|
|
How a Northstar Water Softener Works Compared to the Competition
When the softener is providing soft water, it is called "Service". During service, hard water flows from the house main water pipe into the softener. Inside the softener resin tank is a bed made up of thousands of tiny, plastic resin beads. As hard water passes through the bed, each bead attracts and holds the hardness minerals. This is called ion-exchanging. It is much like a magnet attracting and holding metals. Water without the hardness minerals (soft water) flows from the softener and to the house pipes.
After a period of time, the resin beads hold all of the hardness minerals they can and cleaning is needed to remove them. This is called regeneration, or recharge. Regeneration is started at 2:00 am (factory setting) by the softener timer, and consists of 5 stages or cycles. These are: FILL, BRINING, BRINE RINSE, BACKWASH, and FAST RINSE.