What is the difference between softening water and filtering water?

Softening water involves removing dissolved minerals – like calcium, magnesium, iron and manganese – that can't be trapped in a filter bed. Softeners use fresh resin beads with sodium attached to the resin. As water enters the tank, dissolved calcium and magnesium are attracted to the resin. The resin passes up the sodium in exchange for the dissolved chemicals and the water is then rid of these impurities. Filtering water involves separating mineral particles, like manganese, iron, hydrogen sulfide or other organic matter, from pure water molecules. By passing water through a filter bed, or media bed, these granular particles are trapped, allowing only clean, purified water to pass through the bed. Whether you use a filter or a softener depends on whether the contaminants in your water are particles or dissolved minerals. Home Page | FAQs | Glossary | Contact Us