The Water Softener Blog

When it comes to water softeners, not all regeneration methods are created equal. Most homeowners never think about whether their system uses downflow   (co-current) or upflow (counter-current) regeneration. Yet that simple detail — whether it’s downflow or upflow — determines how efficient your water softener system will be, how consistent your water quality is, how much salt you’ll use, how much water you’ll waste, and how long your softener may last. With this article, we apply the four foundational principles of The Water Treatment Insider — Advocacy, Expertise, Methodology, and Education — to help you make informed decisions when choosing a water treatment system for your home and family. Advocacy — What Your Water Softener Salesperson Might Not Tell You Most traditional water softeners use downflow regeneration — a process where brine flows from the top of the tank down through the resin bed. It works, but not efficiently. During ...

There is an upscale community near us with about one hundred homes in the development. This development is served by a community well water supply. Typically, such systems are serviced by licensed companies familiar with these setups. In this case, the homeowners’ association decided to manage it themselves and hired a resident with a chemistry background to maintain the system. A red flag that led to the complex water treatment challenges I was called to help resolve. Community wells are maintained much like municipal systems: disinfectant products  (usually chlorine and ammonia) are added, and water sampling ensures safe, consistent levels. Frequently, polyphosphates are added to encapsulate water supply lines to prevent scale from entering the water supply in municipal water supplies. Community well water supplies often use polyphosphates to encapsulate iron to try and prevent it from staining landscaping, driveways, sidewalks, and homes. How...

Clean Hands. Clean Filters. Clean Water. A reverse osmosis (RO) system can deliver some of the purest drinking water in your home — but only if it’s properly maintained. Neglecting filter changes, skipping sanitation, or even handling cartridges with unwashed hands can shorten membrane life and allow bacteria to grow inside the system. Follow these professional tips to keep your RO system running efficiently and safely. Understanding Your RO System 💧 Learn More About Reverse Osmosis Systems 1. Wash Your Hands Before Changing Filters or Wear Nitrile Gloves Before servicing your RO system, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water. Even microscopic bacteria from your hands can contaminate filter housings or lines, especially since RO systems operate in dark, damp environments ideal for bacterial growth. A few seconds of handwashing helps ensure your filtered water stays clean from the start. 2. Replace Sediment and Carbon ...

When you rely on a private well for your home’s water, you’re tapping directly into one of nature’s most dynamic resources. Unlike municipal systems that draw from large, regulated reservoirs, private wells depend on groundwater that constantly shifts beneath the surface. These fluctuations can dramatically change your water’s chemistry from season to season — and even from year to year. How Weather and Seasons Shape Your Well Water Well water is alive in many ways — it reflects the ever-changing balance between the surface and the subsurface environment. Heavy Rainfall: Surface water seeps downward after rain, recharging shallow groundwater and introducing sediment, minerals, or organic matter that change your water’s clarity and taste. Dry Seasons or Drought: When rainfall is scarce, the water table drops and wells draw from deeper sources where hardness, iron, and total dissolved solids are often higher. ...

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 Plumb...