Water Softener Diagram and Components

Understanding how a mechanism works enables you to maintain it properly and therefore indirectly ensures a long lifespan. With this in mind, we explain how a water softener works in as much detail as possible.

Water softener installation diagram

Water softener diagram

The different components of a water softener

The water softening equipment consists of the following components (see installation diagram):

1. Sediment filter (optional):

A component containing a filter cartridge whose role is to trap suspended particles larger than 50 microns in the water

2. Valve:

This component contains the mechanisms for automatically regenerating the resins through a programming system based on time or the volume of water consumed

3. Resin tank:

Contains the ion-exchange resins that carry out the softening process

4. Salt tank:

A tank for storing salt. Its capacity allows considerable time between salt refills, and this is where the brine needed for the softening process is produced

5. Siliphos filter (optional):

A component containing a siliphos cartridge whose role is to protect piping from corrosion

6. Bypass:

A system of three valves that allows you to isolate the main piping from the equipment in the event of a breakdown or maintenance. The bypass prevents water from passing through the equipment. This means there is no need to shut off the main water supply when changing a filter or making repairs.

Bypass diagram

How a water softener works

A water softener, especially a resin-based one, works through ion exchange. The resin it contains acts as the exchange medium. It is held in a tank into which untreated water enters.

This hard water passes through the resin, exchanging calcium and magnesium ions (limescale) for sodium ions. This process enables hard water to become soft and applies to salt-based water softeners.

The resin thus exchanges its sodium content for the magnesium and calcium in the untreated water and may eventually become saturated. At that point, it must be regenerated through a clearly defined process.

The regeneration process

To rid the resin of excess limescale or scale, the water softener's salt tank reverses its charge. Regeneration follows five steps, starting with backwashing, during which water flows from bottom to top through the water softener to remove limescale from the resins.

The limescale deposit is then flushed out during the brining or salt draw process, and the resins regain their sodium. To do this, brine is added to the water softener.

The device's circuit may also contain excess sodium that could make your tap water salty. It is removed during rinsing, which consists of rinsing the resin.

The next phase is refilling, which involves sending water back into the water softener's salt tank to prepare fresh brine for the next regeneration. Finally, the device returns to its service cycle so that it produces softened water once again.

Where should you install your water softener?

To know where to place your water softener, locate your home's main water inlet. In other words, you generally connect this device after the water meter. Because installation is technical and essential, we suggest entrusting it to a professional.

Next step: Connect the water softener to the water supply