The Difference Between Water Softening and Reverse Osmosis
If you’re trying to decide whether you should install an RO system as well as a water softener in your Northeast Ohio home, look no further. We know that trying to understand exactly what reverse osmosis, water softening, and other water treatment services do for you can be tricky, as many websites use complex language that only people already familiar with water treatment will understand. That’s why we created this easy-to-understand guide so that whether you know little about water treatment or nothing at all, you can understand what these products and services do, the differences between them, and how they can benefit you.
What’s the Difference Between Water Softening and Reverse Osmosis?
Water softeners and reverse osmosis systems improve water in different ways, which is why they are often used together rather than as replacements for one another. A water softener is designed to treat hard water by removing the calcium and magnesium minerals that cause hardness. Through a process called ion exchange, these minerals are replaced with sodium or potassium ions, preventing the scale buildup that can form inside plumbing, water heaters, dishwashers, and other appliances. By reducing hard water minerals, a water softener helps protect your home's plumbing system while making everyday tasks easier. Many homeowners notice cleaner dishes with fewer water spots, brighter and softer laundry, less soap and detergent usage, smoother skin and hair after bathing, and reduced mineral buildup on faucets, fixtures, and shower doors. Because appliances no longer have to work against mineral deposits, they can also operate more efficiently and often last longer, helping homeowners reduce maintenance and replacement costs over time.
What Does a Whole-Home Reverse Osmosis System Handle?
While a water softener addresses hardness minerals, a reverse osmosis (RO) system focuses on improving the quality of your drinking water by filtering out a wide range of dissolved contaminants. Reverse osmosis forces water through a specialized semipermeable membrane that can reduce many substances commonly found in drinking water, including chlorine, lead, nitrates, fluoride, sulfates, pesticides, and other dissolved solids, depending on the water source and the system installed. The result is cleaner, fresher-tasting water that is ideal for drinking, cooking, making coffee, and preparing ice. Many homeowners choose an RO system because it improves the taste, odor, and clarity of their water without relying on chemical additives. While most reverse osmosis systems are installed at a single faucet to provide purified drinking water where it is needed most, whole-home reverse osmosis systems are also available for homes with unique water quality concerns. Together, a water softener and a reverse osmosis system provide a comprehensive water treatment solution—one protecting your plumbing and appliances from hard water while the other delivers high-quality drinking water for your family.
Do I Need a Water Softener and Reverse Osmosis System?
Whether you need water softening and reverse osmosis depends on your home’s needs. Here are some benefits of having both an RO system and a water softener so you can decide what your house needs.
- Water softeners protect reverse osmosis systems – Having a water softener to take out the magnesium and chloride will take off some of the pressure on the reverse osmosis filter, allowing it to have a longer life.
- Different Functions – While water softeners “soften” the water, reverse osmosis water systems filter it. If you just have a water softener, then many impurities will still be present in your water. If you just have a reverse osmosis system, your hard water will only have a little improvement.
- Cost – Water softeners save energy and house appliance lifespan, while customers with reverse osmosis systems save hundreds of dollars per year after they stop buying water bottles, which is great for the environment as well. Both Dasani, which is a registered trademark of Coca-Cola Company, and Aquafina, which is a registered trademark of Pepsi Co Inc., use reverse osmosis to purify their bottled water. Just take a look at the label.
Contact Kinetico Cleveland to get a free water analysis or a free quote for your water treatment services to see whether a water softener or RO system is right for you.