0 Study finds water softener does not provide benefits to children with eczema

Studi first of its kind in the world - involving 336 children aged between six months and 16 years - has shown that water softener installed for three months did not bring additional assistance to people with eczema.

Up to one-fifth of all children of school age have eczema, along with about one in 12 of the adult population. Anecdotal reports from patients have suggested that hard water can aggravate atopic eczema. Population surveys also suggest a possible link between the prevalence of atopic eczema and degree of water hardness.

It is expected that water softeners will provide a simple but effective for many children who suffer from this condition is itchy and uncomfortable. However, the trial - softened Water Eczema Trial (SWET) - conducted by The University of Nottingham and published today Tuesday, February 15, 2011 in the journal PLoS Medicine shows there is no objective difference in outcome between children whose homes are equipped with water softener and those without .

Independent trial run by a team of clinical experts and trial at the Center for Evidence Based Dermatology. Working with experts from the water industry, and funded by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment (HTA) program. A full report on the trial results will also be announced on Wednesday, February 16, 2011 as part of the Health Technology Assessment journal.

This study recruited children and families living in hard water areas in Nottingham, Cambridge, London, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth, Leicester and Lincoln.

Hywel Williams, Foundation Professor of Epidemiology and Skin-Head of Inquiry, said: "Although the results were disappointing in terms of future treatment options for children with eczema, the results of this research is very clear, good water softening and improved the same control group in the study when eczema measured objectively. Nevertheless, some parents still believe that water softeners help in eczema, and it is important to realize that the other benefits of home water softening may be important for the family too. "

The children suffer from moderate to severe atopic eczema to take part in the experiment, pragmatic observer-blind 12 weeks. Participants were divided randomly by computer into two groups - those whose families have a water softener installed and they are not. Those who do not have a water softener and then given a softener to try at the end of the study.

The results surprised even the experts. Professor Williams said: "Our research has shown that eczema is more common among primary school children living in hard water areas in the UK compared with children who live in soft water areas Nobody really knows why, but could be because hard water contains. high levels of calcium and magnesium, leading to increased use of soaps which can act as skin irritation We would be happier if we have demonstrated clear benefits of water softeners using .. But it did not happen, and we must face the truth. "

The severity of this disease can vary. In the mild form of eczema, dry skin, red and itchy, while in more severe forms the skin can become broken, raw and bleeding - cause sleep loss and poor quality of life. Eczema is not contagious and with treatment the inflammation of eczema can be reduced, although the skin will always be sensitive to flare-ups and need extra care and protection against drought.

The water softener industry (through their representative bodies, the UK Water Treatment Association) - is closely involved in providing expertise in technical aspects of water softening during the trial and a generic water softener has been specially produced for research. The industry has met the cost of producing and installing water softener units. However, research findings are independent of industry influence.

Tony Frost, Director of the British Engineering Water Treatment Association, said: .. "We are proud to have been associated with, and contribute to this trial We were very impressed with the professionalism and expertise of a team of University of Nottingham under Professor Williams The conclusion from this experiment is sound and clear but UKWTA certainly disappointed with the results of conventional, water softener was installed to prevent scale in water heating systems,. and deposit droppings in the sink and sanitary-ware, but over the years, we have received, and continue to receive, a report from the buyer that the water softener eczema family members have improved since the installation. At the end of the trial period each participant, they were given the option to buy a softener cost price; hope that it will not be significant uptake, but 66 percent of home-owners choose to buy. This is surprising bearing in mind the spread of high socio-economic population of the courts. comments that do not requested from the participants hearing on purchases ranging from "it does not affect our child's eczema, but we love the other benefits of soft water" to "our children eczema completely cured - it has changed our lives"

Source: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/news/pressreleases/2011/february/watersoftenerseczema.

Water Softener

0 Home Water Softeners

Water with a high content of calcium and magnesium is called hard water. There are other minerals present as well, but these are the main ones of higher concentration which create the problems.

There is no harm in drinking hard water, but it can wreak havoc on appliances like hot water heaters, dishwashers, and on water pipes and shower heads. Over time, hard water scale builds up on the insides of these appliances and pipes reducing their effectiveness and water flow, clogging pipes and eventually causing damage. This scale is also not a good conductor of heat. Another disadvantage to hard water is how soap reacts in it. Soap does not lather well in hard water and leaves a white grayish sticky scum behind. Most people relate soaps ability to clean by the amount of lather it produces and so bathing, washing clothes or dishes, and general cleaning becomes less productive in hard water. If your only problem with hard water relates to washing dishes or clothes than you might be interested in a calgon water softener since it’s very inexpensive and will save you the cost of buying one of the many water softening systems options which usually will cost you ~$1000.

Home water softeners are a less costly solution than filtration systems and so are a more likely solution for most people. They are generally installed where the water supply enters the home, but those who do not wish to soften drinking and cooking water or water designated for garden use will require a separate cold water line be installed. An alternative solution if you feel like you have no choice but to drink the softened water and your diet does not allow a high amount of salt is you might want to try a salt free water softener. Water softeners range in types and cost according to their sophistication level. The automatic ones cost more money but are the easiest to maintain in the long run.

Water softeners work by replacing the calcium and magnesium ions with sodium ions. The sodium does not create scale build up and does not inhibit soaps ability to lather. The water runs through a bed of small plastic beads or zeolite covered in sodium or potassium ions which exchange places with the magnesium and calcium ions. When the beads become saturated with calcium and magnesium ions and sodium ions are depleted, an automatic system will detect this and regenerate itself. To be regenerated, the beads are flooded in a salty brine solution. When this is complete, the magnesium, calcium, dirt and any sediment are flushed from the beads into the drainage system then the mineral tank is rinsed with clean water and loads the brine tank. The cycle is complete.

The automatic water softeners can be programmed to recycle when the homeowner wishes, however having it regenerate only when it is necessary saves on water use.

Most water softeners need very little maintenance on a regular basis however a little due diligence paid to its upkeep is wise to keep it running at its optimum efficiency level. Watch for salt build up in the brine tank and clean if necessary. If your water contains iron, use an iron removing product to clean it. Keep the resin tank injector clean. All these will ensure your home water softener will last for many years. You might want to consider reading more about water softener reviews before committing to a purchase.

-Water softener salt.net-

0 Water Softeners How They Work

Water softening is the act of reducing the level of magnesium and calcium ion concentration from hard water. Although the World Health Organization has found no evidence of hard water being harmful to humans, many people may still find it undesirable, mainly because soaps and detergents don’t lather well with hard water making it difficult for cleaning purposes. The best and the most used method of reducing hardness from water is to use a ion-exchange resin device, more commonly known as a water softener.

Water softener systems work by replacing the magnesium and calcium ions causing the hardness with sodium ions. The way it works is that the water passes through a negativity charges bed of resins containing sodium ions, though it can also use potassium or hydrogen ions. As the negativity charged particles absorbs and binds the magnesium and calcium ions it releases the sodium ions, thus replacing the hardness minerals with sodium. How much sodium is required for this process depends on the amount of hardness minerals in the water, the harder the water the more sodium ions is released in to the water to reduce the hardness. Such resins are also available to reduce the levels of carbonate, bi-carbonate and sulfate ions from the water, but they release hydroxyl ions in the water instead.

As these resins become filled with undesired ions from the water they slowly lose their effectiveness and needs to be recharged. This is usually done by passing a highly concentrated brain of usually sodium chloride (salt for water softener), or potassium chloride, or hydrochloric acid solution through them. This process replaces the hardness minerals from the resins with sodium or potassium.

It should be noted that too much sodium in the body can potentially cause side effects, so if you have hard water problems, it would be wise to have two taps in the house, with only one of them running through the water softener that you can use for cleaning purpose, while the other one with hard water that you can use for drinking, since the hard water has not be proven to have any adverse effect on the body for drinking. It’s once again mainly a problem for plumbing and house cleaning/washing. Other solutions include using a saltless water softener which can either use a completely different water softening system that does not include salt or it might simply be something like a kinetico water softener that instead of using salt you use potassium chloride to recharge the water softener resin.

-Water softener salt.net-

0 Water Softener Systems

As mentioned on other pages, water softener systems are used as hard water solutions because hard water can damage your plumbing due to the high mineral density in addition to making it harder to actually do simple tasks that require water such as cleaning dishes.

Their are multiple types of water softening systems to deal with this problem and most of these have their own ups and downs. The most used method which is the focus of this website is by using a water softener machine that uses salt. This is widely used because it is by far the cheapest solution. Another often used solution is by using a reverse osmosis water softener which will extract the minerals that cause hard water by basically using magnets. Keep in mind that none of these methods are perfect. While reverse osmosis, sometimes called an electronic water softener, produces drinkable water it is often critiqued that it has a low mineral count. It is also usually the most expensive method and wastes a lot of water while producing drinkable water. On the other hand, a water softener salt system is less expensive but keep in mind you might need a separate cold water line for drinking or cooking water since if you have to use a very hard water softener it might be hazardous to consume water with such high sodium proportions. Another alternative for your drinking water is to simply buy bottled water . Some states in the US also ban certain types of water softeners based around salt so you would have to look into getting a saltless water softener system.

The water softener system should be installed where the water line enters the home.

A water softening system that uses salt will add sodium to the water, specifically by recharging the water softener resin, and reduce/eliminate the concentration of calcium and magnesium that creates the hard water problem.

A more scientific explanation on how do water softeners work is that the calcium and magnesium ions are replaced by sodium ions. As the water passes through a bed of small plastic beads, also called the resin, the magnesium and calcium ions are attracted to these beads and “stick” to it. The sodium ions are then released by these beans and replace the calcium and magnesium as the water passes. Over time the beads will need to be replaced or regenerated by having more salt added to them and cleaning the water softener machine to get rid of all the calcium and magnesium.

Water softener systems work but keep in mind the advantages/disadvantage behind all of them, whether you choose a salt based system or one of the other salt free water softener systems. If your willing to go on the more expensive side of choices you might want to consider a system such as the kinetico water softeners which seem much more environmentally friendly and do not even require any outside electricity to run! Kinetico water softener systems can also be used with potassium chloride so you can then have a saltless water softener system. Another system for those who do not have “very hard” water is using the previously mentionned osmosis/electronic water softener that uses magnets to remove the hard water minerals.

If you think shopping for one of the many options of water softener systems is overkill than you might want to try out a calgon water softener which are not actually a “system” and more of a inexpensive product that you mix with your dishes and detergents so you can actually wash your dishes despite having hard water. The calgon water softener products are most useful if you don’t really worry about your plumbing and simply want to be able to effectively wash your dishes.

-Water softener salt.net-

0 Water Softener Reviews

When dealing with hard water it’s definitely important to find a water softener system that will work best for your needs. Water softeners are used for residential and industrial needs and this post on water softener reviews will focus mostly on water softener systems for residential needs.

As you can see in my water softener comparison page, some of the important things you have to consider are do you want a salt free water softener or any of the other popular water softeners which use salt?

So, before looking at these water softener reviews you will have to weight some of the benefits and disadvantages of both models. Here’s a brief overview, a water softener using salt will probably be one of the least expensive models to buy and maintain however you should have a separate drinking water line because you do not want to ingest such high amounts of salt over time. Also, it’s not very good for the environment and these salt using water softeners are banned in some states due to being environmental hazards.

Salt free water softeners on the other hand are usually more expansive to buy. Some salt water softener systems can use both normal salt and potassium so in this case it will simply be more expensive to maintain by using potassium than salt but it will be healthy for drinking and it will not be a hazard to the environment. Overall, a potassium chloride water softener is probably the best option however some other salt free water softeners alternatives that you might want to try or read up on are a magnetic water softener or an electric water softener which are basically two different names for the same system which mostly entails using magnets to separate the hard water elements (such as calcium and magnesium) from the water and only leaving the now “soft” water to pass in the water pipes in your house. However, most water softener reviews on these systems reveal that they will only work for those with “low” hard water problems since the magnets are less efficient at dealing with hard water than other methods.

Water softener reviews – Review by Brands

First off, we have the Kinetico water softener which is very popular but quite expensive. Some of its advantages that are pointed out on our Kinetico water softener reviews page is that it has a dual resin tank which means that when one is regenerating the other one can still work which ensures 24 hour water softening. Also, they power themselves with the kinetic energy of the water so they will not add to your electricity bill and might in fact pay themselves over time or at least reduce the gap with the other cheaper alternatives since its main disadvantage is it’s price which is usually above at least $1000

Another popular brand is the Kenmore water softener systems which as you can see from my Kenmore water softener review page they are quite an established and well liked brand. As you can see on their official comparison page they can use sodium and potassium chloride so that’s a great feature meaning you can use it with salt or not. It’s hard to get an accurate price range for their models as of the writing of these water softener review but I do remember seeing some models go for the $500-700 range so they are have some models in the low price point category.

Another popular water softener that is similar to Kenmore in terms of price ranges are Fleck which as you can see from my fleck water softener review is very similar in terms of feature as well. If you are deciding between both of these brands I would suggest you see which one has a seller near you. Also, as of this writing I am not sure if fleck water softeners can use potassium chloride, but probably (you might want to ask them if this is something you are interested in).

-Water softener salt.net-

0 What is Water Softener Salt?

Water softener salt is a product that removes ions from water that make water hard. Hard water refers to water with above average mineral content. This typically means calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg). Higher amounts of dissolved calcium and magnesium in water make the water less able to dissolve other solutes, such as soap. Hard water can also lead to clogged pipes due to increased lime scale build-ups. Lime scale build-ups make heating less efficient and produce more wear and tear on pipes and water dependent household machines, such as dishwashers and laundry machines.

Companies and households soften water to reduce heating bills and maintenance costs for piping and machinery. A water softener salt is designed to extract positively charged ions, namely calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+), though softeners are sometimes used to remove iron as well. For example if the salt sodium chloride, or Na+Cl-, is introduced into hard water, the salt will break apart, or ionize, and readily bind with negatively charged ions. This will leave free sodium ions (Na+) or sodium bicarbonate in the water while the chloride ions (Cl-) would bind with the positive magnesium and calcium ions to produce CaCl₂ and MgCl₂. The amount of dissolved calcium and magnesium ions is thus decreased, while the sodium ion content rises.

There are three types of water softener salt in general use: rock salt, evaporated salt, and solar salt. Rock salt is a naturally occurring salt found as a mineral in underground salt deposits. Rock salt is mostly sodium chloride, though it has small amounts of calcium sulphate as well. Evaporated salt is also found in underground salt deposits, though in dissolved form. The water is then evaporated from the salt, leaving almost 100 percent sodium chloride. Solar salt is obtained through seawater evaporation and contains roughly 85 percent sodium chloride.

Rock salt is the cheapest of the three water softener salts on the market, but because it has a higher insoluble composition, the softener reservoir needs more frequent cleaning. Solar salt, though better than rock salt, has more insoluble components than evaporated salt and requires more reservoir cleaning. If the water is harder and requires more salt usage, evaporated salt is recommended. While it is not harmful to mix these salts, it is preferable to use one type of salt at a time to prevent clogging.

Types of Salt Water Fish

The salt reservoir should be checked monthly to ensure that the water softener salt level is at least half full. One should not expect to see immediate softening results after adding salt softeners, as the salts take time to dissolve. Purchasers should be wary when buying a water softener that salt is corrosive and can break down pipes over time. Also, salt-softened water may not be suitable for babies due to the high sodium content.

Generally, the sodium found in water after using water softener is not present in high enough concentration to raise any health concern, but if a person is on a low sodium diet or for another reason wishes to reduce sodium intake, there are other options. Filters can be set up to remove salt, but this is usually very costly, so they are usually installed just at drinking faucets. Sodium chloride salt can also be replaced with potassium chloride salt.

Written by Caitlin Kenney
Edited by Bronwyn Harris

-wise geek-

0 Water Softener Salt Introduction

If you are looking for a water softener salt system than you probably have a hard water problem.

What is a hard water problem?

It’s when your water is referred to as hard because of the minerals in it. The two common ones are calcium and magnesium which dissolve in the water and make it “harder” over time. This often happens in rural areas because as the rainwater passes through the rivers and stream it slowly absorbs calcium and magnesium. While it is called hard water it is still drinkable. It has all the nutrients your body needs to stay healthy and no difference in terms of side effects over regular tap water for most people as long as the softening needed is not too strong because the harder your hard water problem the higher the concentration of sodium will be in your drinking water. If you want to use one of the many different water softener systems based on salt make sure to read our information on the different softener salt‘s and their advantages. Depending on how strong your softener system is, it could be potentially hazardous to your health if you drink it. When you are doing a water softener comparison to determine what you need for your specific hard water problem keep that in mind! If this might be an issue for you it might be preferable to try a saltless water softener or an electronic water softener. A model such as a kinetico water softener that you use along with potassium chloride instead of the regular salt will also work well. Kinetico water softeners also use the “free” kinetic energy from the water that passes through so you don’t have to use electricity for it. The catch? They are of course more expensive than most water softener systems which have been used for decades and sport a much lower price tag. We have information on tips you should keep in mind when looking for water softener reviews.

If it’s not harmful to me why should I worry about hard water?

Because it will damage your plumbing, hot water tank, clothes and basically anything that comes in contact with the water. It will also make things such as soap and detergent not dissolve as easily which can clog up your pipes. If you mainly want to soften your water for cleaning your clothes or washing the dishes and you do not want to spend a few hundred dollars for a water softening system than you might want to opt for a calgon water softener which is rather inexpensive (a bottle can be had for as little as $10) and is basically mixed with your detergent when you wash. The calgon water softener provides one of the least expensive of all hard water solutions and if your water is not too hard and only lightly affects your plumbing this might be a good solution for you.

Their are a couple different ways to solve this problem that can vary depending on the amount you need filtered, residence versus major plant, A practical solution to this is to get a water softener salt which is used with a water softener system.

source : -Water softener salt.net-

0 Water softening (water softener)

Water softening (water softener) is the reduction of the concentration of calcium, magnesium, and other ions in hard water. These "hardness ions" can cause a variety of undesired effects including interfering with the action of soaps, the build up of limescale, which can foul plumbing, and galvanic corrosion. Conventional water-softening appliances intended for household use depend on an ion-exchange resin in which hardness ions are exchanged for sodium ions. Water softening may be desirable where the source of water is hard. However, hard water also conveys some benefits to health by providing dietary calcium and magnesium and reducing the solubility of potentially toxic metal ions such as lead and copper^.

Methods for water softening

Water softening methods mainly rely on the removal of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ from a solution or the sequestration of these ions, i.e. binding them to a molecule that removes their ability to form scale or interfere with detergents. Removal is achieved by ion exchange and by precipitation methods. Sequestration entails the addition of chemical compounds called sequestration (or chelating) agents.

Since Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ exist as nonvolatile salts, they can be removed by distilling the water, but distillation is too expensive in most cases (rainwater is soft because it is, in effect, distilled).

Ion-exchange resin devices

Ion-exchange materials contain sodium ions (Na⁺) that are electrostatically bound and that readily are replaced by hardness ions such as Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺. Ion exchange resins are organic polymers containing anionic functional groups to which the Na⁺ is bound. Minerals called zeolites also exhibits ion-exchange properties; these minerals are widely used in laundry detergents.

The water to be treated passes through a bed of the resin. Negatively-charged resins absorb and bind metal ions, which are positively charged. The resins initially contain univalent (1+) ions, most commonly sodium, but sometimes also hydrogen (H⁺) or potassium (K⁺). Divalent calcium and magnesium ions in the water replace these univalent ions, which are released into the water. The "harder" the water, the more hydrogen, sodium or potassium ions are released from the resin and into the water.

Resins are also available to remove carbonate, bi-carbonate and sulphate ions which are absorbed and hydroxyl ions released from the resin. Both types of resin may be provided in a single water softener.

Regeneration

The resin's capacity is gradually exhausted and eventually it contains only divalent ions, Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ for cation exchange resins, and SO₄^2- for anion exchange resins. At this stage, the resin must be regenerated. If a cationic resin is used (to remove calcium and magnesium ions) then regeneration is usually effected by passing a concentrated brine, usually of sodium chloride or potassium chloride, or hydrochloric acid solution through them. For anionic resins, regeneration typically uses a solution of sodium hydroxide (lye) or potassium hydroxide. The salts used for regeneration are released into the soil or sewer.

In industrial scale water softening plants, the effluent flow from re-generation process can precipitate scale that can interfere with sewerage systems.

Other methods

Lime softening

Chelating agents

Chelators are used in chemical analysis, as water softeners, and are ingredients in many commercial products such as shampoos and food preservatives. Citric acid is used to soften water in soaps and laundry detergents. A commonly used synthetic chelator is EDTA.

Health effects

Effects of sodium

For people on a low-sodium diet, the increase in sodium levels (for systems releasing sodium) in the water can be significant, especially when treating very hard water. For example:

A person who drinks two litres (2L) of softened, extremely hard water (assume 30 gpg) will consume about 480 mg more sodium (2L x 30 gpg x 8 mg/L/gpg = 480 mg), than if unsoftened water is consumed.

This amount is significant, The American Heart Association (AHA) suggests that the 3 percent of the population who must follow a severe, salt-restricted diet should not consume more than 400 mg of sodium a day. AHA suggests that no more than 10 percent of this sodium intake should come from water. The EPA’s draft guideline of 20 mg/L for water protects people who are most susceptible. Most people who are concerned with the added sodium in the water generally have one tap in the house that bypasses the softener, or have a reverse osmosis unit installed for the drinking water and cooking water, which was designed for desalinisation of sea water. Potassium chloride can also be used instead of sodium chloride, which would have the added benefit of helping to lower blood pressure, although costly. However, this should be done carefully as elevated potassium levels are dangerous and can lead to complications such as cardiac arrhythmia, although a person with normal kidney function would have to consume a large amount of potassium to develop hyperkalemia.

-wikipedia-

0 Water Softener Systems Reviews!

Executive summary about water softener systems By Kent Pinkerton

Water Softener Systems

Do you ever feel like nothing you do when you clean works? Do you still feel dirty when you get out of the shower? Does your hair feel dry after you wash it? Your problem might be hard water.

The term, “hard water,” refers to water with a high mineral content. The most common minerals that cause water hardness are calcium and magnesium. When these minerals end up in a household’s water supply household pipes become clogged and appliance efficiency is reduced. Home water softener systems are machines that tap into the household water supply and filter water as it comes through to remove calcium and magnesium, the most common minerals that cause water hardness. Home water softener systems typically consist of a brine tank and the filter. These systems are also equipped with a meter to indicate when the sodium needs to be recharged. As water moves through the machine, calcium or magnesium ions change places with “”softer”" ions as they pass through the filter. The calcium or magnesium ions stay behind, and water continues through the pipes, softened by salt.

Do You Need a water softener systems?

Executive summary about water softener systems By Pam Baldwin

You need to “soften” the water, or remove the minerals. You can either do that at the point of use, say the kitchen sink, but it often makes the most sense to soften the water as it enters your house, with a whole
house water softener systems. There are two basic types of water softening systems.

The first type of system works by simply mixing salt with the incoming water. No salt water softener systems are a bit more complicated in operation. How much will it cost you to clean and maintain the various home appliances that can become clogged or stained by prolonged exposure to hard water. One option that might make the cost easier to bear is to look at combination water filter and softener system, since the benefits of clean water for drinking are much easier to appreciate.