Electronic water softener

[johnmark]

Anyone tried one of these? I see that they have one for RV use, now. I wrote to them and said that it sounds like Voo Doo, where does the calcium go? I haven't heard back yet. It is supposed to align the water molecules, a plumber told me that after the first bend in the plumbing it is all over.

[BigSkyBob]

Voo Doo is a good description. Junk is probably a better one. Your plumber is correct.

[LadyFitz...]

From what I've read, your plumber is wrong. It's all over before the first bend. Seriously, these things are in the same category as magnets to give you better gas mileage.

[stik]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigSkyBob Voo Doo is a good description. Junk is probably a better one. Your plumber is correct.

BigSkyBob and LadyFitz, either of you had first hand experience with one of these units? Just curious

[autofish]

Gee I thought magnets solved all problems haha

[LadyFitz...]

Quote:

Originally Posted by stik BigSkyBob and LadyFitz, either of you had first hand experience with one of these units? Just curious

No, I haven't but I am familiar with water softener technology and the idea of magnets softening water runs counter to that (it also violates everything I learned in physics and chemistry). Water softeners either exchange calcium ions for sodium (it's the calcium that does the damage) or use a reverse osmosis membrane to filter out all minerals. In either case, the calcium is removed. Even if magnets could realign the calcium ions to make them harmless, as soon as they left the magnetic field, they would revert to their natural state.

Over the years (and I've seen a lot of years), hucksters have made similar claims for magnets realigning gasoline ions to improve gas mileage. They have been repeatedly proven wrong.

[johnmark]

Here is the reply from one of the makers of these softeners:


Hard water is caused by Calcium and Magnesium combining into large particles forming Lime scale. This is the white buildup you see on the faucets and shower doors.


Saltwater softeners remove these minerals and in the process adds salt to the water.


Calcium and Magnesium are actually good for you. They are in all daily vitamins. Salt is not good for you and is hard on your metal fixtures.


Waterking sends electromagnetic sound waves through the water and pulverizes the large particles of Lime scale
(Calcium and Magnesium) and breaks them into very fine particles like you would find in natural soft water.
Therefore you have the benefit of soft water and the good minerals of Calcium and Magnesium without the salt.

[LadyFitz...]

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnmark Here is the reply from one of the makers of these softeners: Hard water is caused by Calcium and Magnesium combining into large particles forming Lime scale. This is the white buildup you see on the faucets and shower doors. Saltwater softeners remove these minerals and in the process adds salt to the water. Calcium and Magnesium are actually good for you. They are in all daily vitamins. Salt is not good for you and is hard on your metal fixtures. Waterking sends electromagnetic sound waves through the water and pulverizes the large particles of Lime scale (Calcium and Magnesium) and breaks them into very fine particles like you would find in natural soft water. Therefore you have the benefit of soft water and the good minerals of Calcium and Magnesium without the salt.

[moderator edit] The calcium in the water is not suspended as large particles. If it was, a simple particulate filter would remove it. The calcium is dissolved in the water. Nothing will break it up any further. This is basic grade school science.

With ion exchange softeners, calcium and magnesium ions are removed from the water by exchanging them with the sodium in a resin. The result is not sodium chloride. Sodium chloride (salt) is used to regenerate the sodium in the resin and drive out the accumulated calcium and magnesium during regeneration. The salt itself does not enter the water stream but instead is flushed out of the resin bed during regeneration.

But don't believe me when I tell you magnetic water softeners are snake oil. Read this.

[Scotter]

I have had plenty of experience with these units.

Don't waste your money.

[EDALLSAILS]

Many years ago (traverlers) went o farmers and sold magnets to farmwers so their cows would get sick if they ate a tin can. I thought cows ate grass. Later they came thru agin and sold them for sheep (again i thought they ate grass.) Back in the first oil crisis they came thru and sold magnets to improve gas milage (YEA RITE). Now the NEW thing is saltless water softners. Even the biggest softner companies are toughting them. But, do they work? YES, if you beleive the documentation produced by the Russians way back in 1937. water softners are a racket the American public has bought. Most CITY water really doens't need it. Call you city public works department and they usually tell water softners are NOT needed, saVE YOUR MONEY.

[LadyFitz...]

Quote:

Originally Posted by EDALLSAILS Many years ago (traverlers) went o farmers and sold magnets to farmwers so their cows would get sick if they ate a tin can. I thought cows ate grass. Later they came thru agin and sold them for sheep (again i thought they ate grass.) Back in the first oil crisis they came thru and sold magnets to improve gas milage (YEA RITE). Now the NEW thing is saltless water softners. Even the biggest softner companies are toughting them. But, do they work? YES, if you beleive the documentation produced by the Russians way back in 1937. water softners are a racket the American public has bought. Most CITY water really doens't need it. Call you city public works department and they usually tell water softners are NOT needed, saVE YOUR MONEY.

Apparently, you do not live in a hard water area. I do and have seen the damage hard water causes, such as calified pipes, water heaters, faucets, etc. I guarantee if you call any city public works department in AZ and most of the Southwest, they will NOT tell you water softeners are not needed.

Can you back up any of what you said? Do you have a link for the Russian documentation?

[paz]

All the replies seems to be talking about magnetic water softeners. According to the title, the OP asked about electronic water softeners, which I take to mean systems that wrap wires around the pipe. EasyWater is one such system that is supposedly used in commercial applications (EasyWater lists a number of fast food restaurants, hotel/motel chains, and others that supposedly use their systems) and is now widely advertised for residential use. They say theirs works by electronic impulses, not magnetism. Are electronic systems like EasyWater bunk as well?

[LadyFitz...]

The pseudoscientific explanation above of how one unit works is enough to discount the veracity of that electronic softener's vendor's claims.

Check here for more:

Magnetic and Electronic

Do electronic water softeners work? The answer is a “No”

[Ray,IN]

Some years ago my DW had high blood pressure. We used salt in the water softener. Our family Dr. asked if there was an alternative. I began using Potassium Chloride instead of salt and her blood pressure dropped about 10 points in the first month. I have asked several water softener companies about the electronic "softeners" and they all said they have never heard of any industry tests that prove they work.