How A Water Softener Can Affect How Your Water Tastes
Posted on: 22 January 2016
If you discover that your water is really hard, you might find that it is difficult to wash your hair and that the hard water is uncomfortable. Installing a water softener is the best way to eliminate the problem of hard water. The water softener is not supposed to affect the flavor of your water. However, there are some situations where a water softener can worsen or improve how your water tastes.
Softened Water Isn't Salty
While water softeners use sodium, the presence of salt is so low that it is not noticeable. The salt in the water only accounts for 3% of the daily sodium intake on average. If you are very concerned about your sodium intake, however, there are potassium chloride pellets. These pellets are more expensive and aren't always widely available. Some individuals prefer the taste of water that has been softened with sodium chloride, while others prefer water that has been softened with potassium chloride.
Eliminating A Chlorine Taste
Some water softeners can give water a mild chlorine taste. This is something that a lot of homeowners become used to, but if you dislike the chlorine taste, consider getting a water softener that uses a multi-resin process. This type of water softener has a denser layer of particles on the top and a second layer with finer particles at the bottom.
If the municipality overtreats your water too much, this can also contribute to an excessively chlorinated taste. Many municipalities are using chloramine, which takes longer to evaporate. While it sanitizes water more effectively than chlorine gas, it can negatively affect the flavor of the water. Regardless of whether the chlorine is caused by the water softener or the municipal water, if you use additional filtration methods, such as reverse osmosis, you can remove excess chlorine.
Eliminating A Fishy Taste
This process can also eliminate the rare circumstances where the softened water might have a fishy taste. The fishy taste is the result of the water having a higher-than-average sulfur content. Some water softener manufacturers have created filters specifically designed remove excess sulfur to eliminate the fishy taste.
Sometimes It Isn't The Water Softener
If your water always smells bad, the problem is likely the water source. You might need a filterer that will remove contaminants before they reach your water softener. Rural areas often have high levels of hydrogen sulfide and iron. Regardless, if you contact a water softener technician, like one from Portasoft Of Morris County, he or she might be able to study your water and find out why the water softened by it has an unpleasant taste.
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