Reynolds Water Conditioning

Hydration is key to all living things, and without it, we would only live for about five days. Our bodies are more than 50% water and it helps maintain our normal body temperature, lubricates joints, and enables the body to rid waste through urination, sweat, and bowel movements. Doctors advise us to drink at least eight 8 oz. glasses of water every day and studies have shown that women, on average, will consume approximately 91 oz. of water and men will drink about 125 oz. of water every day. Part of this consumption of water is from foods such as fruits and vegetables. It seems quite simple why water is so important to our health, but understanding the different risks from contaminations and how to protect your drinking water can be more in-depth. Is Tap Water Safe?   In general, tap water is considered to be safe to consume if it comes from a public water system that is run and maintained by a municipality. When drinking water exits a treatment facility and travels to...

As being a home owner, certain appliances will need to be maintained in order to keep your house running efficiently including your water softener. Regularly, the salt supply will need to be replenished in order to keep hard water from coming into your water system. While out shopping, you may find yourself questioning what the best choice for salt is exactly to purchase since there is a variety of choices to choose from. In todays article we will discuss the difference between the salt options and help you decide which choice is best for your softener and home. Sodium Chloride Options Water softeners or conditioners can be used with either sodium chloride (most commonly called salt) or potassium chloride. When at your local grocery store or home improvement store one thing to keep in mind when looking at the bags for purchase, its important to notice the purity levels. Many of the bags sold in these places will contain high level of water insoluble material. This impurity over...

Maintenance and service on water softeners is pretty basic when it comes to the world of appliance upkeep.  The exception to this, however, is the initial installation of the water softener .   Determining the water hardness level, regeneration timing parameters, salt to use, and when to refill the salt so the softener can perform properly can be a bit tricky.  Proper water softener set up can make long term maintenance easier and the softener perform more efficiently and last longer.  Ongoing Maintenance – Tips for Residential Water Softeners Avoid Salt Bridges Salt bridges occur when an empty space is created in the brine tank between the water and the salt.  This prevents the salt from dissolving in the water which is how brine is made.  Without brine the resin beads that soften the water are unable to do their job. The most common cause of bridges are high humidity, temperature changes, or using the wrong type of salt.  Salt bridge...

Hard water is known to contain higher than normal levels of calcium and magnesium.  This causes issues with lime scale build up that interferes with household and daily functions.  Issues range from clogged plumbing to soap’s ability to clean properly.  For most homeowners the installation of a water softener system is vital in bringing higher quality water to the household.  Most water softening units will continue to function for years with little maintenance.  Regular check ups and cleaning does help to improve their lifespan. One important aspect in maintaining your water softening equipment is caring for the systems brine tank.  In order to properly maintain the tank, the salt levels should be checked and if low replaced on a monthly basis. Salt is essential in the ion exchange process that takes place in water softeners.  As the system regenerates the hard water will flow through resin in the softener and the hard ions trade place with...

There are both advantages and disadvantages to the two types of water softeners commonly purchased: potassium chloride (salt-free) and salt water softeners.   The choice if often based on the area in which you live, the quality of your homes water, and health concerns that may or may not exist. It is important to note that although we refer to potassium chloride, salt-free units as water softeners they are technically not water softeners at all and instead water conditioners or descalers.  Systems that use potassium chloride over salt are known to reduce the build up of limescale.   Limescale is the chalk like substance that leaves dried up hard water spots on faucets, glass wear, and such.  Water conditioning systems alter the chemical make up of the waters minerals through a descaling process.  Solids are then prevented from depositing within pipes and other water-using fixtures. So, is a salt-free water conditioner beneficial over a traditio...

[caption id="attachment_2155" align="alignnone" width="300"] KODAK Digital Still Camera[/caption] Water softeners take bathing to an all new level, especially after accepting and coming accustomed to hard water showers.   If you are ready to bathe in silky smooth water, if you are excited for clear uncolored, smell free water, and if you are anxious to stop cleaning with harsh rust removers, we might just have the perfection solution for you. Choosing a water softener , often misspelled as "water softner", we can help with options ranging from traditional household water softeners, salt-free water softeners , dual- tank softeners and combinations that include reverse osmosis , whole house filters, arsenic removal and more. Issues With Hard Water Water softeners solve the problem of hard water.  When your homes water is filled with extra minerals such as calcium, magnesium carbonate or manganese it is considered hard.  Some homeowners note...

All you want to do on a really hot day or after a long, hard workout is to go over to your kitchen sink and fill an extremely large glass with cold tap water!  However, is the water that is coming out of your tap safe to drink? While tap water in the United States is safer to drink than some of the tap water found in other parts of the world, it can still be full of contaminants like minerals and chlorine.  Small amounts of minerals won’t do too much harm to your health and you won’t even know that they are there, but you may be able to taste and smell the chlorine that is present if you have public water.  Of course, well water won’t have any chlorine in it, but it can be full of calcium, magnesium, and other minerals. Installing a Water Conditioner To improve your tap water, and make it better for you, as well as better tasting, you may want to consider installing one of the numerous water conditioners that are available.  Most water conditioners utilize sodi...

Do you notice a build-up of scum in your shower or dishwasher? Is your home’s shower not supplying you with water that feels “right” as you rinse off the day? If you are encountering issues or experiencing a change in your water supply, it may be so to hard water or that the treatment option that you are currently using for your homes water is not the right one. One of the most common solutions to treat a hard water supply is with a water softener or conditioner. In this installment, we shall briefly discuss the problem of hard water, how water softener systems and water conditioner work, and the difference between both. Problems with Hard Water Hard water is caused by the presence of too many metals or minerals in the water, such as magnesium, calcium, and others. These minerals dissolve into your household water through the dissolution of the surrounding soil and rock. Water hardness is calculated in milligrams per liter (mg/L) or grains per gallon (GPG). If your water tests 1 ...

Before we discuss water softeners, it's essential that one gains an understanding of what hard water is and how it affects you and your family. Hard water refers to water with a higher-than-usual mineral content. This is typically the case with water that is extracted from areas with large deposits of calcium and magnesium carbonates (naturally occurring in areas with limestone and chalk). While it can be argued that hard water does have some health benefits for humans, it can also pose some serious problems to homes and industry found in these areas. Recognizing Hard Water Here are a few ways you can recognize the presence of hard water: If your water fails to foam or lather up when exposed to soap, you most likely have hard water. Hard water is also responsible for corroding metal. This will show in faucets and sinks that are not covered with an anti-corrosive coating. Other equipment exposed to this water may also begin to corrode over time. If used to fill a swimming po...

A salt-free water softener uses potassium chloride instead of salt, so you will not experience salty water, or the salt build up that can occur inside the tank of your water softener.  There are many other positive benefits of using a potassium chloride water softener, but you will only see them if you maintain it properly. One of the things that you will need to keep track of is how much potassium chloride you have inside your brine tank.  The potassium chloride should be at least three inches above the water line at all times, although you may find that you can keep less in there if you find a residue on the sides.  It is a good idea to check your levels every couple of weeks at first, until you know how much potassium chloride you are using. Your valves are a necessary component of your potassium chloride water softener , and you will want to turn them from one position to the other and back again once a month.  This will ensure that they will turn easily w...

No matter where your homes water comes from, a well, a spring, or the city, problems can exist.  Individual water quality issues are fixed with distinct water treatment solutions . It is our job to help determine what solution will work best in treating and eliminating your homes water issue.  From hardness to foul smells, we have a solution to bring you high quality water throughout your home.  There are several issues that are commonly found in water throughout Michigan homes. Common issues with your waters quality: Hardness Foul Odors and Taste Mineral Buildup Acidic Arsenic Hard Water: Most often homeowners don’t know that they have hard water .  What they do know is that there are spots on their glassware, laundry appears dingy, increased usage of soap, change in the texture of hair and skin, increased energy costs , and scale build up on faucets and such.  Homes affected by a hard water supply have plumbing that tends to age quicker than those ...

Water plays an important role in our everyday life and overall well-being, so it’s only prudent to ensure that we have a continuous supply of quality water for our homes, not only for our own good, but for the good of our appliances, energy bills, and of course our wallets. The most cost-effective way of improving the quality of your water is using a water softener . Why? Water is often described as either hard or soft water.  Most often your water is hard if you have had to call a plumber a couple of times to remove an unsightly scam build-up in your drains. Hard water is the most prevalent in many households, and it’s considered “hard” because it contains a high concentration of dissolved minerals and impurities, most predominantly calcium and magnesium collected when the water moves through soil and rocks. While they are good minerals for your health, like too much of anything, too many minerals in your homes water can wreak havoc to laundry, household appliances, clog pipe...

Are you noticing stains in your kitchen sink?  Is your skin dry and itchy?  These are both signs that you might have an issue with hard water.  The fix for hard water is most often the installation of a whole house water softener .  The installation of a water softening system will improve the natural life of the plumbing within the home, your appliances, your clothing and more. A water softening system are designed to take out an increase in calcium and magnesium ions be means of an exchange with either sodium or potassium ions.  After this occurs the softening unit will regenerate and cleanse the systems of excess ions until they have been rejuvenated with new sodium or potassium ions.  It is important to know the level of your waters hardness when setting up the rate at which your family uses water.  It is important that the water you use every day is replenished in order to keep the build up of scale within your plumbing at a minimum while helpi...

When it comes to treating the water that comes into your home we know that you have a lot of questions and concerns.  With the number of options available in treating residential water quality it can become quite difficult to differentiate between the products available and their purpose.  The question we get most often is regarding the difference between water filtration and water softening.  In this installment we will look at the differences and how you know what the best option for your home is.  Of course, as always FREE water analysis is available through Reynolds Water Conditioning Co; our experts will better be able to evaluate your need in person. Let’s start by looking at what each system is and what it offers to the quality of water that you will end up with using each specific water treatment option . Water Softeners Water softeners are installed to soften the water within your home.  They are designed to remove only that materials and contain...

High concentration of certain minerals such as iron in your water is an indication of either a plumbing problem or an issue causing leakage of sediments from the pipes to the tap. Rust is a common term which refers to the presence of compounds such as iron and oxygen in water and it is usually formed when there is an exposure of free iron to water and oxygen in the air. There are different ways rust sediment can be eliminated. Two of the major water purification methods include the use of a water softener and water filter. Water Softener You may have tried different rust elimination options but still cannot get rid of rust stains on your sinks or shower. This is a common problem today and one that people battle with regularly. However, water softeners are just an ideal solution as they do not just reduce the rust stains from the water, they eliminate rust altogether. An ion exchange water softener contains minerals such as sodium which combines chemically with iron to remove ru...

There are two types of water, hard and soft. Hard water is the most natural type of water that hasn’t been tainted by any chemical process. It becomes hard because before it reaches your taps at home, it seeps through the ground where it’s filtered by stones and mineral deposits containing all of the natural minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium, etc. Drinking hard water is not harmful and could be a major contributor to cardiovascular disease mortality as well as that of calcium and magnesium to our diet. Difficulties Of Cleaning With Hard Water Hard water does, however, make cleaning task from laundering, dishwashing to bathing, and personal hygiene challenging. It makes soaps and detergents lose some effectiveness, and instead of lathering or dissolving completely, soaps tend to combine with the hard minerals to form a soapy mess. This effect is evident because it leaves insoluble soap scum in your bathtub, washing basins, your shower, dishes, laundry machines, and roughens...

People with fresh, high-quality water can be taken for granted in many parts of the world.  In others however water can be full of minerals, contaminants, and be extremely hard.  This can lead to nasty tasting water that is affected by high amounts of minerals in the water. One of the best solutions to hard water is to install a water treatment system in your home that can provide a softer, better tasting, higher quality water supply. Treating Your Water At Home Water softeners essentially work by adding other minerals to the water in order for the water to taste good. There are a number of ways this is done and one includes a salt process. Many people however, have concerns with adding extra salt to their bodies.  Some people have diseases and conditions where they need to limit the amount of sodium in their bodies so a traditional water softener that uses salt to soften the water may not be ideal.  Another alternative for treating the water in your home can com...

Quality water represents life and health however bad water can literally suck the life out of your plumbing.  If you find yourself in constant need of repairs due to the excess mineral deposit and lime-scale, then it is clear your home may benefit from the installation of a water softener or another form of water treatment.  It might not be as clear cut as this either, sometimes homeowners will only notice a change in water pressure.  This however can be a clear sign of buildup on the pipes that is restricting the flow of water. Saving Money With a Water Softener Some people prefer the taste of hard water, but is dealing with dry skin, blocked pipes, scum inside your kettle or the constant upsurge in energy bills worth it? Hard water contains a high concentration of calcium and magnesium salts, and while they are not harmful, they cause damage not only to your taps, pipes, and water heating appliances but also to your wallet. Water softener systems for homes are wort...

In certain parts of the country the water is better than others. We rely on drinking water on a daily basis for survival.  It’s imperative that the water we drink is free of containments and tastes good. Nothing is worse than hard water, water that is over-laden with minerals, that not only gives it a sulfuric taste, but is also harsh and drying on the skin. The best solution is to add a water treatment system such as a water softener system to your home. Choosing The Right Water System for Your Home There are differences between a water softener, conditioner, purifier, and filtration system. Choosing the best water treatment system for your home can be a lot simpler if you decide its primary purpose and work with a professional water conditioning company to choose the right system for your situation. A water conditioner is basically a piece of equipment that can change your water. It can filter your water, or improve the taste of the water in some way. A water softener is a...