About Salt Free Water Softeners
Increasing numbers of people are considering installing a whole house water filter system in their home having learned of the benefits that such systems can have on both the health of their families and the water and heating systems in their home. A little research at the initial stage will enable them to invest in the system that will not only be best for their particular needs but which will give years of reliable use. The two main water softener systems to choose between are the more traditional salt based ion replacement, systems and salt free water softeners.
Hard water will result when a water supply is sourced from and area of chalk or limestone rock. As rainwater filters down through the rock it absorbs minerals, in this case primarily calcium and magnesium. These can then be deposited later in our appliances and pipes as lime scale.
Those of us who live in a hard water area will familiar with its effects. Shower heads will become blocked by deposits of scale and the shower and other washing areas will never look truly ‘sparkling clean’. Taps and other metalwork will be dull and we will s
truggle constantly against the build up of unsightly and potentially damaging lime scale. Worse damage will occur unseen as our pipe work and expensive appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines and boilers gradually become blocked by or covered in damaging scale, reducing their efficiency and leading to premature repair bills and even replacement.
Hard water can also have a detrimental effect on our health. The skin is our body’s largest organ and constant exposure to hard water can leave it dry and denuded of the natural oils that are vital if it is to stay healthy. Many people consider installing water softeners if they suffer from one of the common skin conditions such as Eczema or Psoriasis. Studies undertaken in the U.K and Spain suggest that people suffering from these conditions living in hard water areas can experience more severe symptoms in, on average, 50% of cases compared with sufferers from areas of either naturally soft water or those who use one of the methods of water softening.
The Benefits of Salt Free Water Softeners
Those using a water softener will also benefit from the need to use less soap, shampoo, conditioner and household cleaning products. This will not only save money but has the added benefit of being far more environmentally friendly.
Traditionally water hardness has been treated with the use of salt water softeners. These work by replacing the calcium and magnesium ions in the water supply as it enters the home with ions of sodium (salt). The hard water passes through a series of water filters in a unit containing a gel made up of tiny plastic spheres which have been charged with ions of sodium. These are exchanged for the calcium and magnesium ions present in the hard water resulting in calcium free, softened water. To recharge the system you need to periodically flush through with brine. This system has the main benefit of removing the calcium completely but there are some disadvantages. They are quite expensive to buy, typically $700 to $900, they need to be fitted by a competent person or plumber because they are inserted into the existing pipe work, and they need regular maintenance. Also they really need either a separate source of drinking water or an additional reverse osmosis filter fitted to remove the salt from the water used to drink or cook with otherwise you will exposing yourself and family to very high levels of salt on a long term basis. Salt water, as anyone living near the sea will testify, is highly corrosive to metalwork and can damage the interior of your pipe work and appliances.
These disadvantages have led to the development of a range of electronic salt free water softeners. A small electrical unit is attached to the supply as it enters the property, two wires are wound around the pipe work and the unit is plugged into the normal household electricity supply. A very small electrical current is then passed through the water supply which increases the electromotive attraction of the water to calcium particles, causing them to be held in suspension and not deposited as lime scale. As this electrically charged water moves through the household system it gradually removes any previous lime scale build up which has occurred, leaving your system clean and clear. Salt free water softeners come in a wide range of capacities and price points to suit all needs and budgets. One of the best salt free softeners is the ClearWave heavy duty water softener. Available for as little as $150 including shipping this budget unit will satisfy many people’s needs for a water conditioner. If you would like crystal clear, almost spring like water the Pelican system of whole house softener and filtration at around $3500 will give you the very best quality domestic water available.
Advances in micro chip technology have led to the creation of a new breed of electrical salt free water softeners. Now available in a wide range of abilities and at price points to suit all needs and budgets there has never been a better time to invest in one of these healthy and cost effective additions to the home.


A nuvoH2O Salt-Free Water Softeners use a small, innovative cartridge that you replace only once or twice per year, depending on your water usage and hardness. The cartridge contains a proprietary, FDA-approved formulation that, together with a patent-pending distribution system, makes the this Salt-Free Water Softeners your best soft water solution.
The Pelican NaturSoft system is the most environmentally conscious hard water softening/conditioning system available. The NaturSoft system prevents the calcium & magnesium minerals in your water from forming hard water scale in your plumbing, preventing the clogging of shower heads, faucets and loss of water pressure. The Pelican NaturSoft system also actively removes any existing hard water scale formation in pipes and water heaters.
K-Life Water Softener crystals are the healthier alternative to salt regenerants…it adds potassium to drinking water, and is better for the environment! K-Life is potassium chloride, which is a naturally occurring mineral and has been used for years as a salt alternative. K-Life and regular softener salt both soften water by a process called ion exchange, which means that as the water softener removes hardness and impurities from the water, it must give something back to the softened water. With regular softener salt, sodium is added to soften the water. The harder the water, the more sodium is added. With K-Life the same exchange process takes place, except K-Life adds potassium instead of sodium.