Water Softener System VS Water Conditioner
Water softening and water conditioning are both ways to purify water. One of the main differences between water softening systems and water conditioning is that the softening process uses a salt system whereas water conditioning actually treats and filters the water.
Water Softening
If you have ever wondered what that white and rough-looking residue was that covers your faucets, its calcium and magnesium buildup. Over time this buildup can wreak havoc on your plumbing. A salt water softening system reduces the calcium and magnesium ions and infiltrates it with sodium ions instead.
Water Conditioning
There are various ways to condition water. This can be done by using filtration, reverse osmosis or by use of the ozone system. The cost will depend on which method you choose. Reverse osmosis is seen by many as a rather wasteful method because it takes 40 to 90 gallons to treat only 5 gallons. The ozone system is a very intricate, detailed process. The filtration is the most popular method which uses sand and gravel to filter the sediment and other mineral out of the water.
Differences
One of the disadvantages of softening water is that it is not suitable for everyone due to the sodium chloride content. It is not considered safe for infants or those with hypertension or heart problems. Filtration does not add anything to the water, it simply filters or gets rid of the bad particles that are in the water. One problem with that is the method of discarding these particles. Many states have prohibited the dumping of such particles in waste water systems.