How a Water Softener Works

Diagram of a water softener's parts, including control valve, brine and mineral tanks.

An expert explanation and diagram of how a conventional water softener softens hard water. A standard whole-house water softener works on the principle of ion exchange, called “cation exchange.” It conditions, or “softens,” hard water by substituting sodium chloride (salt) for hard minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and iron. This video uses animation techniques to […]