Water softeners and water filters are designed to solve two different problems.
Water softeners combat the negative effects of hard water by making it soft.
Water filters filter water to remove impurities.
Water softener systems
Water softeners tackle the effects of hard water, that is water with naturally high levels of minerals such as magnesium and calcium, resulting in limescale build-up. This can lead to limescale in your kettle, unsightly limescale stains on taps and fixtures, clogged up appliances such as washing machines, showers and boilers and a dull, irritating residue left on skin, clothes and hair.
Water softeners which are installed where your mains supply enters your property, remove the minerals from your water, meaning that you and your home receive all the benefits of soft water.
Water filter systems
Water filters do just as the name suggests – they are fitted to a designated tap and filter out all the nasties that can be found in hard and soft water, such as chlorine, lead, pesticides and bacteria. Filtered water tastes better and is better for you than standard tap water.
Why not just install a water filter?
Since water filters remove impurities that can cause limescale, many people argue that there’s no need for a water softener. Certainly, if your aim is to make the perfect cup of tea, both will do the job and save you having to regularly descale the kettle.
The important difference is that water filters only filter water to one tap, whereas water softeners treat the water supply to your whole property, meaning that the benefits are reaped by your heating system, bath and shower, washing machine, dishwasher – everywhere!
Although you could theoretically filter your water at the mains, given the volume of water used by a modern home, it wouldn’t be financially viable and would be quite frankly unnecessary – you don’t really need crystal clear, filtered drinking water coursing through your radiators.
Why not just install a water softener?
Designed to counter the effects of hard water in your home, water softeners are not concerned with the drinking quality of your water. The water throughout your home will be ‘soft’ meaning that mineral deposits such as magnesium and calcium will be removed which has very positive benefits, however it will not be filtered to remove all impurities, such as chlorine, lead and other nasties.
Why install a water filter and a water softener?
There are considerable benefits to softened water, but they do not purify your drinking water in the same way as water filters. Although the mineral deposits are removed, chlorine and other impurities remain, which is why many choose to use a water filtration system in conjunction with a water softener. This achieves soft water throughout and fresh, great tasting filtered water straight from the tap.
To discuss the many positive benefits water softeners and water filters can make to you and your home, call us on 01202 983858.