The Water Softener Blog

By The Water Softener Blog • October 12, 2025 Quick navigation The Silent Plumbing Revolution PEX: A Comfortable Home for Bacteria Why This Problem Is Being Overlooked The Untapped Solution: KDF Filtration Media How to Integrate KDF into Modern Systems UV Disinfection: The Final Barrier Industry Implications Closing Thoughts FAQs 🔎 Key Takeaways PEX is efficient but lacks copper’s antimicrobial protection. Biofilm risk rises in well water, warm, non-chlorinated plumbing. KDF media adds proactive, chemical-free microbial control at POE. UV disinfection provides the final step for bacterial mitigation before distribution. Best practice: POE KDF + UV, flush seldom-used lines, maintain filters/lamps. The Silent ...

As a true water nerd and a curious investigator, I am involved in several online discussion forums focused on well water and water treatment. Quite some time ago, a forum member asked what size water softener they needed for their home. They had the water analysis and were replacing an existing system in a home they just purchased. Their family had grown, and the home they purchased also had in-laws’ quarters for the wife’s parents, who had retired. In this particular forum, I’ve had several back-and-forth “discussions” with another frequent contributor about applying and sizing water softeners. I respect all points of view—we can always learn something. This contributor leans traditional or “old school,” and we ended up with opposite recommendations. Let’s break it all down. We’ll explain the systems suggested and how The Water Softener Blog applies our four cornerstones— Advocacy, Expertise, Methodology, Education —to resolve the pr...

ENPRESS LLC’s Vortech® and Mid-Vortech® distributor systems are engineered to improve hydraulic efficiency, reduce water consumption, and simplify the internal design of water filtration and softening vessels. By integrating distributor plates directly into the tank structure, ENPRESS eliminates the need for gravel underbedding and allows multiple filtration media layers within a single tank. How Vortech® Works Enpress Vortech Plate Technology Video The Vortech® bottom plate serves as a built-in distribution system. It replaces the traditional hub-and-lateral assembly, evenly dispersing flow across the tank floor during service and regeneration. This uniform distribution minimizes channeling and promotes better media contact. The dip tube connects directly to the plate, ensuring stable hydraulics and easier maintenance. No gravel underbed required Up to 30% reduction in backwash flow requirements Lightweight, efficient, and designed for clean, even ...

Advocacy. Expertise. Methodology. Education. When I founded The Water Softener Blog , I set out to build more than a product review site. After decades in water treatment—listening to families, diagnosing real problems, and designing layered water treatment solutions—I learned that the best outcomes come from clear methodologies and principles. Those principles became my compass in the field and now serve as the cornerstones of this blog . In this article Advocacy Expertise Methodology Education Final Thoughts 1) Advocacy From the start of my career, I’ve acted as a consumer advocate . Too many homeowners get sold the wrong system—solutions that don’t match their water chemistry, home constraints, or budget. Advocacy means putting the homeowner first: clarifying goals, explaining trade-offs, and guarding against overselling and misinformation. On the blog: I translate tec...