Homeowners often confuse water softeners and water filters because both improve water quality. However, they solve different water problems. While softeners remove hard minerals to prevent buildup in your pipes and faucets (like calcium and magnesium), filters remove contaminants (like chemicals).
In the Clearwater/Tampa area, many residents suffer from hard water, chlorine, and sediment, which typically means they need both systems.
Quick Takeaways
- Water softeners remove hard water minerals like calcium and magnesium
- Water filters remove contaminants, chemicals, sediment, and odors
- A softener helps protect your plumbing and appliances
- A filter improves water quality and taste
- Many Florida homes benefit from both systems
What Is a Water Softener?
A water softener is an appliance that removes hard minerals in your water (mainly calcium and magnesium) through a process called ion exchange.
As hard water flows into a water softener tank, it passes over negatively charged resin beads. The beads act like a magnet for the positively charged calcium and magnesium ions, pulling them out of the water. In exchange, the beads release their sodium ions into the water. The resulting water is soft: free of hard minerals and with added sodium.
The main reason homeowners install water softeners in their homes is to prevent limescale buildup in their pipes. This white, hard residue can shorten the lifespan of pipes, reduce water pressure, and leave stains on faucets.
Signs You May Need a Water Softener
Signs you may need a water softener include:
- White spots on dishes
- Dry skin or hair
- Soap not lathering very well
- Limescale buildup on fixtures
- Reduced water heater and dishwasher efficiency
What Is a Water Filter?
A water filter is a device that removes contaminants and odors from your water, such as chemicals, sediments, and floating particles. Filtration systems typically use sediment filters to remove particles or carbon filters to remove chemicals.
Some residents prefer their entire home to have filtered water and opt for whole-home filtration. A whole-home filtration system is installed at the main water line and removes chemicals and sediments before the water reaches your faucets.
What a Water Filter Can Remove
- Chlorine
- Sediment
- Bad tastes and odors
- Certain chemicals
- Some bacteria and contaminants
Water Softener vs Filter: What’s the Biggest Difference?
Water Softener
- Removes hard minerals
- Prevents limescale buildup
- Protects your appliances
- Uses an ion exchange process
Water Filter
- Removes contaminants
- Improves water quality
- Improves the taste and odor of water
- Uses filtration methods
Do You Need a Water Softener, a Filter, or Both?
Signs You May Need a Water Softener
If you notice hard water stains on your faucets and dishes, you may want to install a water softener in your home. Seeing limescale buildup on your faucets and plumbing is usually a good indicator that you should install a water softener as well.
Hard water can dry your skin, too. If you’re having problems with dry skin, a water softener can help reduce those issues.
Signs You May Need a Water Filter
Does your water smell like chlorine? Does it taste bad? If you’re answering yes to one or both questions, you may want to invest in a whole-home filtration system. Another sign you should have a water filter device in your home is if your water is discolored or if you notice sediment.
Signs You May Benefit From Both Systems
If you have hard municipal water and you’d like cleaner drinking water, you may want to install both systems. Many Clearwater/Tampa residents can benefit from using both systems together.
For example, water in the Clearwater area is classified as hard to very hard (178–300 mg/L or 10–18 grains per gallon). This level of hardness can take its toll on plumbing systems, which is why many residents turn to water softeners to protect their homes from limescale buildup.
How Hard Water Affects Plumbing and Appliances
Some residents in the Clearwater area don’t think much about their hard water and how it affects their plumbing system or their appliances. However, hard water can cause a significant amount of damage over time.
When hard minerals build up at the bottom of your water heater, your heater must work harder to heat your water. This water heater efficiency loss not only increases your utility bills, but it also shortens the lifespan of your water heater.
Moreover, hard water leaves behind a hard, white buildup in your pipes. This buildup narrows the diameter of the pipes, reducing your water pressure. Furthermore, over time, your faucets can become clogged with this same limescale, decreasing their effectiveness.
Your dishwasher and washing machine may suffer as well. Hard water often causes a buildup to form on the spray jets and pumps. Eventually, this can accelerate the breakdown of your appliances.
Best Water Treatment Option for Florida Homes
Clearwater water is not only hard, but it’s also frequently treated with chlorine. That’s why we believe the best option for Florida homes is a whole-home filtration system combined with a whole-home water softener system.
Whole-home systems are especially popular in Florida because they address water issues before they reach your faucets. They prevent hard water damage to your appliances and your plumbing, and they remove chlorine and unwanted chemicals.
FAQ
Is a water softener the same as a water filter?
No, a water softener removes hard minerals, like calcium and magnesium, while a water filter removes contaminants and chemicals, like chlorine.
Can you drink softened water?
Yes, softened water is drinkable. However, some homeowners prefer to drink filtered water.
Does a water filter remove hard water?
Most water filters don’t remove the hard minerals that are responsible for causing hard water. To remove these minerals, you would need to install a water softener.
Do I need both a water softener and a filter?
It can be beneficial to have both, especially if you want healthy drinking water and soft water as well.
What is better for Florida homes?
Florida tends to have hard to very hard water. In addition, chlorine is commonly used to treat the water. For this reason, many Florida residents like to use both systems together.
Protect Your Home’s Water Quality With Help From Benjamin Franklin Plumbing
Having hard water that has a foul odor isn’t a pleasant experience. That’s where we can help. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing offers professional water filtration services and water treatment solutions to improve the quality of your water. Our punctual plumbers will inspect your home, test your water, and determine the best water softener and filtration system for your needs. We can install both systems or just one.
Ready to schedule a water test or a professional consultation? Contact our Benjamin Franklin plumbing team. We service Clearwater, FL, and the surrounding areas.