Quote:
Originally Posted by Carla B
So will the filter alone stop them or do you need the softener also?
|
Water filters remove contamination like Chlorine, which affect the taste and some may potentially be unhealthy.
Water softeners "soften" water. They do not remove calcium, they change it into a different form that won't build up on water fixtures, won't require you to use more soap in the laundry, etc.
Also, there is a "myth" that salt based water softeners can be bad for people on limited sodium diets. This is NOT true. All of the research indicates there is no significant amounts of sodium in the water if the softener is working correctly.
However, a couple con's to salt based water softeners:
1. It is hard to make good coffee or tea with soft water. You can use it, but the coffee/tea flavor will not be extracted as well and you will notice the grinds tend to "float" and may escape the coffee filter and get into the coffee. We buy bottled spring water specifically for making coffee and tea.
2. Periodically the water softener back flushes (cleans) itself with salt water. When it does this it needs to dump the salt water someplace. In most cases this would be piped to the septic or sewer drainage pipes. But that is not always possible (or cost effective) depending on where the drain pipes are and where your water supply comes into your house. Some people just let it dump onto the ground outside the house, but that could kill some kinds of plants. So, be sure to discuss this with the contractor installing the softener.