Water Conditioning

What’s the Difference Between a Water Softener & Water Conditioner?

Both water softeners and water conditioners can and will help prevent mineral deposits from building up on appliances, plumbing, and more. The major difference between them is how they do it.

A water conditioner is sometimes also called a saltless water softener. These water conditioning devices will change the minerals in the water, making it more difficult for them to stick to surfaces like pipes and dishes. You will still get some scale (or mineral deposits); however, you will definitely notice a decrease.

A water softener uses salt to eliminate the mineral deposits from the water completely. With the minerals removed from the water by using the water softener, you shouldn not see anymore scale or build-up on dishes, appliances, or pipes at all.

The effects of water conditioners and water softeners are slightly different, but they both soften your water.by choosing Integrity Water Inc. to soften your water, you should notice:

• Softer hair
• Skin that is less dry
• Easier housework
• Longer appliance lifespans
• Better water pressure
• Cleaner dishes & cutlery

Alberta's water is hard. This means you could absolutely 100% benefit from a water softener if you don’t already have one.

Signs of hard water’s effect on your home include:

• White, powdery film on dishes and cutlery
• Faded clothes
• Regular plumbing problems
• Stains in your sinks, showers, or bathtubs

5 Benefits of Water Conditioning

1. Water tastes and smells better. Unfiltered water can sometimes have an unpleasant taste or smell and even be dangerous to consume. We’ve seen everything from water that smells like rotten eggs to water that has a metallic taste, which can be a sign of lead. These issues can generally be fixed by water purification systems. In turn, the water you use for drinking and cooking food for your family will taste much better, smell much better, and be safer for your family.
    
2. Easier on your clothes. It’s no secret that hard water won’t clean your clothes as effectively as soft water. The minerals in hard water can prevent laundry detergents and soaps from working as efficiently, which means you have to use more just to get clothes clean. That be hard on fabrics and leave clothes looking dingy and feeling stiff, meaning you may have to wash and replace clothing items more frequently. Soft water, on the other hand, will get your clothes a lot cleaner and leave them looking fresh and bright longer.
    
3. Appliances perform better and last longer. If the build-up around the drains and pipes is any indication, hard water is also taking its toll on your washing machine, dishwasher, other smaller appliances, pipes, and faucets. This build-up can clog and damage appliances and make it so they’re not operating efficiently. Having clean and purified water helps prevent build-up and keeps your appliances operating as intended, which means a better clean and less repair and replacement costs for you.
    
4. Easier on skin and hair. How do your skin and hair feel after you go swimming in a chlorinated pool? Generally, pretty dry and itchy, right? To a lesser extent, unconditioned water that has too much chlorine will do the same thing over time as you shower and bathe at home. Filtered water is much easier on your skin and scalp and promotes healthy, shiny hair and soft skin.
    
5. Fewer chemicals and soaps needed. In general, if you’re looking to make your home more eco-friendly and reduce chemical use, then a water softener system is the way to go. As noted above, hard water leaves build-up, which takes more soap and chemicals to clean your dishes and clothes. You’ll also have that build-up on your shower walls and around faucets that will take chemicals to clean. Conditioned water helps all appliances operate as intended and reduces staining, which means you’ll be able to use fewer soaps and chemicals.