day
Question? with the salt-free, they claim it will also reverse the effects of the closed pipes opening them back up? Do you find this true, and or does the trditanal water conditioner with salt do the same?
I’d like to know the answer to
I don't think it'll clear anything in your pipes.
Which one makes the water TASTE better to drink from the tap?
Salt based water softeners take out minerals where salt free softeners leave minerals present in the water. What is in your water will determine which one will taste better from the tap.
You are fantastic!
NO YOU ARE.. Thanks for watching!
Actually there is a great line I once heard... "You see in me what you see in you!"
excellent explanation. Very informative.
Thank you so much!
so you are saying it keep calcium and magnesium hardness in suspension?
Yes.. That is the theory.. It appears to do this until it hits air. Once it comes out of the faucet it still scales everything it touches.
@@AngelWater
If that's true then it would ruin your dishwasher, washing machine, and refrigerator that all use water out of the tap. The salt free conditioner is supposed to keep your appliances from being harmed.
You didn’t talk about citrus system?
That's a salt-free water conditioner. The benefit differences still apply.
Does the salt make the PH in the water drop?
No it does not change the ph. A reverse osmosis system causes ph to drop.
Which one will get rid of water spots when washing my classic car?
@Gary No. I use my dewalt shop/leaf blower to dry my car and then wipe the windows down immediately before the spots have time to set.
Use a faucet filter, in the RV and gardening section.
talk about 1st world problems. how many people don't have access to water at all? how many of us live in municipalities that are providing poisoned water? but as long as your car doesnt have spots!
@@TheMidwestGator who pissed in your Cheerios this morning?
Dont wash outside in the hot sun.
Can we use both?
I’m wondering the same thing
If it stops buildup inside the pipes, why doesn’t it protect water heaters ?
Great question. When water is heated, the rock is oxidized off the water droplets thus causing damage to the water heater. A.O. Smith did do a study on this in their laboratory in Milwaukee Wisconsin. I had a unique opportunity to visit this laboratory. They did find some benefit to a salt free system protecting the water heater, but it was, a fraction of what a water softener can achieve. Salt free systems can be great if there is no drain for a water softener to discharge it's waste to or in a case where the city has chloride restrictions for the sewer system. Hope this helps and so grateful for your response.
Man unfortunately my city only allows slat free systems
What’s the best option for me if my city doesn’t allow the install of salt-based water softeners?
Move
Where is this ?
@@Eddie510s Santa Clarita, CA
People have no comprehension of why sodium, potassium or salt free matters or for who
Why are some programmed to every 3 to 4 days and not buy gallons used. I have a rainsoft every 3 days and a AO smith every 1200gal by my hardness. Rainsoft 5k AO smith 1k why?
Anything programmed to regenerate every 3 or so days is a time clock system. Old technology. Stay away. AO Smith is not NSF Certified 44 but is a pretty good option.
I thought with the salt-less systems the rock isn’t passed through the system until it’s like a billionth of the size jargon talk.
The rock is passed through the system. Their claim is that it stays attached to the water drop when it comes out of the faucet. If that was true then we would not see white film on shower doors or tile. Unfortunately we still see that after water passes through the media.
Excellent info.How is water softener with your lawn and garden.Is that too much salt?
Hi Klamdup. Don't use a water softener on your lawn. For your garden, some folks actually use filtered water that food will eventually be in your body. If there is something that concerns you in your water (get a water test) then filter your water. If you're okay with raw water on your garden then just use that. Extra water passing through the water softener will exhaust the water softener's ability to soften the water faster and it will have to regenerate more often, using more salt and possibly increasing your water bill.
Softener systems are for water within the home, your gardening and pool water is city water, you can buy filter canisters that go into the faucet. Look in the RV or gardening section at your store.
Dude's got some serious Seinfeld vibes. Fun!
Thanks for your comment. I think, I will take that as a compliment.
What about CO2 based systems?
CO2 is usually used in waste water systems.
Does he sound like Larry David or is it just me?
Yikes I hope I don't sound like Larry David. But it is what it is. Thanks for the comment.
i am in the process of installing a water softener system and i have 3
important questions that my plumber is not able to answer:
1) Should the water softener be installed before a water filtration system
or should it be installed after the water filtration system? Or the
sequence does not matter?
2) How much salt is in the water softener's backwash discharge?
3) Is the backwash discharge from the water softener system harmful to the
environment where it needs to be disposed through the sewer line, or
can the backwash/discharge water be used for gardening purpose?
Hi Mike. Great questions. Usually water softeners are installed after water filtration. The amount of salt discharge is the panel completely on the type of water softener you have. The discharge is not good for irrigation or plants.
Hope this helps.
@@AngelWater Thank you for your reply.
In 2014 California Enacted laws in many communities to prevent the salt from being discharged into the sewer along with the magnesium creating problems for farmers and treatment plants
I think some people need to get off their high horse and sacrifice a little comfort in their life to help the environment, help the planet. Salt base systems new or old are terrible for the environment.
Shut up
Thanks - I was going to say this too.
I'm thinking of getting a water system in the future, just curious how is it bad for the environment I honestly don't know and do you recommend a salt less system?
@@frankhtlllful I recommend Google: try the search terms 'water softener salt environment'. Thanks for being conscious.
Salt is not terrible for the environment but People are. Get off your High-horse.
Horrible explanation for someone who knows little about the topic…..
Doing my best... Lots of people know nothing about the topic.. Have a great day!
@@AngelWater very polite response….
1) one of the characteristics of hard water= lots of minerals IN ( suspended in) the water… including calcium…water “softeners “ remove much of the minerals that are suspended in the water.
2) those minerals may settle on to your surfaces ( counter tops, glass and cars when you wash them) . And settle in your plumbing which can eventually clog the plumbing…
Softening systems work by…….
3) the tiny “media” in the main housing works ( like a carbon filter might) to be a place for the mineral deposits to settle or stick…. ( be captured) So the mineral deposits never get to your household water supply…
But
4) eventually the the media reaches or comes close to reaching its maximum limit of how much mineral deposit it can capture …
So
5) the “Regeneration “ occurs… which is a way to use salt or some other chemistry to flush into/through the media to release the collected mineral deposits… which are then rinsed out of the main media and housing and then sent overboard…. ( flushed out)…
6) many water softening systems use electronic controls while others use mechanical timers…. To ( per their controls …to schedule this automatic salt based cleaning flushing process ) clean the media… so that the media can be returned to being and effective trap or filter for the suspended minerals
7) eventually the salt is used up and needs to be replaced.
8) eventually the media becomes less effective and needs to be replaced.
9) if the water source is a well … there might also be more “stuff”.. ( dirt, sand debris) in the water that should be easily filtered out before the water gets to the water softener system…adding other filters of different “ fine-nesses” ( quantified in values of “microns”) might be a good idea… adding “sediment” filters to the water supply BEFORE the water gets to the water softener might be and additional , cheap and easy way to add quality, efficiency and even longer life to the more expensive water softener system.
Thank you for your polite response…. My apology to you is that…I am a professional technical instructor… I knew nothing about the topic… so I surfed and surfed and surfed… and I picked up some knowledge…
I still likely don’t see the big picture….
Please take my outline above…. You are absolutely welcome to it….
Correct my mis-statements…. Use it… as a frame work
I completely release all “rights” to the above… it’s yous…
Thx
Bla Bla Bla, just another salesman
Nah, he's just explaining the differences between the two systems. One is a conditioner and the other is a softener.