Water Softener vs Water Filter

The water coming out of your faucet has a higher ratio of minerals that are making it harder. You can’t assume washing dishes using this water, then how it can be justified as drinkable water.

The water treatment system has become the necessity of the time, not installing them can be turned out as a disaster for your family. But which system is designed for your needs, is something that is confusing for all of the users.

Hence, we are crafting this blog post, comparing the water softener and water filter system that will make you understand the difference in both of them. And helping you to choose a winner for your home.

So let’s make them dive into the battle ring and start the “Water Softener VS Water Filter” Round.

Both of them are the water treatment system. But for the purpose which they are designed are different. People normally, consider them as same and choose the wrong one, contradicting their needs, and later on, start cursing the system. Isn’t it wrong?

Why You Need One?

Before moving to the actual debate, you must be familiar with tap water and why you need a treatment system for your home. Because that’s the ignored basic, many people are not aware of it.

Utility company does not give you the water directly, but they also perform water treatment at some level. So, the water can be consumable for us. But unfortunately, their water treatment activity always remains at the minimal level that the minerals like calcium and magnesium do not get removed from the water.

Tap water used to be contaminated with various impurities, minerals, and chemicals, which should not be present in water.

Hence, you should have the water softener or the water filter at home to improve the quality of water, while removing the unwanted contamination from it.

All About Water Softener

As the name implies, the water softener is designed to soften the hard water by eliminating the calcium and magnesium, while replacing them with sodium and potassium chloride. To get it done, the process that takes place is known as ion exchange.

In simple words, the water softener is evil for the hard water, you have access to. The residue that used to be left on your skin and hair after using hard water will be no longer an issue, after installing a water softener in your home.

Moreover, you will get rid of all of the disadvantages of hard water including, clogging of pipes, damages of fixtures, and the extra use of soap. The dullness of clothes and the grimy feel over the skin is something that you will never interact with anymore.

Benefits of Having A Water Softener

Hard water does not only affect your clothes, skin, or dishes. But also causes a disaster in the plumbing lines of your home, from where the water is coming. The regular flow of hard water causes clogging and leakage in the plumbing system over time.

But if you are having a water softener at home, then nothing to worry!

The plumbing line would not cause you such an issue. Hence, you will be saved from the repairing cost, which puts the dent in the pocket of many annually.

The most important benefit is that your skin and hair will no more feel dirty. The softened water using a water softener will reverse the effect that you have because of using hard water.

Other than that, your clothes will be saved as well. The water will not make your clothes damage or faint their color. Even after washing them many times, you will not feel them faded or damaged. Interestingly, you will also not have to spend a lot of time washing them. As hard water makes it difficult for you to wash clothes. Hence, you end up wasting more time in cleaning.

The Untold Story of Water Softener

There is no product in the world that is perfectly ideal for everyone, the same goes for the Water Softener. All the praises aside, water softener also has some of the dark sides of it that most co the people don’t mention.

At top of the list, Operation and the installation cost is scary for most people. You can’t just easily afford its operation. But for sure, to have a quality drinking water, you would have to.

Other than that, softened water is better than hard water, but still not appropriate for drinking. Specifically, for those individuals who are sensitive to the salinity. It only softens the water, which is appropriate for dishwashing, clothes washing and to prevent clogging in plumbing.

These are the only two major concerns that you must be aware of before making any decision.

All About Water Filter

A water filter is the broad term relative to the water softener. Under the umbrella of the water filter, there comes the various water treatment system that is designed to remove contaminants from water. Though some remove all of them and some are specified to certain contaminants.

Whenever it comes to water filters, unlike water softener you will find the variety of configuration including, under sink water filters, countertop water filters, and some other. You can choose any of them as per your preferred configuration.

Types of Water Filter

Other than different configuration styles, you will also encounter the different types of water filters. The best performing are as follows;

Reverse osmosis system
UV Filtration
Carbon filtration

Though, the core of every water filter is to treat and filter the water from all of the possible contaminants. Mostly, the difference is in the working mechanism and the features.

Benefits of Having a Water Filter

Relative to the water softener, the water filters are best in making the water healthy and drinkable. No matter, which water filter you have installed, you will end up having a perfectly treated and contaminants free water. No doubt, the water treated with water filter is entirely safe and trustworthy.

Water filter saves you money, by enabling you to avoid using bottled water. You don’t have to drive for bringing the bottled water back at home anymore. In addition to this, you will also be contributing to the betterment of the environment by avoiding bottled water.

The Untold Story of Water Filters

Similar to the water softener, maintenance cost is scary for most of the users. You can’t easily afford to maintain it without putting a dent in your pocket. Other than the maintenance cost, the initial installation cost is expensive as well. Though, to have a quality drinkable water, investing in water filter worth your money.

The other downside is the slow water output, which is because of treating water properly.

Difference Between Water Softer and Water Filter

Some of the majorly concerned differences are listed below;

They both treat the water differently. A water softener removes the minerals that cause hardness in it. While the water filters remove water contaminants.
A water softener uses the ion exchange process to remove the calcium and magnesium using the salt as an agent. Whereas, Water filters use a different kind of complex technologies. Some of the processes that are involved in water filters include oxidation, micro-filtration, absorption, and ion exchange.
A water softener has to be maintained on a regular basis, while the water filter doesn’t need to be frequently maintained relative to the water softener. But the cost of both of them is expensive.

Who Is Winner for Your Home?

Declaring any of them a winner could be unjustifiable. Because both are designed for different purposes, with different processes. It all depends on your need. We have clearly mentioned their purposes, benefits, and dark sides. Now making a final decision is up to you, while considering your needs and requirements. Moreover, using both of them at the same could also be possible for the better output, if you can afford them.

Water Softener vs Water Filter – A Winner for Your Home