A salt free water softener is better known as a descaler. This descaler does not actually “soften” the water by removing dissolved minerals. Rather it keeps these minerals from being left on the inside of pipes, washing machine, and dishwasher. Anywhere that water simply sits, such as in a hot water heater, scale will form.

The typical water softener takes the water through resin beads where molecules from calcium and magnesium trade places with molecules of sodium. This makes water soft. There will be no scale left on either pipes or your body now that the mineral cannot form.

The salt free water softener does not take away the minerals. However, the electric charge that takes place changes the structure of the crystal so that the hard scale will not form as rapidly. When water flows continuously there is no scale build up. The water will continue to be “hard,” though, and the locations that hold it still will continue to have scale build up.

This build up of scale is known as Limescale. It is Calcium carbonate in crystal form. Calcium carbonate comes in a variety of crystal forms. These are:

• Marble, which is very hard but also brittle

• Chalk, which is quite soft and rather crumbly

• Limescale, which is the hardest of the three and quite hard to break

A salt free water softener can help the untreated water which leaves Limescale in the form of crystals that are long and thread like. These are known as dentrices. The dentrices connect, thus making the Limescale so hard to break apart. Treating the water will change how the traits of Limescale form. The crystals will then be small, smooth and round and will not cling to each other. This helps them move right through the water system. They no longer collect and sit in pipes, boiler, or shower head.

All of the treated water will now be safe and crystal free. This will continue to work for two to three hours. However, you can rest at ease that the treatments will continue for as long as you need them and keep them in place.