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 can be soft, meaning it has little 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 these two and other substances has some disadvantages. Unsightly residues build up on bathroom fixtures and other surfaces. Therefore, you must regularly remove the white stains from affected surfaces. There are various limescale removers for this purpose, but the problem goes beyond the visual consequences alone.

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

A water softener and a water softener 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 limescale in the water to prevent it from building 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 controversial.

Why is a decalcification system useful?

Limescale builds up in pipes and appliances, shortening their lifespan. Washing machines are particularly vulnerable in private households. If you don't treat them with special products or citric acid, they can be damaged. In the kitchen, limescale builds up on kettles, coffee makers, and other appliances. A water softener not only prevents unsightly deposits, but also saves on detergents, dishwashing liquids, and limescale removers. Added to that is less care and maintenance, and lower energy costs. The latter is an issue with water boilers, which run longer with a layer of limescale. This means they consume more energy before the water is heated to the desired temperature.

Which is the best water softener?

The best systems, of course, come from Alfiltra ;-) But joking aside! What matters most? First and foremost, is that you, the customer, are ultimately free of limescale deposits. Our systems use a reliable ion exchange process that effectively reduces water hardness and prevents limescale deposits. We place great emphasis on user-friendliness, efficiency, and durable materials. Our water softeners are easy to maintain and feature efficient salt regeneration, ensuring 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, soft water.

How does our ion exchange water softener work?

Mathematical background information is essential for the technical part. However, you can easily find details, calculations, and quantities of required resources in our support section. The ion exchange process is also known as the neutral exchange process. In this process , calcium and magnesium ions (which cause limescale) are replaced with sodium ions . The pH value remains unchanged, and the water naturally doesn't taste salty.

What are “capacity” and “regeneration”?

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

Formula: Water quantity = capacity/water hardness

The formula indicates how much water the decalcification system delivers until the so-called regeneration . Regeneration refers to the "charging" of the system with salt, which involves rinsing and cleaning it. 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 supplied drinking water. Before the process continues, the entire system is rinsed again with fresh water.

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

What are the costs of operating the water softening system?

Besides the electricity to operate the water softener, all you need is regular salt. Each household uses approximately one 25 kg bag per person per year. Salt is an inexpensive commodity, and one bag costs around €10 in stores or in our shop. We also recommend annual system maintenance. You can view a sample calculation here. If you have any questions about maintenance, selection, or installation, we are here to help and provide detailed advice.