subject: Choosing A New Hard Water Filter System [print this page] There are a few different types of hard water filter systems available for homes to remove calcium and magnesium from water, in addition to sulfur and others as well. First of all, water softeners are made to remove calcium and magnesium from water. These work through a process called ion exchange to soften hard H2O by exchanging sodium ions for calcium and magnesium ones. This is why softeners require the salt pellets to be added. Hard water clogs pipes and water heaters, and it ruins clothing, leaves spots on dishes, it causes dry irritated skin and hair that is often difficult to manage. In addition, everything from clothes to appliances to skin need extra cleaners and detergents to get it all off this is a waste of money!
There are a few different types of hard water filter systems that can be used in homes and buildings, and these also remove those pesky contaminants too. Iron filters remove iron from the supply. Some of the common types of iron filters are filox filters, pyrolox ones, greensand varieties, birm ones and iron curtains. These all require media to be replaced every couple of years and the addition of chemicals for backwashing. One part per million of iron causes the same damage as one hundred parts per million of hardness! It causes red stains, orange stains and yellow ones on appliances, fixtures, dishes and clothing. Iron ruins water softeners too, as well as other types of hard water filters. Often iron will be accompanied by iron rich bacteria, and this requires additional hard water filter system equipment.
Sulfur hard water filters are made to remove sulfur from water. Sulfur is often treated with greensand filters, Centaur Carbon filters, or chlorinators. Sulfur filters require media to be replaced every few years and the addition of chemicals for backwashing. Sulfur is harmful to many different types of surfaces. For example it leaves black deposits and build up in water heaters and pipes. Sulfur smells like rotten eggs and makes the water in the home look terribly unpleasant.
A type of process that is used to remove contaminants is reverse osmosis. This type of hard water filter system is made to remove all kinds of types of contaminants that include radium, lead, mercury, arsenic, pesticides, herbicides, petrochemicals, industrial and pharmaceutical contaminants, viruses, bacteria, cysts, chlorine and many others. However, these types of reverse osmosis systems are pretty pricey, and they waste a lot of water during their cleaning functions. They are only able to produce a few gallons of purified water every day, and the process is a very slow one. Not only that, but most of these systems require frequent cartridge and membrane changes too. Most of these pure water systems are really just installed under the kitchen sink of a home, but they require a holding tank in addition to a separate drinking faucet as well.
