The Difference Between Water Softeners and Conditioners
Water softeners and water conditioners can confuse people who are looking to buy their first one. But knowing the difference is simple enough, and you might be surprised at the benefits of each product. Check out the differences between water softeners and water conditioners below.
What’s a Water Softener?
Water softeners address the issue of hard water. Hard water isn’t harmful to consume, as it mostly contains calcium and magnesium. However, that doesn’t mean it’s a good thing. Magnesium and calcium can put your appliances through the wringer, clogging pipes and leaving streaks on your dishes. Nothing is worse than your clothes washer not pumping water properly because of caked calcium deposits in the pipes. Lastly, hard water can also make your skin dry and itchy if you shower in it.
When you install a water softener, you won’t have to deal with any of these issues.
What’s a Water Conditioner?
A water conditioner reduces hard water in your home but doesn’t eliminate it. Rather, it’s more useful for extracting harmful chemicals from your water, including chlorine, which can exacerbate asthma symptoms, food allergies, and congenital abnormalities. Water conditioners can be boons for people who want water that doesn’t contain any harmful chemicals, but it doesn’t help with the issue of hard water, like water softeners do. The difference depends solely on your needs—do you want to get rid of harmful chemicals or hard water? The choice is yours.
Which Should You Get?
Which product you should get depends on your needs. If you don’t want harmful chemicals in your drinking water, a water conditioner is for you. It completely filters VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and other harmful organic matter from your water. But if you want your appliances to stay on the up and up, you should probably get a water softener. Here at Alamo Water Softeners, we offer some of the best water softener services in San Antonio, so check them out!
In short, water conditioners and water softeners have their own differences and benefits. Which one you choose is a matter of personal choice and circumstance; they’re both here to assist with your goals. Make the right choice for your needs!
