Mixed Bed Water Softeners/ Softener & Chlorine Reduction Systems

Mixed Bed Water Softeners

                Several water softener vendors are now carrying mixed bed water softeners. The most notable mixed bed softener are the water softener/ chlorine remover systems. Other systems are water softener/ colour remover systems for the removal of tannins. Certain mixed bed systems are great and offer a more feasible option to getting rid of two or more water problems. However, there are also a few mixed bed systems that do not make much sense for the average individual.

Chlorine Remover/ Water Softener

                Companies have begun to offer a mixed bed water softener/ chlorine (and even chloramine) removal. This system is simply a water softener with water softener resin and a small amount of activated carbon. The media and resin mix together and work together to soften your water and remove chlorine from it all in one unit. This is true as the activated carbon will remove/reduce the chlorine, somewhat reduce chloramines and reduce or remove bad tastes and odours.

            The issue with these mixed bed water softeners is that the amount of carbon in these mixed bed systems so little that the water softener resin greatly outlasts the life of the activated carbon.  The carbon will stop removing chlorine after 1-2 years, while the water softening resin is still good for another 10-15 years. This means that you will be stuck rebedding your whole water softener after 2 years in order for it to be able to remove chlorine again.  You will be paying for new media and resin even though the water softening resin still has many more years of use left. Initially, this appears to be a cheaper option for removing chlorine and water softening, but in the long run you will be paying more for the more frequent rebeds and resin.

Proper Chlorine Removal

            Whole house filter systems and carbon filters are one of the better solutions for removing chlorine from your water. These units can come in point of entry whole house filter systems like our Big Blue 20 Inch Whole House Filter Kit or point of use “under the sink” systems.  The filter sump holds a carbon filter which is changed based on water usage. On municipal water, we find that most customers can get away with changing their filter after 6 months to a year on the 4.5″ by 10″ filter systems and a year to a year and a half on the 4.5″ by 20″ filter systems. You can also decide on using special chloramine filters like our Filtrex Chloraguard Chloramine Reduction Filters. These specialty filters remove/reduce chloramines much better than regular activated carbon and they even have a higher capacity for chlorine reduction. The lower initial cost makes this approach one of the most common yet viable solutions for removing/reducing chlorine from your water.

            Automatic Backwashing Filters are another means of removing/reducing chlorine from your water. Systems like our Purifiner Automatic Backwashing Carbon Filter Carbon Filter are point of entry systems capable of removing chlorine. The system comes in various sizes with residential systems containing 1.0 to 4.0 cubic feet of carbon. The backwashing system allows the unit to clean itself by ridding of any sediment or buildup that accumulates during filtration. This means that the backwashing carbon filters will last significantly longer than the cartridge filters. A 1.0 cubic foot carbon filter will last the average household 4-5 years depending on water consumption. We also have chloramine reduction systems like our Purifiner Automatic Backwashing Catalytic Carbon Filter for chloramine reduction. The automatic backwashing unit are the more feasible option in the long run as there is no need to buy filter cartridges and spend time changing filters.