How does a water softener with salt work?

A water softener that uses salt removes the lime in the water using a process called ion exchange. This is when the water softener removes calcium and magnesium ions from your water and replaces them with benign sodium ions. Calcium and magnesium are the minerals that create lime scale.

In concrete terms, the tap water is passed through the water softener, travelling through a tube that is filled with resin granules. These resin granules act like a magnet and remove the calcium and magnesium from the water. When the resin granules are saturated, they must be renewed or regenerated.

This is where salt for water softening - or regeneration salt - comes in. Pouring salt into the container in the water softener creates a solution of salt and water. This ‘brine’ rinses or regenerates the resin granules in your water softener.

The calcium and magnesium ions are taken away to be discharged and the resin granules are then ready to soften the water again.