Does a Water Softener Remove Chlorine?

Every St. George, Utah, homeowner needs clean water to drink and bathe in. Installing a top-notch water softener on your property is one of the best ways to ensure your home supplies fresh, mineral-free water that won’t adversely affect your health or plumbing system. However, many residents don’t know whether water softeners remove chlorine from their water supply, making them hesitant to purchase such a device.

So, does a water softener remove chlorine? To teach you more about water softeners, Iron Mountain Plumbing created this short guide explaining their function and filter capabilities.

Iron Mountain Plumbing is one of St. George, Utah’s leading professional plumbing companies. If you want top-quality water softener services in St. George, UT, contact Iron Mountain Plumbing.

 

What Is a Water Softener?

Water softeners are residential filtration systems that eliminate minerals from your home’s water supply. They convert hard water (water with high mineral content) into soft water (water with minimal or no minerals), significantly improving water quality and preventing issues that negatively impact your pipes and plumbing fixtures. Without a water softener, your plumbing system is vulnerable to scale buildup, decreased water pressure, and burst pipes.

Water softeners eliminate minerals through a process known as ion exchange. They push hard water through numerous polystyrene resin beads (or something similar) that grasp the mineral ions as the water flows through them, eradicating the minerals before they reach your home. 

 

Why Remove Chlorine From Your Home’s Water Supply?

Although trace amounts of chlorine help sanitize water by eradicating potentially dangerous organisms while preventing future growth, chlorine can be detrimental in large quantities. It can make your drinking water taste a bit off and can cause your hair and skin to dry out. Excess chlorine within your water supply can also lead to:

• •  Strange or foul-smelling water

• •  Bleached clothes

• •  Piping issues

•  Damaged rubber gaskets

Will a Water Softener Remove Chlorine From Your Water?

So, does a water softener remove chlorine from residential water supplies?

Although high-quality water softeners will remove some chlorine from your water, this isn’t their primary purpose. Water softeners prioritize removing minerals like calcium, iron, and magnesium over other elements like chlorine. Their main objective is to convert hard water into soft water to make it taste better and prevent various issues within your piping system. 

Excessive chlorine can adversely affect your water softener’s performance, longevity, and quality. When chlorine levels exceed one ppm (parts per million), they can destroy the polystyrene bead resin within the unit, drastically diminishing its performance. It won’t be able to generate soft water as well, leaving you with unsatisfactory water you’ll want to avoid. 

High chlorine levels may also shorten your water softener’s lifespan by several years, forcing you to replace your unit prematurely. They will destroy the device’s gaskets, pistons, gears, and other mechanisms that are often costly to repair.

 

How To Remove Chlorine From Your Water

Although traditional water softeners won’t eliminate chlorine from your water supply, there are ways to eradicate it and improve your home’s water quality. Below are a few effective ways to remove chlorine from your water.

 

Add Granular Activated Carbon to Your Water Softener

Adding granular activated carbon (GAC) to your water softener’s resin bed is a surefire way to reduce chlorine and improve water quality. It combines with the softener’s resin, allowing it to filter out excess chlorine before reaching your plumbing fixtures. The mixture can last up to three years, ensuring your water stays safe and chlorine-free.

However, it’s important to note that traditional water softener resin can last up to ten years without granular activated carbon. It’s incredibly hard to remove GAC once it combines with the resin, requiring you to replace the resin when it’s time to refill the GAC. 

 

Install a Reverse Osmosis System

Installing a top-quality reverse osmosis system on your property is one of the best ways to eliminate chlorine from your water supply. Reverse osmosis systems push water through multiple membranes and filters that catch chlorine and remove it from the water. 

Pairing a reverse osmosis system with a water softener will improve water quality while reducing your softener’s wear and tear. The reverse osmosis device eradicates chlorine from the water before it reaches your softener, helping it preserve its internal components while giving you a second line of defense against contaminants.

 

Invest in Whole-House Filters

Whole-house filters act like traditional filters but indiscriminately treat the water in every plumbing fixture. They efficiently remove chlorine and other adverse minerals before the water reaches your glass, providing tasty, clean hydration for you and your family.

However, keep in mind that whole-house filters don’t convert hard water into soft water, so you’ll still need a water softener. That said, there are all-in-one devices that both filter and soften water. While these systems usually cost a bit more than traditional filters and softeners, they prevent you from buying and installing two separate units.

In short, while most water softeners remove small amounts of chlorine from your home’s water supply, they don’t eliminate all of it. To avoid chlorinated water, you must install an additional system or enhance the softer with upgrades or granular activated carbon. 

If you’re unsure which water softener and/or filter works best for your home or need professional installation services, contact Iron Mountain Plumbing. Our team will handle all your water purification needs at a price that fits your budget.

 

Contact Iron Mountain Plumbing for Exceptional Plumbing Services in St. George, Utah

If you’re unhappy with your home’s water quality and wonder, “Does a water softener remove chlorine?” contact Iron Mountain Plumbing. We are your trusted whole-home water filtration service in St. George, Utah, and will ensure your water remains safe and pristine year-round. Regardless of your plumbing needs, our team has the experience and expertise to get the job done.

Give Iron Mountain Plumbing a call at (435) 422-4667, and see what our plumbers can do for you in St. George, Utah, today!