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Frequently Asked Questions

Browse F.A.Q. Topics

Drinking Water

  • How well does my fridge filter work?
    Not as well as you would think or hope. The only way to be sure is to test the filter. Contact us for a free test if you're interested.
  • What is the best water to drink?
    As weird as this sounds, this is a debatable and highly controversial question. This is not something easy to explain in FAQ format. Our position is the best water is: purified of all contaminants, pH buffered when requested. Supplemented with minerals not received in ordinary diet.
  • Does it take out the minerals from the water that we need? or that are good?
    The minerals that are in our water are inorganic and our bodies are not able to assimilate them. We get our minerals from the food we eat, not the water we drink. This is actually one of the biggest misconceptions about water. If you want calcium in your water that your body can use you can add coral calcium. This calcium is an organic mineral. Consult your doctor for specific deficiencies in your body and how to remedy them.

No Salt Water Softener

  • Do no-salt water softeners really work?
    When looking at the terminology, no they do not. Softeners remove the hardness from the water. There has never a been a no-salt system we have tested that has in any way removed or even reduced the hardness in the water. Some no-salt conditioners have been shown to reduce scale build up on pipes and in boilers. They do not help with the soap scum. They do not make clean dishes, fixtures or soft skin like a salt based regeneration water softener.

Reverse Osmosis

  • I have heard these systems waste water. How efficient are these systems?
    All water using appliances discharge water. Water conditioning appliances are no different. Because of our efficiencies, we can save 20,000 gallons of water per year compared to conventional systems.
  • How well does my fridge filter work?
    Not as well as you would think or hope. The only way to be sure is to test the filter. Contact us for a free test if you're interested.
  • What is the best water to drink?
    As weird as this sounds, this is a debatable and highly controversial question. This is not something easy to explain in FAQ format. Our position is the best water is: purified of all contaminants, pH buffered when requested. Supplemented with minerals not received in ordinary diet.
  • Does it take out the minerals from the water that we need? or that are good?
    The minerals that are in our water are inorganic and our bodies are not able to assimilate them. We get our minerals from the food we eat, not the water we drink. This is actually one of the biggest misconceptions about water. If you want calcium in your water that your body can use you can add coral calcium. This calcium is an organic mineral. Consult your doctor for specific deficiencies in your body and how to remedy them.
  • Why is it necessary?
    Tap water may contain contaminants like lead, mercury, arsenic or nitrates. Softeners can not remove these contaminants. Carbon filters can not remove all these contaminants.

Septic Tanks

  • Are water softeners safe for septic systems?
    Yes, the calcium and sodium discharge do nothing positively or negatively to affect your septic system. The things you want to to avoid specifically for septic tanks are bleach or other disinfectant house hold cleaners and lack of water.

Skin Problems

  • Can I be allergic to soft water, or my water softener?
    If you are allergic to the ocean then yes. The ocean has thousands of times more salt concentration than soft water. When you first install a water softener, it will remove the soap scum build up off your skin. Unfortunately that soap scum was a nice dermal absorption barrier for chemicals in the water. Some people notice itching after installing the water softener because of the increased dermal absorption for chemicals like chlorine and that is what the itchy reaction is from. You can add a whole house carbon filter to eliminate the itchy skin, our Hague Watermax doesn't have this problem because it softens and removes the chlorine all in one unit.
  • Why does my skin itch after I shower?
    If you have a softener, most likely you are sensitive to either the chlorine in your water or some chemical aspect of the water. Everyone is sensitive to different things. If you went to a dermatologist the first thing they might tell you to try is changing soaps. After you have changed your soap several times the only thing left to consider is the water.
  • Why is my skin always so dry? Is this normal?
    If you have hard water the most common problem is your skin pores are packed with soap scum. The best way to fix that is to soften your water.

Softener Bans

  • I have heard water softeners are being banned, or could be banned.
    Softeners are not likely to be banned. Many "no-salt conditioners" have been over exaggerating the issue to sell more of their "no-salt conditioners." In special circumstances they may be banned. This will not happen without warning or a hearing for public comment. This has only happened several times in 20 years. Most bans grandfather in existing equipment, the law just states you can not install one.

Water Softeners

  • Are water softeners safe for septic systems?
    Yes, the calcium and sodium discharge do nothing positively or negatively to affect your septic system. The things you want to to avoid specifically for septic tanks are bleach or other disinfectant house hold cleaners and lack of water.
  • I have heard water softeners are being banned, or could be banned.
    Softeners are not likely to be banned. Many "no-salt conditioners" have been over exaggerating the issue to sell more of their "no-salt conditioners." In special circumstances they may be banned. This will not happen without warning or a hearing for public comment. This has only happened several times in 20 years. Most bans grandfather in existing equipment, the law just states you can not install one.
  • Can I be allergic to soft water, or my water softener?
    If you are allergic to the ocean then yes. The ocean has thousands of times more salt concentration than soft water. When you first install a water softener, it will remove the soap scum build up off your skin. Unfortunately that soap scum was a nice dermal absorption barrier for chemicals in the water. Some people notice itching after installing the water softener because of the increased dermal absorption for chemicals like chlorine and that is what the itchy reaction is from. You can add a whole house carbon filter to eliminate the itchy skin, our Hague Watermax doesn't have this problem because it softens and removes the chlorine all in one unit.
  • Why does my skin itch after I shower?
    If you have a softener, most likely you are sensitive to either the chlorine in your water or some chemical aspect of the water. Everyone is sensitive to different things. If you went to a dermatologist the first thing they might tell you to try is changing soaps. After you have changed your soap several times the only thing left to consider is the water.
  • Why is my skin always so dry? Is this normal?
    If you have hard water the most common problem is your skin pores are packed with soap scum. The best way to fix that is to soften your water.
  • How long does regeneration take?
    The time is different in all models but generally speaking between 1/2 hour and 1 1/2 hours.
  • Does it make noise?
    Sometimes. The unit will make noise when it is doing a regeneration. The amount of noise varies depending on the installation.
  • Where does the softener hook up?
    Usually in your garage or outside your home.
  • Will I taste the salt in the water if I drink the soft water?
    No you will not taste the salt in the water under normal conditions, but you still should not drink it (See: Can I drink the soft water?).
  • Will the salt in the water hurt me if I drink it?
    The salt in the water usually won't affect you unless you are on a very low sodium diet. (Ask your Doctor to be sure) More importantly a softener is not a purifier (See: Can I drink the soft water?).
  • Can I drink the soft water?
    We recommend you don't drink the soft water because a softener is not a purifier. It does not remove anything but the hardness. It does not remove dead plant and animal materials, lead, mercury, nitrates, chromium, cadmium or even chlorine.
  • Do all softeners use salt?
    Not all softeners use salt, some can use potassium instead.
  • Why does soft water make my skin feel slippery, slimy, or I can’t get the soap off?
    People who have had hard water all their lives are used to the feeling. In the hard water your pores are always clogged with soap scum. The same soap scum that is on the shower doors and walls. When this scum is packing your pores, your natural skin oils are not able to come out. Showering or washing in soft water cleans your pores out and your natural skin oils are now able to come out. Remember what happens when water mixes with oil? It gets kind of slippery, or slick. That is the feeling that you are experiencing. For the first time your pores are no longer filled with soap scum and your natural skin oils are free to come out.

Water Waste

  • I have heard these systems waste water. How efficient are these systems?
    All water using appliances discharge water. Water conditioning appliances are no different. Because of our efficiencies, we can save 20,000 gallons of water per year compared to conventional systems.