Water Conditioning Information; Water Conditioning - Whirlpool WHES45 Installation And Operation Manual

Water Conditioning

6

Water Conditioning Information

Water conditioning is the treatment of four general conditions. These are:
Hardness
Iron
Acidity
Sediments
1. Hardness is a term to describe the presence of calcium and magnesium minerals in water. A
chemical analysis accurately measures the amount of minerals in grain weight. For example, one
gallon of water with 5 grains per gallon (gpg) hardness has dissolved minerals, that if solidified,
about equals the size of one ordinary aspirin tablet. One gallon of water, 25 gpg hard, has a mineral
content equal in size to 5 aspirin tablets. Water hardness varies greatly across the country. It
generally contains from 3 to 100 gpg.
Hardness minerals combine with soap to make a soap curd. The curd greatly reduces the cleaning
action of soap. Precipitated hardness minerals form a crust on cooking utensils, appliances, and
plumbing fixtures. Even the tastes of foods are affected. A water softener removes the hardness
minerals to eliminate these effects, and others.
IMPORTANT: Water softeners using sodium chloride (salt) for regeneration add sodium to the
water. Persons on sodium restricted diets should consider the added sodium as part of their overall
intake. Water softeners using potassium chloride (salt) for regeneration add potassium to the water.
Persons on potassium restricted diets should consider the added potassium as part of their overall
intake.
Factor into your diet the amount of sodium or potassium shown below, based on your water
hardness and consumption.
Initial Water Hardness
Grains per Gallon
1
5
6
7
8
9
10
15
20
30
40
*If your water supply is 15 grains hard and you drank 3 quarts of softened water you would
consume 335 milligrams of sodium. That is equivalent to eating 2- - 1/2 slices of white bread.
**One large banana, about 9 inches in length, has approximately 600 milligrams of potassium.
Sodium Added to Water from Cation Exchange Softening
Sodium added by Cation
Exchange Softening of Water*
Milligrams Na+/qt.
7.5
37
44
52
60
68
75
112
150
225
300
Potassium added by Cation
Exchange Softening of Water**
Milligrams K+/qt.
12.75
62.9
74.8
88.4
102
115.6
127.5
190.4
255
382.5
510