Water Softener vs. Water Filter: What’s the Difference?

Ever wonder what’s in your tap water? While it’s true that all water has some impurities, tap water is often contaminated with chemicals and bacteria. High levels of certain substances can make your water unsafe and lead to bacterial diseases.

It’s uncommon to find heavy metals, man-made chemicals, or pathogens in drinking water. The danger is even greater for people living in households with private wells.

One way to minimize these risks is to install a water filter or a water softener. But what’s the difference between the two?

When it comes to water softener vs. water filter systems, there are a couple of things every homeowner should know. Although both devices can filter your water and make it taste better, they serve different purposes.

Interested to find out more? Here’s what you should know about water filtration systems and how they differ from water softeners!

How Does a Water Softener Work?

Water softeners are designed to remove calcium and magnesium from drinking water through ion exchange. If left unaddressed, these minerals can build up on your pipes, coffee maker, dishwasher, and bathtub, reducing their lifespan. Hard water also affects the color and texture of your clothes.

Most types of water are naturally high in minerals. These substances may leave stains on your clothes and spots on glasses and dinnerware. They can also accumulate in your plumbing system and reduce water flow.

That’s where water softeners come in handy.

As their name suggests, these devices help soften hard water by removing ferrous iron, calcium, and other minerals.

Although hard water isn’t harmful to your health, it may contribute to dry hair and skin. On top of that, it can affect your plumbing system, appliances, and clothes, forcing you to replace them more often.

The Role of Water Filtration Systems

Both water softeners and water filtration systems are capable of removing minerals from tap water. The latter, though, can also eliminate heavy metals and other contaminants, including:

• Copper, arsenic, and lead
• Industrial byproducts
• Leaves, sticks, and other debris
• Chlorine
• Pesticides
• Bacteria

A quality water filter can selectively remove natural and man-made chemicals, leaving your water clean. You can find out more about the role of these devices and how they work at filtap.com.au.

Besides better health, one of the biggest advantages of using a water filter is that you’ll save money. Just think about how you spend on bottled water. Not to mention the environmental impact of plastic bottles!

Water Softener vs. Water Filter: Which One Is Right for You?

Now that you know about water softener vs. water filter systems, you may wonder which one is best for your household or office. It all comes down to the composition and quality of your tap water.

If you live in an area with hard water, opt for a water softener. However, if you’re concerned about mercury, pesticides, and other impurities in tap water, a filtration system is your best bet. Ideally, test your tap water at a lab to determine its composition.

Another difference between the two is that most water filters require minimum maintenance. A water softener, by contrast, needs to be regularly maintained.

Drinking clean water is just one step to better health. For other tips on how to look and feel your best, browse the rest of our blog! We’ll show you how to keep your New Year’s fitness resolutions, how to stay healthy at work, and much more!