Often called Salt-Free Water Softeners, but are not water softeners, they are technically water conditioners. Water conditioning systems work by altering the chemical structure (nucleation) of water minerals through the descaling process. It prevents solids from depositing in pipes and water-using fixtures. Basically, It does not remove calcium and magnesium. It simply causes the hardness minerals to lose their ability to form scale at about 40-95%.

Salt-free Water Softeners can help reduce the buildup of limescale. The chalky substance you see in dried hard water spots, as well as other chemicals. Water softeners remove minerals, including calcium and magnesium 99% which cause hard water through a process called ion exchange. It replaces them with less troublesome soft minerals depending on the brine being used like potassium or sodium.

Is a salt-free conditioner the way to go?

There are concerns with no-salt systems as they’re not as effective in places where water sits, like in your water heater, laundry results/savings, and spots on dishes. Moreover, a scale will be visible wherever water evaporates, such as on faucets nozzles and shower heads. Some nice things about salt-free systems are, take less space, cost less to operate and do not require much maintenance like adding potassium or salt pellets.

Additionally, conditioned water doesn’t have the “slippery” feel you get from a water softener. It could be an advantage or disadvantage, depending on your preference. The type of contaminants in the water affects the operation of water conditioners. It can vary by area.

At Ion Xchange, we don’t offer salt-free water conditioners, but we like to inform our customers of the pros & cons so they can make a decision based on their needs and preferences.

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