Modern water softening systems for industry and private homes

Water softening primarily means removing limescale and other substances. These become visible in your home in the form of limescale deposits. Depending on where you live or the location of an industrial plant, the water is soft, i.e. low in limescale, or hard. In so-called hard water, calcium and magnesium are present in higher concentrations. This is completely harmless to health and is even beneficial. However, a high content of both and other substances has some disadvantages. Unsightly residues form on bathroom fittings and other surfaces. Therefore, you must remove the white spots from affected surfaces at regular intervals. There are various limescale cleaners for this, but the problem does not end with the visual consequences alone.

What is the difference between a water softener and a decalcification system?

A water softener and a water decalcification system are essentially the same thing and reduce water hardness by exchanging calcium and magnesium ions for sodium ions, which prevents limescale buildup. Typical water softeners use special resin and must be regularly regenerated with salt. A limescale protection system, on the other hand, changes the crystal structure of the lime in the water so that it does not build up in pipes or appliances without removing the minerals themselves. Such systems often work using physical methods, such as magnetic or electrical processes, but their effectiveness is often disputed.

Why is a decalcification system useful?

Limescale builds up in pipes and appliances and shortens their lifespan. Washing machines are particularly affected in private households. If you don't treat them with special products or citric acid, they can be damaged. In the kitchen, kettles, coffee machines and other appliances become calcified. With a water softener, you not only prevent unsightly deposits, but also save on washing and dishwashing detergent and limescale remover. In addition, there is less care and maintenance and lower energy costs. The latter is an issue with water boilers, which run for longer with a layer of limescale. This means they use more energy before the water is heated to the desired temperature.

Which is the best water softener?

The best systems come from Alfiltra, of course ;-) But joking aside! What is important? First and foremost, it is about you as the customer no longer having any limescale deposits. Our systems use a reliable ion exchange process that effectively reduces water hardness and prevents limescale deposits. We place great value on user-friendliness, efficiency and durable materials. Our water softening systems are easy to maintain and have efficient salt regeneration that ensures trouble-free operation. The selection of the right system depends on the size of the household, the hardness of the water and the desired level of maintenance. Alfiltra stands for high-quality, reliable solutions that ensure clean and soft water.

How does our ion exchange water softener work?

In the technical part, mathematical background information is essential. However, you can easily view details, calculations and quantities of required resources in our support section. The ion exchange process is also known as the neutral exchange process. During this process , calcium and magnesium ions (which cause limescale to form) are exchanged for sodium ions . The pH value remains unchanged and the water naturally does not taste salty afterwards.

What are “capacity” and “regeneration”?

How much soft water should the system produce at a certain degree of hardness? This is determined by the capacity , which depends largely on the size of the house. It is determined as a factor of water hardness (in °dh or mmol/l) and water volume (in m3).

Formula: Water quantity = capacity/water hardness

The formula indicates how much water the decalcification system supplies until the so-called regeneration . Regeneration means "charging" the system with salt, during which it is rinsed and cleaned. The salt water absorbs the calcium and magnesium ions previously removed from the water. At the same time, it releases sodium ions, which are later exchanged for the calcium and magnesium in the drinking water supplied. Before it continues, the entire system is rinsed again with fresh water.

Where does the water with the removed calcium and other substances end up? The filtered substances are easily and safely discharged into the wastewater .

What are the costs of operating the water softening system?

In addition to the electricity to operate the water softener, you only need salt on a regular basis. Each household uses around one 25 kg bag per person per year. Salt is a cheap raw material and such a bag costs around 10 euros in stores or in our shop. We also recommend that you have the system serviced annually. You can see a sample calculation here. If you have any questions about maintenance, selection and installation, we are here to help and will advise you in detail.