Water Softener Resins: Types Brands and Information

Water Softener Resins

           Water softener resin is the media used in water softener systems which allows your unit to soften the water through an ion exchange process. When water passes through the resin, hardness ions (calcium and magnesium) are grabbed and replaced with salt (sodium or potassium) ions. After a certain period, your water softener will regenerate and the resin is charged with brine water (salt water) which allows it to exchange the hard ions from the water once again. These ions cause your water to feel hard, build up calcium in your pipes and may be potentially damaging to your appliances, hot water tank, water lines etc. Aquapura Water Products offers a variety of water softener resins in order to meet your specific needs.

Municipal Water

            A growing number of municipalities are adding higher amounts of chlorine and amonia to the water supply. The added chlorination and chloramines is damaging to standard water softening resin and will eventually turn it into mush. The broken down resin may end up clogging your pipes, toilets, appliances, end up in your food/drinks and ultimately leave your water feeling hard again. For municipal hard water we suggest a 10% crosslinked high chemical tolerant water softener resin. Resin like our Excelclear Severe 10% Water Softener Resin is capable of softening water where heavily chlorinated water is used. This resin is also capable of removing up to 3 mg/l of ferric iron .

Private Well, Lake with Low Ferrous Iron

            For Private water sources, where high levels of chlorine is not injected, It is fine to use a lesser crosslinked water softener resin. Though a lot of water softeners in the market use 7% crosslinked , we prefer using 8% crosslinked resin. Resin like our Excelclear Premium 8% Water Softener Resin does a great job at softening water where private water is the water source.  Additionally, this resin can also remove up to 3mg/l of ferrous iron.

Private Well, Lake with High Iron

            Quality water softener resin will remove up to 3mg/l of ferrous iron without the resin fouling prematurely. Those with higher levels of iron would fare better with fine mesh resin. Resin like our Excelclear Fine Mesh Water Softener Resin is capable of softening water and treating a certain level of ferrous iron. This fine mesh resin can treat iron levels up to 10mg/l. Fine mesh resin can sometimes save you the trouble of getting extra water treatment systems such as an iron filter.

Brands

            There are several different brands of water softener resins and even more manufacturers.

Common Water Softener Resin makes:

• Waterite’s Excelclear Water Softener Resin
• Purolite Water Softener Resin
• Carbochem Water Softener Resin
• Indion Ion Exchange Resin
• Dow Chemicals Water Softener Resin
• Ion Plus Water Softener Resin
• General Technologies Water Softener Resin

            Each brand and manufacturer has their own list of advantages over .