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Should My Business Have a Commercial Water Softener?

Gary Monks • March 26, 2020

With 85% of the United States affected by hard water, it is likely that many commercial kitchens in the US will struggle with hard water issues throughout their operation. Hard water contains hardness minerals such as iron, magnesium, and calcium, whereas soft water doesn’t have any minerals content. Issues caused by hard water, such as limescale, can have a major effect on the efficiency and performance of your appliances, which can lead to a variety of costs that can have a negative effect on your business.

Appliances such as dishwashers or glasswashers are some examples of appliances that limescale effects since they use high pressure, hot water, and rely on a balanced usage of chemicals to work properly. While you can delime your appliance, this can erode your appliances over time, which is why your business should have a water softener to prevent limescale buildup in the first place.

As your top local commercial water softener provider, Aqua Solutions has put together the top benefits of using a commercial water softener in your building.

Commercial Water Softener Benefits

There are a variety of benefits to having a commercial water softener installed, including:

Save on Energy Costs & Save Water

Limescale buildup requires your system to use more energy to operate. When you use hot water, your water heater will have to heat up the scale first, before it can begin to heat the water. This results in your water heater working longer and harder to provide hot water, which can lead to increased energy bills.

Hard water damages water heaters and plumbing and could lead to leaks, causing your water bill to spike. With a water softener, there is no scale buildup, allowing your plumbing system to function properly.

Reduce Your Water’s Hardness

Hard water contains a high amount of minerals, such as magnesium, iron, and calcium. When this water is heated, encounters metal pipes, or chemical agents, it can affect the performance of the appliance and the detergent. With a water softening system, you can expect about a 45% reduction in hard water.

Lower Maintenance and Repair Costs

Hard water can damage your pipes with limescale buildup and corrosion, which can lead to leaks in the pipes, causing a severe and expensive problem. Scale buildup can also cause issues inside of machine parts, eventually leading to leaking and machine failure. With a water softener, your soft water will not damage your machines or pipes, helping to lower repair and maintenance costs significantly.

Extend Appliance Lifespan & Improve Efficiency

As mentioned above, soft water does not damage your appliances, allowing them to perform at an optimal level. Your cleaning will also be improved with better detergent performance as well. When you reduce limescale with a water softener, you save your appliances from unnecessary damage and wear while allows for a longer lifespan.

How Water Softeners Work

A commercial water softener typically uses ion exchange resin beads. These resin beads are packed into columns called ion exchange columns, which can be built into appliances like dishwashers or connected to your water system to ensure the water is continuously softened.
Once hard water enters the column, the calcium and magnesium ions become attached to the resin beads, and the sodium ions that were attached to the beads enter the water. The resin beads eventually become saturated with calcium and magnesium and will require regeneration by adding sodium chloride.

Professional Commercial Water Softener Installation

At Aqua Solutions, we take pride in providing high-quality water conditioning solutions to the Butler area and beyond. We will work with you to determine which water softener will best suit your needs, and our team of experts will install your water softener with care and quality in mind.