This term refers to water containing a large amount of mineral. Water hardness is caused by calcium and magnesium. If these minerals are in the water of a home water softeners, household pipes can become blocked and the efficiency of appliances is decreased.
The water testing kits can be purchased from the pool supplier or any establishment that sells softener system. Hardness of water or the amount minerals present is usually measured by grains per gallon or parts per thousand (PPM) or milligrams/liter. The water hardness is measured in grains per gallon (GPG), parts per million (PPM), or milligrams/liters.
The most popular minerals responsible for water hardness are calcium and magnesia. Home water softeners remove these minerals as they filter through the system. Less scale and soap scum are created by softened water.
Home water softeners are typically comprised of the brine tank, and the filter. They are equipped with meters that indicate the need to refill sodium.
While water is flowing through the machine and filter, "softer" ions replace calcium or magnesium as it passes. As the calcium or magnesium ions are left behind, water is pushed through pipes that have been softened with salt. After the brine has depleted the water softener, it can be recharged. It replaces the magnesium or calcium ions with sodium ions.