You may be in the market for a water softener, because you have heard of the many benefits it can have for you and your home. You have probably come across salt and salt free water softeners and are wondering what the difference is between the two. This is a common question. We are lead to believe that both these technologies work the same, and the only difference is that one does not use salt, but that is not the truth. Here is the skinny, to help you decide which one will best suit your needs.
Salt Based Water Softeners
Basically, water softeners work by removing minerals like calcium and magnesium through a process called ion exchange, and replaces them with softer minerals such as sodium or potassium. A salt based softener ensures that the hard minerals are completely removed from your tap before you even turn it on.