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Ion ExchangeHow Water Softeners Work

A water softener is packed with resin beads. Hard water with calcium and magnesium flows through this resin and, in a process called ion exchange, the hardness ions in the water trade places with soft ions on the resin beads. The result is soft water.

What is Regeneration?

Resin beads get covered with hardness ions, diminishing their capacity to soften water. Regeneration is when water with a concentrated amount of salt solution is flushed through the system. Resin beads trade their hard ions for sodium ions and are ready to soften water again.

Common Water Treatment Terms:

Grains per Gallon (gpg) - This is the most common method of designating the hardness of a water supply.

Softening Capacity - The expected number of grains of total hardness removed.

Parts Per Million (ppm) - A measure of proportion by weight, which is equal to one unit of weight of dissolved solids per million weights of solution.