When browsing for a water softener, you likely have encountered the word “resin” more than once. It’s a fundamental part of the water softener operation, so understanding how it’s used helps you choose the right softener for your needs. Read below if you want to understand how the resin is used in the water softening process.
What Is Resin?
If it’s time for you to get a water softener, it might be wise to learn what resin is and why it’s so important to the water softening process. Water softener resin is the material required for ion exchange. Through this process, hard water is removed. Hard water has a large base of minerals that make your water hard. The minerals aren’t bad for your health, but they are harmful to your appliances, wreak havoc on your skin, and leave streaks on your dishes. As such, the resin is a key factor in softening this water. But how is it done? Check out the process below.
The Process-Resin Ion Exchange
The resin is comprised of tiny plastic balls packed inside the softener. The beads hold a negative charge. This, in turn, attracts ions with a positive charge. The beads are recharged and coated with sodium ions, which hold a positive charge. Ion exchange happens when positively charged calcium and magnesium ions in the water push the sodium ions away and attach resin instead. This is an important part of how the resin is used in the water softening process.
The Regeneration Process
The salty ions are then released into the water. Once the beads are saturated with the hard water, the softener must remove both the magnesium and calcium to continue collecting; after that, regeneration can occur. The water softener cycles out the mineral ions in the brine solution. The brine replenishes the resin, and the cycle continues.
In short, resin is important in the water softening process. Without it, ion exchange—and by extension—water softening couldn’t even happen. We must recognize the importance of resin to appreciate the process better and know how this affects our water.
