Installation for water softening for a cottage. How to competently organize the process of water softening in a private home: choosing a technology and a design solution. Water softening devices

Using hard water in a house or apartment leads not only to the appearance of scale on dishes, but also to rapid breakdown of various types of household equipment: washing machines, dishwashers, heaters, boilers, etc. Meanwhile, solving this problem in our time is not too difficult . You just need to purchase and install a special filter for water softening in the kitchen, bathroom or basement. There are several types of such devices on the modern market.

Main types of softeners

The following devices can be used to remove calcium and magnesium salts from water:

• Mechanical. These are mainly reverse osmosis systems.
• Chemical. Such installations are most often installed in large country houses in combination with coarse and fine filters.
• Reagent-free. From this group, modern electromagnetic filters are most often installed in residential buildings and apartments.

Reverse osmosis systems are mounted directly on the sink. Chemical and reagent-free filters are used mainly as main filters. When they are used in a house, complete softening is often carried out. In this case, the filters are installed on the common supply line at the entrance to the building or in a caisson. Also, such softeners can be installed in a pipe directly next to a boiler, washing machine, etc.

Reverse osmosis system: operating principle

By and large, equipment of this type is used mainly as a universal fine filter. However, the design of the systems also includes special perforated membranes designed to remove salts. The holes in such a material have such a small diameter that only the water molecules themselves can pass through them. Any impurities present in it settle on the surface of the filter.

How do chemical softeners work?

Reverse osmosis systems are used mainly only in city apartments to purify drinking water. In large private houses, it is more advisable to install more efficient equipment - chemical softeners. Such devices usually operate on the principle of ion exchange. A special gel-like resin containing a large amount of sodium is placed in their body. When in contact with hard water, this element is exchanged with calcium and magnesium, as a result of which the desired effect is achieved.

This type of water softening filter can last in your home for many years. The advantage of such devices is their high cleaning speed. The disadvantages mainly include only the need to periodically purchase and replace resin.

The operating principle of reagent-free softeners

Particles of potassium and manganese salts are flat in shape and easily stick to different surfaces. That is why, when using hard water, scale forms on the walls of dishes and parts of various types of household appliances. Under the influence of a magnetic field, salt particles take the form of very narrow and long needles. And, therefore, they cannot stick to anything. Moreover, by acting on the layer of old scale, such needles gradually erase it.

The reagent-free household water softening filter is distinguished primarily by such advantages as low cost, long service life and ease of installation. Many apartment and house owners even assemble such equipment themselves from scratch. Some disadvantage of reagent-free filters is only the need to connect to an outlet. Such devices usually consume about 5 W of electricity.

Thus, to soften water from a centralized mains in a city apartment or from a well in an unheated country house, it is best to use a reverse osmosis system. Such filters are relatively inexpensive. At the same time, you can mount them yourself. When selecting equipment, you should pay attention to the volume of the storage tank and the timing of filter changes.

Also, electromagnetic reagent-free filters are also quite suitable for softening water in apartments and cottages. They cost even less than reverse osmosis systems. However, when using such equipment, you will, of course, have to pay a little more for electricity than before. When purchasing such a device, you should pay attention first of all to its power. The main reagent-free filter must be designed to soften exactly the amount of water that is usually consumed in the house.

Chemical softeners are ideal for installation on the basement floors of large cottages. When choosing them, you should pay attention to throughput. In addition, you should make sure that the resin (which is expensive) does not have to be changed too often. Such softeners are usually selected already at the stage of drawing up the building design. At the same time, their installation in combination with filters for other purposes is most often trusted to specialists.

Which manufacturer's mechanical device should I buy?

When choosing a filter for softening water in a house or apartment, among other things, you should pay attention to its brand. Most modern manufacturers produce high-quality devices of this type.

If we talk about reverse osmosis systems, then in this case, for example, brands such as Raifil and Atoll have earned good reviews. Rifil filters are praised for their ease of installation, large tanks and the ability to replace similar filters from other manufacturers upon expiration. Atoll systems are popular because they very effectively purify water from salts.

Resin and electromagnetic filters: the best brands

When choosing a chemical main filter for water softening, you should pay attention, for example, to Galaxy devices. Galaxy units are easy to assemble, equipped with a “dry” salt tank and have an additional regeneration mode.

The reagent-free group of devices is represented on the domestic market, including such popular inexpensive brands as AquaShield and Termit. The former are valued for their ability to soften water, being located even several hundred meters from a household appliance. In addition, they very quickly loosen scale on surfaces. Termit brand devices are also easy to use and can either complement or completely replace chemical softeners in the home. In addition, there are models of such devices designed for installation on very large diameter pipes.

Installing a water softening filter: features

Systems are usually complemented by a kit that includes a ¼ pipe tap and a male-female tee. With the help of such shut-off valves, equipment is inserted into the water supply system. Among other things, when using a softener of this type, an additional faucet is installed on the sink and a storage tank is mounted.

A chemical filter for water softening, as already mentioned, is most often included in the general one. In this case, a mechanical filter designed to remove organic matter is first installed on the supply pipe. Next, the coal one is installed. And the softener itself crashes behind it. At the next stage, the water treatment scheme is supplemented with a fine filter and storage tank. The final design element of such complex systems is usually an ultraviolet disinfection device.

In most cases, electromagnetic main softeners are simply hung on the supply pipe directly after the hydraulic tank in the caisson. Such filters are suitable for softening water from a well or a well supplied to a house, almost as well as chemical ones.

Features of installation on boilers and household appliances

Using a softener significantly extends the life of a heater, washing machine, dishwasher, shower cabin, etc. Both chemical and reagent-free devices can be installed on boilers. The boiler water softening filter is mounted on the return line of the heating system in the immediate vicinity of the unit in front of the centrifugal pump.

Various types of household appliances are usually protected from magnesium and calcium salts only with the use of electromagnetic softeners. The latter are hung on the pipe supplying water to the device body (there is no need to cut them in) or simply mounted on the wall nearby.

Softening is one of the most common types of water purification from foreign impurities. Water softening is widely used in industrial production and agriculture; household water softening filters are used in water supply systems for country houses.

Dissolved calcium and magnesium salts give water hardness. The task of the softener filter is to reduce the concentration of these salts to acceptable values. There are a large number of softening methods, different water softening systems and water softeners - from simple boiling to magnetic softening and nanofiltration. Many of these methods are expensive, complex, and therefore are used mainly in industry.

Ion exchange filters for softening water in a cottage are one of the most effective and affordable methods of water softening for private homeowners. In this case, the water softening device is a column-shaped charging filter.

Cleaning method

The softener filter is filled with backfill material - ion exchange resin granules. When the granules come into contact with salts dissolved in water, a chemical reaction occurs - calcium and magnesium ions are replaced by sodium ions. The resulting sodium salts are not a source of water hardness, therefore, while maintaining the salt balance, the overall hardness of the water decreases.

Principle of operation

water softening installation

The water softening station is a plastic column (cylinder), the dimensions (volume) of which are selected in accordance with the required filter performance for the cottage. Water enters the filter and passes through the ion exchange resin granules, freeing itself from hardness salts.

During the process of water softening, the ion exchange resin gradually reduces its effectiveness. To restore the quality of the filter backfill, the granules are washed with a solution of table salt. One regeneration requires about 500 liters of water. The duration of regeneration is about one and a half hours. It is not advisable to use water during regeneration.

If a continuous supply of softened water is needed, then an automatic installation of two filters is used, the regeneration of which occurs in turn and purified water is supplied without interruption. At the same time, the productivity of the water supply system decreases slightly.

Filter softener models

Softener filter brands: BI-FS/1354/255 FA Ready Soft and BI-FS/1354/L764 Autotrol. The filters are equipped with automatic valves Autotrol 760 XS Logix or WS 1 Clack. Automation monitors the condition of the filter and periodically turns on the regeneration mode.

To ensure continuous water supply, two cylinders are used, which can work in turn, as well as simultaneously. ReadySoft or L764 Autotrol automatic valves are designed to operate in a continuous softening system, which means that the clean water supply will not be interrupted during the regeneration period.

In addition to solving the regeneration situation, a dual filter-softener is convenient for separate maintenance. Thanks to the ReadySoft system, one control valve continues to operate, ensuring the flow of softened water into the water supply.

Automatic valves require a power supply of 2hV/50Hz, power consumption no more than 5 W.

Advantages and benefits

High efficiency and long operating time of the backfill filter softener. Restoring the properties of the ion exchange resin using a solution of ordinary table salt. In continuous systems (two cylinders), regeneration occurs without interruption in the supply of softened water.

Flaws

Water hardness is a set of chemical and physical properties of water associated with the content of dissolved salts of alkaline earth metals, mainly calcium and magnesium (the so-called “hardness salts”). Wikipedia

Hard water has certain disadvantages that you can see and feel. For example, this is a white coating on plumbing fixtures and dishes, sediment on the inside of the kettle and boiler. Hard water damages water pipes and causes them to corrode. It dries out the skin and detergents do not lather well in it. The harmful effect of such water on internal organs is also known - its consumption as drinking water leads to urolithiasis. Although too soft, water purified from hardness salts can contribute to cardiovascular diseases.

Water hardness varies throughout the year and over a very wide range. Due to evaporation, hardness increases as the salt concentration increases, and due to melting ice or precipitation, for example, it decreases as clean water is added to the water.

Why is it necessary to soften water? This question usually arises after a breakdown of a household appliance that has a heating element, for example a washing machine. The fact is that heating element in contact with hard water, namely calcium and magnesium salts, begins to become overgrown with scale. Over time, more and more scale forms and puts more and more strain on the heating element, which subsequently causes its failure.

We also notice stiffness on nickel-plated plumbing fixtures. This is exactly the coating that prevents the faucet and shower head from looking beautiful.

What types of water hardness are there?

• Temporary hardness - the presence of bicarbonate salts in water;
• Constant hardness is the presence of magnesium and calcium salts in water.

When choosing a water softener, you must rely on the results of a water analysis.

The water softener should only be installed in.

Speaking about the advantages, we can give the following list:

• The service life of water heating devices increases;
• There is no need to buy household chemicals that fight plaque on nickel-plated surfaces;
• There is no dry skin after contact with water;
• Spend less shampoo and soap;
• The water tastes good. No film forms on the surface of drinks.

Methods of water softening

There are two methods of softening: chemical and physical. The first method - if softening is required in large industrial volumes, nanofiltration is used - its essence is in separating media using a membrane using a less dense selective layer compared to the density of the reverse osmosis layer.

Chemical water softening

This method involves the use of chemicals, so-called reagents. These substances include phosphates and sodium chlorine. This softening method involves special dispensers built into the pipe. This method has the disadvantage that the reagents can create foreign impurities and formations, which will lead to the formation of a precipitate that is difficult to remove. Therefore, the most popular softening method is the ion exchange method, when the filter load or cartridge is restored using a saturated salt solution. Salt washes out magnesium and calcium ions from the filter material and makes it usable again, which we will look at in more detail below.

Perhaps, among other advantages, it is the simplest method of softening. Granular resin is poured into the filter column. This resin contains a large amount of sodium. When in contact with hard water, it exchanges ions with magnesium and calcium salts. Over time, such a resin becomes clogged with hardness ions and its effectiveness decreases. Then the resin must be restored. To do this, it is washed with a solution of table salt, which reversely replaces the hardness salt ions in its composition with sodium ions.

What is ion exchange resin

Ion exchange resin is a synthetic organic ion exchanger. The essence of the principle is that the resin reacts with dissolved salts, releasing ions. Salt ions tend to be released into the solution, since there are no such ions in it. There are cation resins that saturate the water with positive particles and anion resins that saturate the water with negative particles. Cations are most often used.

After a certain time, the resin is depleted and ceases to soften and then the cartridge should be replaced, or, if the design allows, the washing process with a solution of tableted salt should be started. An automatic valve is required for this.

Magnetic softening

An interesting reagent-free method is the magnetic method. Its principle is that under the influence of a magnet, the structure changes and the polarization of ions occurs, and the molecules of hardness salts are deformed. The magnetic field transforms magnesium and calcium salts into particles of a specific shape. As a result of this, salts cannot settle on the heating elements and are collected and washed out during the washing process. This method is not suitable for softening drinking water, but it is an excellent method for household appliances in the countryside and cottage. Softeners operating on ion exchange resins are suitable for both household appliances and drinking water purification.

The device, due to its design, is easy to maintain. Also, it does not need to be restored, washed, etc. The only nuances that remain are the water requirements: room temperature and flow rate. There are also electromagnetic installations in which electricity solves some problems with water requirements.

Installation of a softening column - video:

Calcium and magnesium salts, present in excess in running water, create many problems. Peeling of the skin, dandruff, itching are some of the few unpleasant consequences of contact with hard water.

This is due to the reaction of water with gel or soap and other detergents, as a result of which a thin, indelible crust forms on the skin, leading to drying and peeling of the skin. Water softeners can help combat these problems.

Negative effects of using hard water

In addition to skin problems, hard water poses a danger to human health because salts cause clogging of the inner surface of pipes. This is why not only the taste changes, but also has a negative effect on the digestive organs. Long-term consumption of liquids with a high salt content leads to problems of the cardiovascular system, the formation of kidney stones, and joint diseases.

In addition to health problems, hard water also adds problems at the household level. It clogs the working parts of appliances that are inextricably linked with the use of water, for example, a washing machine, dishwasher, kettle, and boiler. Magnesium and calcium salts settle on the heating elements of equipment, forming scale, which damages the equipment in a short time.

Ways to reduce hardness

Modern technologies make it possible to soften hardness in different ways. Based on the type of operation, water softeners can be divided into chemical, physical and ion exchange. Currently, chemical softening filters are rarely used, due to the high costs of reagents and waste material disposal into the sewer system. Such devices are in demand in many industries.

Physical, or, as they are also called, nanofiltering devices for reducing hardness create a magnetic field, due to which the ions of calcium and magnesium salts are charged with a different charge. In this case, the salt concentration remains unchanged, but the possibility of scale formation is temporarily reduced. Such filters are quite popular in everyday life, but are significantly inferior in technical characteristics to ion exchange ones.

Filtration using ion exchange

The most preferred and affordable are ion exchange water softeners, as they have an excellent price to high quality cleaning ratio. The operating principle is based on the reaction of an ion exchange resin with salts, after which dissolved calcium and magnesium ions are replaced with sodium ions, which do not create solid deposits, scale, or health problems.

Ion exchange softeners have gained wide popularity in domestic settings due to their low price and ease of installation. One batch of resin, which is responsible for the reactions, lasts for many years, but over time it loses effectiveness because sodium ions are lost. How to fix this depends on the design of the filter device.

Regeneration of cartridges for ion exchange filters

In most cases, a new cartridge will be needed to replace the no longer effective resin, but some water softeners allow the solution to be regenerated. In this case, the used cartridge must be removed, disassembled, washed and filled with a mixture that can be easily prepared at home. The restorative composition is made from salt, soda and citric acid, which are mixed in certain proportions. The regeneration process itself takes about 10-12 hours, and during this time it is better to have a spare cartridge so as not to be left without quality water.

Water softening devices

Water softeners come in several main types, which differ in volume and filtration methods:

• The cheapest, but with many technical inconveniences, are jug filters. They feature a high quality ion exchange resin cartridge that needs frequent replacement or regeneration.
• Reverse osmosis filters that soften and purify liquids to a distilled state.

Automatic water softeners are installed permanently on the main line and can be used for large volumes. Such devices can save your apartment or country house from problems with salts.

Before purchasing a softening device, it is quite important to conduct a fluid analysis, which will help develop a not very expensive but effective system.

Device categories

Depending on the operating mode, electronic water softeners are divided into the following categories:

Also, softening installations may differ in type of design. Cabinet-type filters are the most compact, but have low performance. The saline solution bottle is located inside the housing. A filter in which the salt tank is located separately from the cylinder, they can purify a larger amount of water.

Installation of water softeners - help in the fight against hardness

Water is a vital resource for any person; not only good mood and vigor, but also health depend on its quality. Modern technologies provide many opportunities to improve the quality of drinking water by installing softening systems. Before you buy one or another system, you should carefully understand the classification of devices and the principles of their operation. This will make it possible to choose the best option that will work with the greatest productivity.

It should be remembered that the softener requires costs not only during purchase and installation, but also during operation. This does not mean that you should refuse to purchase it, you just need to study all the necessary information before making a decision.

Today, the market offers a variety of water softeners, reviews of which are positive from many users. Thus, buyers note that after purchasing an ion exchange column, the problem with the metallic taste of water disappears. In addition, the skin stops peeling and itching after bathing. Many users like the ease of installation of the device and the fact that it does not take up much space. Some people note that you can place the speaker under the sink in the kitchen; there will be enough space for it.