Water Softeners

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Water Softeners & Water Conditioner Systems

Does your skin and hair get dried out after you shower? Is there foggy residue on your dishes after you wash them? Do your clothes come out faded or discolored after you do laundry? You’re probably dealing with hard water, an issue shared by 85% of all U.S. households. A water softener from Angel Water will reduce water hardness, make your water more pleasant, and save you money year after year.

Let’s take a closer look at how a water softener makes daily life easier and why Angel Water is your go-to expert for water softeners in Barrington, IL and the Chicago area.

What Are the Benefits of a Water Softener?

A water softener is a water treatment system that improves quality of life and saves money by reducing water hardness. What is hard water anyway, though, and how will it affect your daily life?

When water comes down as rain, it’s typically what we would call “soft” water. However, as it travels over the earth and through the soil in rivers, streams, and reservoirs, it collects minerals including calcium and magnesium. When water has an excess of these minerals, it’s called hard water.

The minerals in hard water dry out your skin and hair, neutralize soaps, and accumulate on surfaces. That’s why your skin feels dry and tight after a shower and you see soap scum and mineral deposits on your plumbing.

A water softener will remove excess minerals to provide your home with soft water (less than one grain of minerals per gallon). Here are some of the ways a water softener makes your life easier and saves you money:

Your hair and skin feel softer and healthier.
Soaps, shampoos, and detergents work better, so you can spend less for the same level of clean.
No more foggy spots or films on glasses, dishware, and other surfaces after you clean them.
No more soap scum on drains and shower curtains and in tubs and sinks.
Clothes don’t get as faded or discolored with every wash and you won’t need to use fabric softener.
No more mineral deposits restricting water flow and potentially clogging shower heads, dishwashers, etc.
Longer life expectancy and lower energy costs for water heaters, humidifiers, coffee machines, and other water-using appliances.

Our Experts Install and Service High-Quality Water Softeners

Angel Water is a team of experienced water experts who’ve been installing and maintaining top-of-the-line water softeners for decades. Our technicians have years of hands-on experience dealing with water issues and water softeners in Barrington, IL and the Chicago area. Our waters softeners such as the ERR-3702 come from trusted brands like EcoWater, whose products are built to NSF standards and backed up by rigorous testing and industry standards.

We’ll install a high-quality water softener in your home, perform regular water softener maintenance and repair visits, and even deliver salt for your water softener right to your door. For effective water softening, top-tier product support, and convenient salt delivery services, Angel Water is your go-to source.

Call Angel Water today, and ask how you can save hundreds of dollars every year and secure more pleasant water throughout your home!

WHAT IS HARD WATER?

You may be thinking, “How can water be hard? It’s a liquid!” However, water hardness doesn’t mean the water is literally hard. Instead, it’s a measure of the water’s mineral content.

When water in the environment passes through soil and rocks, it picks up a lot of different particulates. Among these are minerals like calcium and magnesium. An excess of these minerals is what we call “hard water”.

The United States is located in a part of the world that largely consists of ancient sea beds. These sea beds have high concentrations of limestone. As a result, most water in the U.S. passes through this limestone at some point, and 85% of people in the U.S. have hard water in their homes.

Here in Northern Illinois, we’re in a region of extreme water hardness. Chicago’s water has a hardness of approximately 8 grains per gallon, which is well into the range we consider “hard”. This is why water softeners are especially necessary here and throughout the Midwest.

HARD WATER COSTS YOU A FORTUNE IN THE LONG TERM

In addition to making you itchy and leaving a film on your dishes, hard water will also rob you of thousands of dollars over the years if you don’t do something about it.

Here are the ways that hard water is costing you money:

Damage to your appliances

Hard water scaling builds up in your pipes and appliances, reducing water flow and efficiency—especially in your water heater. It’s estimated that 5 grains of hardness reduces efficiency by 8%, and one study found that extremely hard water can reduce efficiency as much as 48%. That’s hundreds of dollars lost every year.
Spending More on Detergents

Because hard water neutralizes soaps and reduces their effectiveness, you have to use more of them to get the same clean. You’re probably spending far more on than you have to on cleaning supplies cleaning supplies such as dish soaps and detergents and personal hygiene products like shampoo and body wash. That’s hundreds of dollars a year literally going down the drain
Clogged Fixtures

Fixtures can get clogged due to hard water buildup—for example, your faucet’s blending valve. This means you’ll need to pay for a service visit to fix it.

How it Works

HydroLink Plus® Wi-Fi and Smartphone App Monitoring

HydroLink Plus® – Wi-Fi enabled technology sends continuous and excessive water use, system error, low salt and service reminder alerts, including a water-to-drain sensing alert notifying you when an excessive amount of water is going to drain. HydroLink® – Patented two-way remote monitoring also available. Water Meter - Allowing for chemical feed dosing, flow switch operation and water use information.
Patented Electronics Digital Demand Module

Sophisticated, yet easy-to-use electronics capture historical usage patterns to predict future needs for precise regenerations.
High Quality Fit and Finish
Multi-Wrap Fiberglass Reinforced Resin Tank

Durable tank liner will not deteriorate, rust, or corrode.
Full One-Inch Riser

with Self-Cleaning Distributors One-inch diameter for increased flow rates, which ensures that household demand is adequately met. Distributors exhibit excellent flow rates and are cleaned automatically by counter-current water pressure.
Patented Stratified Resin Bed

Layered mix of fine and standard size resin provides superior filtration and iron removal without sacrificing flow rate capability.
Washed Quartz Underbedding

Helps provide a cleaner, more thorough regeneration of the resin.
Positive-Action Brine Valve

Snap-together construction eliminates use of solvents that may contaminate water. Positive action helps prevent overfilling.

The heart of a water softener is a mineral tank which is filled with small resin beads. This filling material is often simply called resin or zeolite, and it’s very important to the softening process because it carries a negative charge which facilitates the ion exchange.

The calcium and magnesium that cause most of the hard water problems in your water both carry positive charges. Because the charge is opposite that of the resin, these minerals will cling to the resin as the hard water passes through the mineral tank, which means they DON’T go on to stick to your pipes, your dishes, your shower walls or your clothes!

Well, now that the minerals are clinging to the resin, won’t it just get clogged up and become useless?

No. Sodium ions also have a positive charge, but it’s a weaker charge than the calcium and magnesium, and that’s they key to the regeneration cycle!

In a separate tank, sodium is mixed into a very strong brine solution so that it can be flushed through the resin whenever it becomes saturated with calcium and magnesium. The high concentration of sodium ions allows them to gang up on the calcium and magnesium ions and overpower them to break them away from the resin.

The excess minerals are then flushed down the drain line and out of your home, leaving the weak sodium ions clinging to the resin. These weaker bonds are easily broken by the stronger calcium and magnesium ions, so once the regeneration cycle is over the resin is ready to catch the minerals that clog up your appliances and cause dry, brittle hair.

A combination of modern salt dosing technology and high quality resin can keep your costs low and your home free of soap scum, cloudy, spotted dishes and ugly scale buildup on your appliances and faucets.

FAQs

What is hard water?

When water is referred to as ‘hard’, it simply means that it has a high level of dissolved minerals, especially positively charged calcium and magnesium ions. The presence of these highly charged mineral ions interferes with the ability of your water to act properly as a solvent. It causes soap to be less effective and it can coat the insides of your pipes and appliances causing low flow rates, high energy costs and ruined appliances.

What is water softening?

Water softening is a water treatment technique that removes calcium and magnesium ions from the water in your home or business. Through a process of ion exchange which utilizes a special negatively charged resin and a solution of sodium ions, a water softener is able to capture the calcium and magnesium ions before they are able to harm your plumbing system.

What is a water softener?

A water softener is a unit which usually (but not always) consists of two tanks and a special valve assembly that coordinates the scrubbing of special, negatively charged resin with an ion rich sodium solution. A properly functioning water softener will remove excess calcium and magnesium ions before they are able to harm your plumbing system.

Why is water softening applied?

Water softening is used in households and businesses around the world to ensure high quality water which can be used effectively for cleaning and won’t clog pipes or damage appliances.

Hard water causes lime scale deposits which reduce the efficiency of water heaters and can increases the cost of domestic water heating by as much as fifteen to twenty percent.

Water softening can also extend the life of household appliances like laundry machines and dishwashers.

What does a water softener do?

Water softeners are a specific type of ion exchanger which are designed to remove calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+) ions (often referred to as ‘hardness minerals’) from your family’s water.

Softeners are sometimes even applied to remove iron, though their efficacy for iron removal is considerably lower.

A water softener collects hardness minerals within its conditioning tank and from time to time flushes them away to drain. This flushing process is called regeneration and it’s a cycle that can be initiated manually, automatically at set intervals or even automatically based on the amount of water used. How your softener cycles depends on the type of control valve technology you invest in.

Softeners are rated on the amount of hardness they remove before regeneration is necessary.

How long does a water softener last?

A high quality water softener with proper upkeep and maintenance can last several decades, however, many of the older units we see are not well maintained. People tend to forget about their water softening equipment until it breaks. They key to the longevity of your softener is proper salt levels, high quality resin and reasonable annual service.

Which types of salt should I use?

There are three types of salt that are generally used for water softening:

Rock salt
Solar salt
Evaporated salt

Rock salt has a water insolubility level of about 0.5-1.5%, which means it leaves behind some calcium sulphate that can eventually clog your system, but it’s less expensive than solar salt or evaporated salt.

Solar salt comes from evaporation of salt water and contains 85% sodium chloride. It has a water insolubility level of less than 0.03% and is generally sold in natural, chunky crystals or manufactured evenly formed pellets.

Evaporated salt is obtained from wet underground salt deposits that are harvested and dried. Evaporated salt contains between 99.6% and 99.99% sodium chloride and thus the cleanest (most water soluble) and most maintenance free salt you can use in your softener.

How often should one add salt to a softener?

The amount of salt used and how often you may need to add salt depends on a variety of factors including the number of people in your household, average water use, the size of your brine tank, and many more.

One of the most significant variables in determining how much salt you use is the type of control valve your softener uses to regenerate the system. Modern control valves can monitor your salt dosing needs to significantly reduce your costs and even notify you on your cell phone when it’s time to get more salt.

However, most softening systems will work just fine if you check them once a month and try to keep the brine tank at least half full.

How come water sometimes does not become softer when salt is added?

When you first install a new water softener, or sometimes, when you add salt to a system that has run out completely, the initial regeneration cycle may not significantly soften the water. This is because proper water softening requires a strong sodium ion solution. Immediately starting a regeneration cycle after adding salt doesn’t give the solution enough time to soak and dissolve the salt which can result in hard water getting past the softening system.

This is a temporary issue and should resolve itself with the next regeneration cycle, but if the problem persists, call us for an inspection to make sure everything is running properly.

How much does a water softener cost?

Newer water softeners are more efficient than older models and even among new models the efficiency can vary significantly. These differences produce a variety of different price points.
The overall costs of water softening depend on the type of water softener, the initial hardness of the water and the amount of water used. When the water is very hard and used heavily, the costs of softening will rise.

Generally the costs of water softeners are usually far outweighed by the benefits and cost savings obtained, through using softened water.

Do water utility companies and public systems provide softened water?

Although the opportunity to soften the water before it leaves a municipal treatment system certainly exists, it is not something that all utilities are required to do. Because hard water has a much more significant impact on hot water systems and municipal water mains are much wider than average residential plumbing, many municipal systems reduce costs by skipping this vital step in the water conditioning process.

Is softened water safe to drink?

Softened water is perfectly safe to drink. However, in areas with extremely high hardness, softened water might not be appropriate for preparing baby formula, and people on sodium restricted diets should take into account the increased sodium that may be present in your drinking water and food as a result of extraordinary softening requirements.

How much sodium does one absorb from softened water?

Sodium intake due to softened water varies depending on the hardness of the water. On average, your sodium intake from drinking softened water is likely to be less than 3% of your recommended daily allowance.

The intake of sodium (Na+) from a home water softening process, is negligible compared to the total daily intake of many sodium-rich foods.

Will softening drinking water deprive it of essential minerals?

Softening will not deprive water of its essential minerals. Softening only removes ionized minerals that cause scale buildup and soap scum.

When does a softener resin need replacement?

In the hardest water areas resin may need to be replaced more frequently, but we’ve seen resin last as long as 20 years.

If you notice that your water is getting hard again (spots on dishes, itchy skin, dull hair and ineffective soap and detergents) The first thing to check is the brine reservoir or salt tank, as it is often called. Make sure there is salt in the tank before making a service call!

But if there is still salt and you don’t have softened water, the issue may be mechanical.

Does a softener brine tank need cleaning?

Generally speaking it is not necessary to clean a brine tank, however it is possible if the salt product being used has a high concentration of water-insoluble material. If there is a build-up of insoluble matter in the resin, the reservoir should be cleaned out to prevent softener malfunction.

Otherwise, only a serious malfunction or the introduction of foreign matter into the brine tank would necessitate its cleaning.

Can brine from softeners damage a septic tank?

The Water Quality Association has performed studies on whether or not brine from softeners will damage a septic tank. These studies have indicated that a properly placed septic tank which works adequately in the first place cannot be damaged by brine that is discharged from a water softener. Softened water can sometimes actually help the longevity of a septic tank by reducing the amount of detergents discharged into it.

Can a water softener be used with lead pipes?

When naturally or artificially softened water ends up in lead pipe systems, it can cause the pickup of lead. Lead pipe systems have to be replaced, before softened water can flow through them.

Can I Take My Water Softener with me when I move?

With modern water softeners, it is very possible to take them from one installation location to another. Some modern systems even include quick fit connections, similar to those used for laundry machines. If this is particularly important to you make sure to ask your Angel Water Expert for insight!

easy, fast and great price

i had great experience and very pleasent costumer service

Veronica B.

Amazing!

Purchased in Jan. The water in our town is hyperchlorinated. This system produces the most wonderful water for drinking, bathing and household use. Our friends are surprised when they drink it. Picking up salt is simple and Angels drive through is fast. The system easy to maintain. We couldn’t be happier. Angel Water Rocks!!!

Pamela W.

American Made, High Quality Buy

I have called Angel Water a couple of times and always get a representative who has knowledge about products, services, and processes. Always a great experience. Also, the softener is the best out there! My extended family has the ECR 3702 600 he controls with his iphone! I just referred a friend who purchased a couple of weeks ago. Keep up the great work!

Robert R.

No More filthy water

Love,Love this whole house water system.Clean water everywhere shower,drinking,cooking.We are in an area that is on a well! This filter system is a must have,I feel sorry for people in my area drinking dirty water and they don’t even know it. Angel has amazing service. I would highly recommend them!!!

Tracy M.

So Helpful, Thankful!

Angwl Water has a great staff working when I call Bob K. assisted me in making the right filter purchase for my water. Thanks for coming out and testing my water guys!

Manny O.

Outstanding Products and Service!!!

I originally inquired by phone and got professional service I needed/wanted. After scheduling my install for my softner they came in short order. They installed the new system and it works like a charm. I’m glad to find a company that represents a true product and a product that does what it is supposed to do. I highly Angel company and the products they sell

Edwin S

Pros that know

The system we put in exceeds our expectations, we have well water and now its like bottled water

Noel C.

Never doing Cheap Again!

I had a whole house GE filter, a home depot deal, started to leak and over flow very small but did not realize the difference until I added the Angel Pursure system OMG!!! Love this thing – WIFI and iphone app so cool! This install is in Barrington, my next one
will be in Lake In The Hills..
Water is vastly softer and drinkable. Nice equipment.

Mike M.

No issues by far

No issues by far. Giving 5 stars.

Scott H.

Impressive!

Prompt, thoughtful customer service. They actually called me to check on me to see if I needed anything, impressive!