Can Water Filters Remove Hardness?

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America’s cities and towns have water hardness issues. It can damage appliances, plumbing, and cleaning.

Water hardness can be reduced or eliminated with several technologies. This may help you maintain your plumbing equipment and appliances, lower water bills, and improve your drinking water.

Short Answer

Yes, water filters are capable of removing hardness. Some water filters remove hardness, but not all. Calcium and magnesium ions remain dissolved, so sediment or carbon-block water filters cannot reduce hardness. Water softening filter cartridges and reverse osmosis (RO) systems can remove hardness.

RO systems force water through a semi-permeable membrane to remove hardness, lead, and nitrates. The RO membrane removes 95% of dissolved solids, including hardness minerals like calcium and magnesium. However, water-softening filter cartridges remove hardness-causing minerals using an ion exchange process.

A water softener, not a water filter, is needed to remove hardness. A water softener replaces calcium and magnesium with sodium ions. So if you have hard water, use a whole-house water filter and softener.

As a water filter technician, I’ve heard many hard water complaints. RO systems or water-softening filter cartridges can remove hardness from water. Hardness minerals build up in a rural customer’s appliances and plumbing fixtures. I installed a whole-house water filter and water softener for them, and they were amazed at the difference. They noticed that their water was much softer and was no longer affected by hard water.

Contents show

What is hard water?

Hard water contains more minerals like calcium and magnesium. Trace metals like iron, copper, and zinc may be present.

Clogged drains, soap scum on fixtures and sinks, and white chalky mineral stains on glassware fade faster than soft water. Hard water also stiffens laundry and fades colors faster than soft water.

Reviewing your municipal supplier’s water quality report is the most common way to test your water’s hardness. The grains per gallon (GPG) or parts per million (PPM) of calcium carbonate will be listed in this report.

If your area has hard water, install a water filter. This filter reduces water hardness and makes dishwashing, showering, and bathing easier.

How do water filters remove hardness?

Water filters eliminate tap water contaminants. Filters remove harmful toxins and improve the taste and quality of the water.

Like Brita’s pitcher filters, activated carbon filters remove chlorine and improve the taste of water. Hardness minerals are not removed.

Calcium builds up in plumbing, showerheads, toilets, dishwashers, and washing machines. Limescale from excess calcium can damage water heaters and other appliances.

RO and UF water filters can reduce the calcium in tap water but cannot eliminate it. These two methods use semi-permeable membranes to trap 0.01-micron impurities.

What are the best water filters for removing hardness?

Hard water can clog sinks, basins, and shower heads and cause scale buildup in plumbing. It may also shorten the lifespan of appliances and household goods.

Calcium and magnesium ion filters prevent limescale accumulation. Ion exchange can reduce them, but boiling won’t eliminate them.

Resin beads in ion exchange filters absorb minerals. Water passes through the resin, replacing negative ions with sodium ions.

You can choose from a variety of ion exchange filters. Ion exchange filters improve the taste of drinking water.

Ion exchange systems work well for homes with high calcium and magnesium levels. These filters reduce hardness in drinking water due to their small pores.

With hard water, which Brita filter works best?

Hard water contains dissolved minerals like calcium and magnesium. This water makes milk, coffee, tea, and other beverages taste chalky.

Consider the size, weight, durability, and refill capacity when buying a filter pitcher to remove hard water. Before buying, check the filter’s NSF certification and customer reviews online.

Brita filters remove harmful contaminants like chlorine, heavy metals, and bacteria from drinking water. Some use ion exchange technology, while others use activated carbon blocks or granules.

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