WATER SOFTENER QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
Before you contact us with a specific question, please read this section. Chances are the question you have in mind has been asked before.

IMPORTANT NOTE: SafeWater Softeners are so efficient, they'll actually pull old scale from existing pipework, eliminating it forever! Scale that has formed over years, and years of use will disappear... dissolved by SafeWater Softeners over a period of a few weeks. Depending on your pipes' condition, it may seem like the softener is not working at first... but patience rewards you with soft water, and super-clean pipes for life!

"There are hundreds of companies selling all kinds of softeners. Why should I buy one from SafeWater Softeners?" SafeWater Softeners is a 12 year old company at the forefront of the water-softening industry. We use leading edge catalytic technology to produce the finest softener on the market. We're so confident of this, we offer a "no-questions-asked", 3 MONTH money-back guarantee.

"What exactly is hard water?" Hard water is defined as containing more than 1 GPG (grain per gallon) of dissolved minerals (usually calcium, magnesium carbonate, and/or manganese).

"How is hard water measured?" Hard water is usually measured in either PPM (parts per million) or GPG (grains per gallon). 17.1 PPM or Mg/L = 1 GPG or PPM or Mg/L divided by 17.1 = GPG (grains per gallon).

"How can I tell how hard my water is?" You can either have it tested locally or you can send it to us by mail or UPS (at least 4 oz.) and we will test it for free (hardness only). Send your sample in a tightly sealed plastic container. Send samples to:
SAFEWATER SOFTENERS
CUSTOMER RESEARCH LAB
2343 SWEETBRIAR
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS 72703
Be sure to include a contact e-mail address, return address, and if possible, a daytime phone number so we can forward test results.

"Where can I purchase replacement filters for the whole house water filter installed with the SafeWater Softener?" The whole house water filter uses a 5 micron pleated filter element 4.25" x 10". You may find those at a store like Lowe's or Home Depot or you can purchase them directly from Bestfilters.com: 5 micron pleated replacement filter.

"What if I'm planning to purchase or have already purchased a softener somewhere else?" Send your sample anyway. We will still test it for free.

"I've read ads that claim that Magnetic softeners would solve my hard water problems. What is your experience?" Magnetic "conditioners" have been around for over 30 years and have been used extensively in Russia. They tend to work moderately well with low-medium hardness levels, however the effect seems to wear off within 48-72 hours and the degree of treatment isn't as thorough as catalytically treated water.

"Will SafeWater Softeners remove iron, hydrogen sulfide, or sulfur smell? No, our softener is only designed to alter the hardness of your water, if you have other problems or concerns, it will require some other solution or additional treatment. Unfortunately, we don't sell or recommend products for these other water problems.

"How do salt-based water softeners work?" A salt softening system works by passing hard water through resin beads. These beads have sodium/potassium ions attached to them and as water comes in contact with them, an ion exchange takes place. Hard mineral ions (typically calcium and/or magnesium) are exchanged with sodium/potassium ions.

"Do salt-based systems need regular maintenance?" Yes. With use, the sodium (or potassium) ions are replaced by calcium and magnesium. The resin then needs to be regenerated it can perform the ion exchange once again.

"Do SafeWater Softeners need maintenance?" No. SafeWater Softeners use a non-sacrificial alloy to completely eliminate maintenance or the need to purchase consumables.

"Why would I want to soften my water?" Soft water greatly reduces the scaling of pipes, faucets, pots, glasses, tubs, etc. You will use less laundry soap, dishwashing soap, hand soap, etc. The water is more pleasant to wash with, and generates less soap scum.

"How does water softened with your system differ from that softened with a salt-based system?" Water softened with a salt-based system tends to have a 'slimy' feeling. Some people like this. Our softener eliminates the 'slimy' feeling, leaving the catalytically-treated water soft, healthy, and silky-smooth. Many of our customers tell us this is one of our unit's best features. Once again, it all comes down to personal preference.

"Someone told me that I shouldn't have salt-softened water to my kitchen faucet or icemaker. What faucets should be left untreated by a salt-softener?" Normally your outside faucets should not be salt-softened. And you probably don't want to use salt-softened water for drinking or your icemaker. With our SafeWater Softener you can safely use the treated water everywhere in the whole house, no separate plumbing needed.

"Do I need to plumb a bypass around your unit?" No. Water treated with a SafeWater Softener is good for the whole house.

"I've heard that a salt-softener adds sodium to my water supply. Is this true?" Yes. A salt-based water softener removes the hardness minerals - calcium and magnesium - from water and replaces them with small amounts of sodium or potassium (if you use potassium chloride). SafeWater Softeners do not use salt. Therefore, they add no salt or potassium to your water supply or your septic or sewer system.

To put this all into perspective, here is a breakdown of the sodium content of some common foods.

As you can see, sodium is in almost everything we eat. However, if you suffer from hypertension or are on a sodium-restricted diet, you should consult your doctor about the proper water for drinking. In addition, even larger amounts of sodium may be absorbed through the skin while showering or bathing, potentially posing serious health concerns.

"Should I worry about corrosion from the salt in the water?"
Over a period of time water treated with salt-based softeners may corrode iron pipes or exposed steel surfaces. Although most of the metal in a home that comes in contact with salt-softened water is either coated or stainless steel which would be unaffected. No pipes or surfaces are harmed by catalytically treated water.

"Do I have to use salt?" No. Most stores that sell softener salt will also sell a salt substitute (potassium chloride). This is just as effective as the regular salt, but adds potassium instead of sodium. The downside is that potassium chloride costs between 3 and 4 times more than the regular softener salt. Of course, you still have to buy and lug around heavy bags and backwash and refill that salt softener. With the SafeWater Softener there is NO SALT, NO POTASSIUM AND NO HASSLE! EVER!

"What flow-rate will your system treat?" Up to 24 gallons per minute.

As you can see, it takes using many appliances or devices at once to begin to come close to capacity.

"I read somewhere that drinking soft water may lead to heart disease. Is this true?" There is currently a medical controversy over what effect, if any, drinking hard or soft water may have on heart disease. It is true that in some areas with naturally soft water, (very little calcium or magnesium) residents seem to suffer more from heart disease. Unlike other systems, SafeWater Softeners leave in all the "healthy" minerals that your body needs.

"How easy is it to install your SafeWater Softeners?" If you've done a little plumbing, we think you'll probably be able to install our water filter and softener. Take a look at the basic installation instructions and decide for yourself. With proper fittings a plumber should be able to complete installation in 1-2 hours in most cases. Remember, no bypass is necessary, it's a simple straight through connection.

"How do I utilize your 'free technical support'?" Once you have purchased a softener from us, we will give you our technical support phone number which puts you in direct contact with our softener expert.

"How does the warranty work on the softener?" We have selected the components in our softener from quality manufacturers. That is why we offer a 3 month unconditional money-back guarantee and a five-year replacement warranty.

"Do your softeners have a 'grains per gallon' limit?" Our softeners will handle from 1 to 25 grains per gallon.

"Can I use more than one of your softeners to increase the 'grains per gallon' limit?" No. Our units are 'tuned' to effectively treat up to 25 grains per gallon of hardness.

"Does hard water (with lots of calcium) shorten the life of our septic system?" We have not heard of hard water shortening the life of a septic system. You may want to consult a septic system expert.

"Will the softener need to be replaced after 5 years?" No. SafeWater Softeners are designed to last much longer than the 5-year warranty period. We limit the warranty to 5 years so we can offer the added benefit of making this warranty a fully-transferable warranty. Our customers tell us this helps increase the value of their homes when it comes time to sell.

"What if I have more questions?" If your question is not answered here, or if you want further clarification on a particular topic, please e-mail us at info@no-salt.com, or click here to access our easy-to-use 'Answer Request' contact form.

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