Commercial Water Softening Systems
In this article, you will learn:
- The Benefits of a Commercial Water Softener
- How Commercial Water Softeners Work
- How High-Efficiency Commercial Softening (Responsive Flow) Technology Works
- How to Size a Commercial Water Softener
Most commercial buildings in North America require water softeners because of the prevalence of hard water minerals (calcium and magnesium) in water supplies. Hard water is measured in grains per gallon (gpg), parts per million (ppm), or milligrams per liter (mg/L) to show the concentration of hardness minerals in water. Water with concentrations of hardness minerals 7 gpg and above are generally regarded as “hard”. According to the US Department of Energy, water with >7.5 gpg should be treated with a water softener.
Benefits of a Commercial Water Softener
1. Extend the lifespan of equipment as well as reduce maintenance and operating costs.
- Electric water heaters: accumulate 0.4 lbs of scale/year for every 5 gpg of hardness in the water.
- Gas water heaters: lose up to 24% of efficiency due to hard water.
- Tankless water heaters: most susceptible to failure due to scale accumulation.
- Reverse Osmosis systems: premature membrane failure and replacement when not preceded by a water softener.
- Commercial boilers: the most common cause of overheating and failure of boiler tubes is the formation of hard scale (calcium and magnesium) on the boiler tube surfaces. A 1/16″ thick layer of hardness scale can reduce heat transfer by about 12%, which is directly proportional to the increased fuel required to compensate for the loss. The recommended hardness of boiler feedwater is less than 1 gpg.
2. Reduced energy costs for heating water.
3. Reduce soap usage for laundry and dish detergents.
4. Eliminate spotting on dishes, glassware and automobiles.
5. Lengthen the life of linens and clothing.
How a Commercial Water Softener Works
Commercial water softeners are made of four main components: control valve, softener resin, resin tank, and a brine tank.
High-Efficiency Commercial Softening Technology
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While traditional softeners work as planned when a business is operating at full capacity, a 24” tank softener with a 2” control valve allows hard water to channel through the resin during periods of low demand (6gpm or less). Channeling occurs when the incoming hard water follows a narrow path through the softener’s resin bed and does not exchange ions with the resin, leaving your water unsoftened. Commercial MTS systems with Responsive Flow technology will continue to soften water at flow rates of less than 2gpm while still being able to handle high flow rates.)| Softener Technology | |
|---|---|
| Twin Alternating | Responsive flow |
| One tank online at a time | One or all tanks online, flow rate dependent |
| Regeneration initiated based on volume treated | Regeneration initiated based on volume treated |
| Single, larger common flow meter on a common outlet | Each valve has their own, smaller flow meter |
How to Size a Commercial Water Softener
Choosing the right water softener for a commercial building starts with having detailed project information.
- Consider space restrictions for the equipment:
- door openings for installation
- size of installation area
- how the operator will fill the brine tank
- When sizing for peak flow, think about how it impacts the minimum flow rate
- E.g. hard water channeling during low flow rates will affect long-term boiler performance
- Detail performance expectations (e.g. flow rate, pressure drop) to receive a more efficiently sized softener.
- Project and building information (business type, flow rates, daily water use, incoming pipe size, etc.)
- Raw water composition (e.g. incoming hardness level and other contaminants to be removed)
- Product water requirements (less than <1gpg hardness for boiler feed)
Frequently Asked Questions
Water quality varies from region to region, requiring specific equipment, softeners, and filtration systems to ensure the best water possible. Our FAQs will guide you through some of the most common water issues and solutions.
Use Ctrl+F on PC or Command+F on Mac to easily find the answer to your water issue or question.
Water softeners regulate water by removing the magnesium and calcium that is found in your water supply. They use a process of ion exchange, transforming your water from hard water to softened water. Unlike hard water, softened water will not damage your home’s plumbing, or cause a build up of scale in your appliances; improving their effectiveness and lifespan.
If you start noticing white scale buildup on surfaces and water using appliances, it is a sign of hard water or water impurities. Look for scale in sinks, faucets, showers, and bathtubs. You will notice spotty dishes and cutlery, as well as discolored fabrics that still seem dirty even after coming out of the wash. It’s also harder to lather with hard water and you will see hard water soap scum in your bathtub.
Almost all water contains tiny traces of minerals, contaminants, impurities, and even microorganisms – but they don’t all necessarily have negative health impacts. That said, household water that has been treated to meet health and safety standards may still pick up contaminants that you don’t want in your water as the water makes its way from the treatment plant to your home.
Common contaminants in water include, but are not limited to: minerals, metal particles from corroded pipes, and sediment buildup from your own hot water tank.
Safe water can be defined as water that meets all Federal and State water quality regulations. Your municipality may provide you an annual water report called: Consumer Confidence Report in which you can find out if your city is meeting Federal water quality regulations.
It’s sometimes as easy as using your senses – you can often see, taste, smell, and feel contaminated water.
Safe water should be colorless, odorless and taste good! Watch out for rotten-egg, metallic, chemical, and musty or earthy smells and tastes – if it smells or tastes bad, it’s likely contaminated. However, not all contaminants can be detected by our senses alone – contaminates like lead, nitrates and organic compounds are odorless and colorless and need to be tested by a water testing lab.
Lastly, if you can smell and taste chlorine, remember that it’s there for safety and disinfection as it travels to your home. Once the water is in your home, you might want to get rid of it in order to better enjoy the taste of your water and protect your plumbing and appliances from chlorine damage.
Softened water can save your appliances, keep money in your wallet, and benefit the environment.
Studies show that hard water can lower the efficiency of appliances and shorten their lifespan, meaning you’ll have to replace them sooner. Not only that, but when your appliances don’t run efficiently, you’ll use more water to get the job done – think of running the dishwasher twice or doing another load of laundry because things didn’t come out clean the first time! With softened water, you can lower your water temperatures from hot to cold when doing laundry without having to worry about performance – your garments will come out just as clean, if not cleaner, saving you money on your energy bill while lowering your carbon footprint! This will also extend the life of your clothing.
Additionally, you’ll be able to reduce dish soap and laundry detergent use by half or more with softened water. You’ll also use less shampoo and soap in the shower, and notice smoother, softer skin and hair.
A whole home carbon filter will block out contaminants and reduce harmful chemicals like chlorine from entering your home.
Improving the quality of your drinking and cooking water with a reverse osmosis system can benefit your health, encourage you and your family to drink more water, and save you from buying expensive bottled water – a family of four can save up to 3,000 bottles of water a year!
The cost of a water softener will vary depending on the level of hardness and your home’s plumbing setup.
Contact our experts to schedule a free consultation.
