Water Softener: Core Principles, Functions, and User Guide

A water softener is a household device that fundamentally reduces water hardness through resin ion exchange technology—it replaces calcium and magnesium ions in water with sodium ions from the resin, primarily solving daily troubles caused by hard water.

I. Why Is Reducing Water Hardness Necessary?

The harms of hard water (water with high calcium and magnesium ion content) permeate daily life, with specific manifestations as follows:

– Equipment Damage: Limescale forms on the inner walls of kettles and water heaters, reducing thermal efficiency and shortening the equipment’s service life.

– Cleaning Troubles: Water stains remain on glass cups and faucets, which are difficult to wipe off; showerheads are easily clogged by limescale, resulting in reduced water flow.

– Poor User Experience: Washing clothes with hard water renders detergents ineffective, leaving clothes stiff after washing; skin feels dry and hair becomes frizzy and tangled after bathing.

II. 5-Step Working Process of a Water Softener (with Key Durations)

1. Operation (Core Water Production): Tap water flows downward through the resin layer. Calcium and magnesium ions are replaced by sodium ions, and the softened water flows out through the central pipe for daily use.

2. Backwashing (Resin Cleaning): Water is flushed backward from the bottom of the tank to loosen the resin layer and remove broken resin and dirt, taking approximately 10 minutes.

3. Brine Suction and Slow Washing (Resin Regeneration): Brine from the brine tank is sucked into the tank. Sodium ions reattach to the resin, restoring its exchange capacity, taking approximately 30 minutes.

4. Forward Washing (Removing Saltiness): Tap water flushes the resin in the forward direction to thoroughly rinse off residual salt, ensuring the outgoing water has no salty taste, taking approximately 15 minutes.

5. Brine Tank Refilling (Preparing for Next Cycle): Tap water is injected into the brine tank to dissolve salt, reserving brine for the next regeneration cycle, taking approximately 5 minutes.

III. Key Reminder: Softened Water Cannot Be Drunk Directly

Softened water only removes calcium and magnesium ions; it cannot filter out harmful substances such as heavy metals, bacteria, and viruses in water. If you need drinking water, you must use it with a reverse osmosis water purifier to achieve comprehensive water purification.