Unlike a water softener, a water conditioner does not remove hardness particles from your water supply. It “conditions” water and changes the chemistry of the particles for a certain amount of time to keep it from building up.

One of the most common types of water conditioners is called template-assisted crystallization. Template-assisted crystallization uses surface-treated resin beads to convert (not remove) dissolved hardness ions to microscopic scale-resistant crystals. The polymeric beads are fluidized creating agitation that releases the microscopic crystals and allows for further formation of crystals. Once these crystals are formed and released from the beads, they are insoluble particles that will not form scale on surfaces.

Water conditioners range greatly in their effectiveness. Water conditioners reduce build up rather than eliminating it. The only way to eliminate build up is to soften the water. Some claim they are over 90% effective in stopping clustering or build up in plumbing.

However, there are multiple reports and reviews that the products don’t live up to consumers’ expectations. It is recommended that consumers should carefully investigate product claims prior to making a purchase of a specific device.

• Change the chemistry of hardness particles for a certain amount of time
• Reduce scale build up in plumbing for a certain amount of time
• Removes additional chemicals, like chlorine, from water
• Waste less water than a water softener

• Remove hardness particles from the water
• Keep scale build-up from your appliances, dishes, shower, and bathtub
• Lower TDS (total dissolved solids) in your water

A water softener works by actually removing the hardness particles (like calcium and magnesium) from your water supply. This is done through a process called ion-exchange.

In the water softener tank, there is a bed full of resin. Resin are tiny little plastic beads that hold sodium ions. As hard water flows through the resin, hard water particles stick to the resin beads and are replaced with sodium.

Sodium is a soft mineral that won’t cluster or scale in plumbing, appliances, dishes or your skin. There is a myth that soft water is unhealthy to drink because it contains a lot of sodium. However, in reality, the amount of sodium that is added is less than a slice of bread.

Once the resin is full of hard water particles they must be backwashed (or regenerated). The regeneration process takes salt water from the brine tank and washes it over the resin. This washes the hard water particles off the resin and replaces it with sodium again. Regeneration typically happens every 2-10 days depending on the size of the water softener.

However, the Waterrific Hybrid Water Softener only needs to regenerate on average every 2, weeks saving up to 40% more water and using up to 70% less salt to regenerate.

• Remove calcium and magnesium (hardness particles) from your water supply
• Reduce or eliminate scale build-up in appliances and pipes
• Reduce soap and detergent usage
• Reduce dry skin after washing*** A Waterrific Hybrid Water Softener will also remove chemicals like chlorine and chloramine.

• Remove additional harmful chemicals like chlorine, herbicides, and pesticides
• Remove viruses or bacteria from water
• Make tap water healthier to drink

A technology that has been thrown around the internet that has a lot of people curious is a “salt-free water softener”.

The truth is, there is no such thing as a salt-free water softener. What they are actually mistakenly referring to is a water conditioner.

Without sodium, you cannot soften water. That is a scientific fact. So, while a salt-free water conditioner can change particles for a certain amount of time, the water is still hard and will revert back to hard water at some point.

There are pros and cons to both water treatment systems. However, we always recommend a Waterrifc Hybrid water softener over a water conditioner because it will actually remove the hardness particles from your water and is also far more effective. It also has added benefits of keeping hardness particles off your appliances, your clothes, your skin, and will reduce soap and detergent usage. In addition, the Waterrifc Hybrid removes chlorine, chloramine and other harmful chemicals.

If you are concerned about other contaminants or sodium in your drinking water you can always add a filter or reverse osmosis system. Installing these systems after your water softener will remove things like sodium, iron, chlorine, and more from your drinking water.

In many cases we are led to believe both work the same, and the only difference is that one doesn’t use salt. This really isn’t the truth. So here’s the scoop:

Salt Based Water Softeners
Let’s take a look at how this system works. Water Softening by definition is REMOVING Calcium (Ca2+) and Magnesium (Mg2+) from the water through a process called ion exchange using a polymer resin bed which gives off a sodium particle in exchange for hardness minerals.

A water test would show this type of result – Before treatment 10 grains/gallon, results after treatment 0 grains/gallon. The system works great.

Salt based water softeners use an electronic metered valve mounted atop a fiberglass resin tank that meters water by the gallon and then runs a cleaning cycle when the ion resin bed reaches a saturation point. During the cleaning cycle, the electronic valve cycles a series of back flushes to purge the hardness particulates that have been captured from the system and flush them down a drain line. The sodium is also replenished in the resin bed during the cycle and all is ready to go again.

Salt Free Water Softeners – Descale Treatment

In the salt based process above (true water softening), hardness minerals are actually removed from the water. In the salt-free process minerals are retained in the water, but their form is changed so they will not adhere to surfaces. “Salt free” water softeners are actually not softeners, they are “water conditioners”.

Water is processed through a catalytic media using a physical process called Template Assisted Crystallization (TAC), which uses polymeric beads. What happens is the hardness minerals are converted (not removed) to a hardness crystal that is not able to bind to surfaces. Once these crystals are formed and released from the beads, they become insoluble particles that will not form scale on surfaces. This is actually water conditioning, not softening.

A water test would show this result: Before treatment 10 grains/gallon, result post/treatment 10 grains/gallon. Again, the hardness is still there… just changed so it won’t adhere to surfaces.

There is no electrical valve needed on a salt-free system because the system works as a conditioner and never captures anything therefore eliminating the need to purge any minerals.

The Waterrific Conditioner is a two tank system. Tank number one contains the catalytic carbon to remove chlorine, chloramine and other harmful chemicals. Tank number two contains the descaler to reduce scale build up.

A Waterrific Hybrid Water Softener combines the benefits of soft water by removing calcium and magnesium as well as removing harmful chemicals such as chlorine and chloramine in one compact eco-friendly unit.

So, now you are asking yourself: “Okay, now I know the difference in the technology and how it works…but what system will I be happy with?”

Even though both systems are set-up to take care of the water hardness issue of scaling, this is where the difference in the technologies become more apparent.

Salt-Based Water Softeners will give you more of the “slick” feeling of the water in the shower and you will notice the soap creating more bubbles. The reason and what many water experts will tell you is “this is the feeling of being clean.” This is due to the minerals being taken from the water and no longer being present to dry your skin. Other benefits you’ll see include keeping brighter colors in your clothes with the abrasive minerals no longer present. Is your skin feeling dry? Are you getting scale build-up on shower doors/glassware? Are your clothes dingy? Do you want to use less soap? A salt water softener would be your better choice.

Salt-Free Water Conditioners create hardness crystals but leave minerals present in the water. The crystals won’t adhere to surfaces so you will see a reduction in scale build up. You may see less soap usage and possibly brighter laundry. The main benefit you receive from a salt free system is the maintenance free aspect. No electricity, no waste water, and no salt/chemicals. Are you getting build-up on shower doors/glassware? Do your clothes not seem dingy? Do you NOT like the slick feeling of soft water? Do you not want to deal with any salt/chemicals? You might consider salt free technology, as long as you are not expecting the same results as salt based technology. Salt based systems will outperform salt free for overall water softening. The best way to soften water is with a salt based softener.