Why Should Hard Water Concern Me?

For many uses, it would not matter. For instance, to put out fires, water your lawn, wash the mud off the streets or float your boat, water would have to be pretty hard to cause a problem. But for bathing, washing dishes and clothes, shaving, washing your car and many other uses of water, hard water is not as efficient or convenient as "soft water." For instance:

~ You use only 1/2 as much soap cleaning with soft water.
~ Because hard water and soap combine to form "soap scum" that can't be rinsed off, forming a 'bathtub ring' on all surfaces and drys leaving unsightly spots on your dishes.
~ When hard water is heated, the hardness minerals are re-crystallized to form hardness scale. This scale can plug your pipes and hot water heater, causing premature failure, necessitating costly replacement.
~ The soap scum remains on your skin even after rinsing, clogging the pores of your skin and coating every hair on your body. This crud can serve as a home for bacteria, causing diaper rash, minor skin irritation and skin that continually itches.
~ For many industrial uses, the hardness minerals interfere with the process, causing inferior product.
wwwFloridaSoftWater.com

Why is my Water leaving Pink Stains in my Bathroom?

Pink residue is generally not a problem with water quality. In fact, pink residue is likely a result of airborne bacteria which produce a pinkish or dark gray film on regularly moist surfaces. Such surfaces include toilet bowls, showerheads, sink drains, and tiles.

Some people have also noted that the pink residue appears in their pet's water bowl, which causes no apparent harm to the pet and is easily cleaned off.

Many experts agree that the bacteria that causes these pink stains is most likely Serratia marcesens, a bacteria which is found naturally in soil, food, and in animals. Serratia, which produce a characteristic red pigment, thrive on moisture, dust, and phosphates and need almost nothing to survive.

The pinkish film often appears during or after construction or remodeling, when dust and dirt containing Serratia bacteria are stirred up. Once the bacteria is airborne, it will seek a moist location in which it can grow. Some people have reported that the pink residue only appears during certain times of the year, when their windows are left open for most of the day. This bacteria is present in a number of environments and wind can carry the airborne bacteria or stir up dust in which the bacteria is present.

The use of activated carbon filters, which remove chlorine from the water, can make the problem worse. The absence of the normal levels of chlorine in tap water allows Serratia to thrive.

How do I get rid of the pink residue?

The best solution to this problem is to continually clean the involved surfaces to keep them free from bacteria. Compounds containing chlorine work best, but keep in mind that abrasive cleaners may scratch fixtures, making them more susceptible to bacterial growth.

Chlorine bleach can be used periodically to disinfect the toilet and help to eliminate the occurrence of the pink residue. An easy way to do this is to stir three to five tablespoons of fresh bleach to the toilet tank, flush the toilet to allow the bowl to be disinfected, and add another dose of bleach to the tank as it is refilling. The use of toilet "cakes" containing disinfectant can help keep the problem under control. By keeping bathtubs and sinks wiped down and dry, the formation of pink residue can be avoided.
www.FloridaSoftWater.com

How much salt does my Water Softener add to my drinking water?

For every grain of hardness in your water 7.5 mg of Sodium will be “added” to each quart of water by the ion-exchange method. For example if the water is 10gpg hard, you will add 75.0mg of Sodium per quart of water softened by ion-exchange. To put this in perspective one 8oz glass of milk contains 120mg of Sodium; one slice of white bread contains 114mg of Sodium. There is more Sodium in an 8 ounce glass of milk than in one quart of water softened by ion-exchange. And there you go!

FloridaSoftWater.com

My water feels slimy....Good! It's supposed to.

Many of our new customers have asked this question. Why does my Soft Water feel so slimy? How come I can't get the soap to rinse off of me? As always when it comes to water quality the final answer may depend on the local water characteristics within your specific region, and the type of Water Treatment Equipment that you have chosen. However, the answer here in South Florida has to a lot do with the exchange of Sodium for Calcium taking place within the Water Softener. Calcium is one of the most common Ions in our local Water. It makes up over 90% of the Total Hardness in South Florida. Calcium makes things like clothing and skin feel rough, and dried out. It is usually found naturally occurring in the form of Calcium Bi-Carbonate. When the Water travels through a Water Softening System the Softener Resin attracts and holds the Calcium from the water. For every single Hardness Ion removed from the Water, about a 1/2 of a Sodium Ion will be introduced into the water. What you end up with is a slight increase in the Sodium level in the form of Sodium Bi-Carbonate, in the Softened Water.
Another factor is the Skin itself. Over prolonged exposure to Hard Water the pores of your skin become blocked with Calcium. By not allowing natural skin oils to exit through the pores, your skin can become dry and rough. Once the Water Is Softened the pores clear out and the skin oil becomes present. This can cause a slippery skin feeling also.
Soap is the final culprit. Once you remove Hardness from the Water, it is important to cut down on the amount of soap that you use by over 1/2. Soft water makes more suds which can feel slippery.
Once customers become accustomed to Soft Water they learn to expect that slippery/silky feel and won’t settle for less. It is a constant reminder that their Water Treatment System is working properly and that they are showering in the best water for their skin.
Until next time treat yourself to a nice warm silky bath, and enjoy your great water!

Just Kick It!

Bridged Brine tanks can be a big problem when they occur. We can’t stress this enough so it bears repeating. Every now and then give your Brine Tank a Kick. That’s right KICK IT!!! Salt is a crystal and likes to clump together. The Salt in your Brine Tank is a very important factor in keeping your water clean. For more information on Water Softeners please visit our website at http://www.floridasoftwater.com
If the Salt sticks together in a clump in your Brine Tank it won’t dissolve the way it should and your softener won’t clean itself properly. The water will get dirty and you won’t be happy. So whenever you’re walking by your water softener stop and give the Brine Tank a Kick. It wont mind at all.
Thank you for your continued support of Florida Soft Water. We truly appreciate your business and referrals. If you have any Water questions please visit our website at http://www.floridasoftwater.com  or call 239-354-0915.

Keeping an eye on your salt usage/levels?

The on site maintenance of a Water Softener is pretty easy. Sometimes too easy. Other than adding Salt to a Brine Tank , and maybe setting a clock, there’s not much for an owner to do. That lack of on site maintenance can often be confused with not having to pay attention to what’s right in front of you. For more information on Water Softening and Softener Maintenance please visit our website at http://floridasoftwater.com.
The reason that I say “too easy” is because it is not unusual for some customers to just keep their brine tanks full and forget what they are really attempting to do. It’s not enough to just keep your Brine Tank full of Softener Salt. In fact if you have an efficient Demand Water Treatment System you might never want to completely fill your Brine Tank. It is just as important that you see the Salt dropping down in the Brine Tank as it is to add Salt.
If Salt sits still in a Brine tank for too long it will start to slowly dissolve due to Humidity. The weight of this partially dissolved Salt pushing down upon itself can cause a bridging effect. This will stop the salt from dropping down in the Brine Tank.  Although there are many reasons why a Brine Tank might bridge, the most common ones are too much salt, and not enough water consumption.
If the Salt stops being consumed by the Softener that is a sign that there is a problem in the system, not a sign that everything is all set. Eventually the system will fail.
One easy solution is to keep a log near your system and journal all of your interactions with your system.  Over time you will know how much Salt you use on average, and if you vary by more than 20% on average call your Water Treatment Company for service. It is best to call for service soon, before the equipment becomes seriously damaged.
Thank you for your continued support of Florida Soft Water. We truly appreciate your business and referrals. If you have any Water questions please visit our website at http://floridasoftwater.com or call 239-354-0915.