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Is hot water that has been softened by a water softener OK to drink?
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
There are two questions here: 1) is it safe to drink water that has been softened by a water softener? 2) is it safe to drink water that has been heated (presumably by a hot water heater) and then passed through household Plumbing? Like many things there is some controversy of both of these items. Here are the highlights: 1) water that has passed thru a traditional water softener, known as an ion-exchange softener, has had the Calcium and Magnesium (and possibly other) ions removed by the water softener and replaced ("echanged") by sodium ions if regular water softener salt (sodium chloride) was used in the brine tank or potassium if potassium chloride salt was used in the brine tank. Several research papers on this topic are available at wqa.org (the water quality association). Generally people on low sodium diets are advised to either use potassium chloride in their water softeners or to not drink the softened water from an ion-exchange softener. Some organizations (most notably the world health organization WHO), advise against consumption of softened water on the basis that Calcium and Magnesium are beneficial to health. In some poorer parts of the world, where diets do not contain much Calcium and Magnesium, this is generally considered sound advice. Many people debate this guidance for developed nations where dietary sources of Ca and Mg deliver many times the amount of Ca and Mg that would come from drinking water. 2) generally health experts recommend against consuming large amounts of water that has been heated and passed thru metal plumbing (copper or iron pipes) on the basis that this water may leach harmul substances from the plumbing. (some experts also make this claim for plastic plumbing as well). A common solution for people concerned about drinking water quality is to use a home drinking water system. simple systems using carbon filters will remove some contaminents. Much broader reduction of contaminents is provided by home drinking water systems that use reverse osmosis (many of these RO systems also include carbon filters as well). Basic units are available at hardware stores for do-it-yourself installations while more comprehensive units are available from water treatment companies - many of the same companies who also sell, install and service home water softeners.
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
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Should you drink water that has been softened?
If your water is naturally soft it is perfectly safe to drink. If your water has been softened by a "water-softener" it contains sodium ions as a byproduct of the softening process. Having an intake of this much sodium in your drinking water could be detrimental.
Is soft water safe to drink?
If your water is naturally soft it is perfectly safe to drink. If your water has been softened by a "water-softener" it contains sodium ions as a byproduct of the softening process. Having an intake of this much sodium in your drinking water could be detrimental.
Is it safe to use water softener?
It has been proven that using a water softener is completely safe. Many websites state that is a safe alternative.
What are good brands of water softeners?
The best Water Softener for your situation is down to personal choice and budget. Different types on the market include:Non Electric Water Softeners - Non-Electric water softeners are powered entirely by the incoming water pressure. As no electrical supply is required, it is easier to install, and you will not have to worry about costly repairs or higher monthly electricity bills. Non-electric softeners tend not to have fiddly controls, adding salt is all that is requred to keep them running smoothly. 
The twin tank versions offer constant unlimited softened water to your home 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Non-electric softeners are reported to be longer lasting and more reliable.Metered Water Softeners - Metered water softeners are the most economical softener when it comes to using salt and regeneration water. A metered softener will only regenerate when a pre-set volume of softened water has been used regardless of the number of days this takes.This avoids under- or over-regenerating of the softener when your water demand varies. Again ,the volume of softened water is calculated by the hardness of your water supply, the capacity of the water softener and number of people in the property.Time Clock Water Softener - The more basic water softeners operate on a timed basis. The time clock is set to carry out its regeneration on set days. This is usually calculated by the hardness of your water supply, the capacity of the water softener and number of people in the property. When installed, the softener is set to regenerate off peak-times (like at 2:00 am) at the calculated regeneration frequency. To ensure that soft water is always available, the interval between regenerations will be underestimated rather than overestimated.The softener will then regenerate at this set interval regardless of the volume of water used. If the water usage is low, for instance, one or more of the residents is away, there will be unused softened water capacity at the time of regeneration, which can be argued as an unnecessary waste of salt and regeneration water. Similarly, if there is an increase in your water usage, the softened water capacity will more than likely be exceeded and the water would go hard towards the end of the cycle before the next regeneration. If you are going to be away from the property for a period of time, i.e. on holiday, and there will be no water flowing through the water softener it is advisable that it is switched off until your return.
Do you absorb salt when you shower with a water softener that uses salt?
No. Although a water softener uses salt, softened water does not have salt in it. The hardness (calcium) is replaced with sodium from the salt, but in the form of sodium bicarbonate (or baking soda). This is completely harmless and will not be absorbed when showering.
How to Repair a Water Softener?
Water softeners don't typically require much maintenance outside of occasional salt refills. However, it is possible for your water softener to break down or malfunction. If you are renting the water softener, then the responsibility for repairs lies with the company that owns it. However, if you own the water softener, you will be responsible for making any necessary repairs to the machine.When a water softener stops working properly, there are several things that may be wrong. You may have noticed that the motor isn't running, that the water is not being effectively softened, that the water has too much iron in it, or that the brine isn't flowing. Depending on the type of problem you are experiencing, the steps for water softener repair will differ.If the problem you are having is that the motor is not working properly, you should first check to see if the power is turned on. If you find that the power is in fact turned on, you will need to test the motor to determine if the part itself is the problem.If the water isn't coming out of the machine soft, the first thing you should try is to flush the tank and clean the injector. To clean the injector, switch the softener to bypass mode and disconnect the softener from power. Next, remove the softener cap, screen, and the injector nozzle. You can then clean the screen with water and soap. The nozzle can be cleaned with a paper clip or with canned air. After all parts have been cleaned, you can reassemble the unit and test it to see if the problem has been repaired.If the problem you are experiencing is that the water has too much iron in it, you can try to replace the filter. Some models can also use salt that has built-in iron-control agents. You can also check to ensure that the bypass valve is in the right position and that there are no leaks in your plumbing.Finally, if you are having trouble with flow in the brine line, you can try to flush the line to fix the problem. After the line is flushed, you can try to replace the filter screen and injector. Also, you can check the line for any damage or kinks that may be obstructing the flow.
When is fabric softener supposed to dispense in a washing machine?
During a rinse cycle, after the soapy wash water has been removed.
Can you use laundry softener after it has been frozen?
No
Why is it bad to drink saltwater?
As you know, salt dehydrates. Example-Salt is used to dry beef jerky etc. When a person drinks salt water when they are dehydrated, they become hallucigentic. The brain starts drying out and it is all down hill from there. Hope this helps.
Can you drink lab water and why?
Whether or not you can drink lab water will depend on what has been added. If you are referring to the water from the safety areas, then yes, you may drink that water because it's distilled.
What does earth pollution do to the water you drink?
because of earth pollution we now have to drink bad water that have been filtered.
How long has the water that you drink been on earth for?
Forever.
