Descaler Vs Water Softener: Which One Is The Best?

Last Updated on April 22, 2022

Hard water marks and stains are very common but dealing with them are quite exhausting. You have to work extra hard to clean your bathroom, laundry, and soap stains all over the glass. So, maintaining a house can be a headache.

However, hard water is not the only issue. Some containments in your water can also damage your health. That is the reason today I will tell you about two types of filtration systems, descaler vs water softener. Both filtration systems can help you to solve the issues, but my goal is to tell you which one is perfect for you.

Although there are several differences between a descaler and a water softener, before going in-depth, just look at how each works so you will understand the whole process. If you have experienced hard water problems at your home, you will know it causes a buildup on the surface and damages your appliances.

But it is vital to learn exactly what hard water is and do magnetic water descaler work? Once you will know about the pros and cons of a descaler and a water softener, you can easily choose one for your home.

A water descaler is also known as a water conditioner. It is a system that will reduce the effect of hard water in terms of scaling, deposition, and buildups left behind when water comes in contact with the surface.

Water descalers use a magnetic field that charges the minerals and causes them to stay in the water instead of being transferred to the surface of the sink or tub.

A water descaler uses several technologies to reduce the effect of hard water, including

1. A low voltage current that creates an electric charge in water and holds some minerals in the water makes them less likely to deposit in the pipes.
2. A magnetic device that changes the structure of minerals and makes them less like to deposit.
3. A template-assisted crystallization process will create crystals of minerals before they scale on the surface, such as water heating elements.

Although water descalers minimize the hardness of the water that flows through the pipes, it still remains hard. It can be problematic if you are just using a descaler. Also, water is still hard with mineral content inside it, and when it dries, it causes spots that are visible on glassware, dishes, and countertop.

So hard water will deposit up in the pipe and force the equipment to work improperly. This will cause damage to appliances and their breakdown, along with extra usage of soap and detergent.

Here are a few pros and cons of a water descaler.

Pros

• Water descalers use no salt to soften the water. It makes a descaler the best option for those people who do not need any added salt in their diet.
• Salt-free conditioners do not need sodium top-up without a lot of maintenance throughout the system’s lifespan.
• TAC water descalers need changing of the media after every 6 to 8 years, and you will just need to replace the sediment filter after 6 months. You can say no maintenance at all.
• These are less expensive and cost less than 200 to 300 dollars, making them easier to install, and you won’t need to call a plumber to install a descaler at your home, which means less maintenance.
• As we can get magnesium and calcium from our diet and water, while some other minerals present in water are also essential for our health, that means a water conditioner will not remove minerals from the water, making it the best solution for a healthy life.

Cons

• If you want something that is effective in softening the water, then a descaler should not be your choice because hard ions are still present in the descaler water, and it may produce some scale buildups, but it can be highly effective but not as effective as a water softener.
• If you have hard water in your home, then the descaler should not be your option as it will not remove the hard ions from the water, but you can go for a result based on evidence and check the scale built up inside the pipes to know if it is reducing the hardness problem or not.

Water softener changes the chemical composition of the water. It removes the minerals through an ion-exchange method. It removes scale built up inside the pipes like a water descaler does, providing some other benefits.

Water softeners have polystyrene beads charged with sodium chloride ions. When hard water passes through these beads, the mineral ions, and sodium chloride swap, resulting in water that is free from minerals. The amount of sodium in water is minor, so it doesn’t affect the taste and odor of the water.

Here are a few pros and cons of a water softener.

Pros

• It is the most effective softening treatment for the home. It removes hard ions from the water, which means a long lifespan for pipes and appliances.
• If there are no hard minerals in the water, it means it will have a softer effect on your skin, and soap will leather better. Your hair will also get benefit from this improved quality of water.
• Using soft water will help you clean because you will need less soap and detergent and no leftover spots.
• It uses a proven technique to eliminate scale built up in the water, so this process is scientifically proven and will show magical results.

Cons 

• Saltwater softener can be a more effective option, but it will cost more money for long-term use.
• Filling a brine tank with salt is difficult. This will need extra energy, and its maintenance can be difficult for busy people.
• Additionally, you can’t forget about the sediment filter because it needs replacement after every 6 months, so you have to call a plumber to help you with installation. It can be a difficult task.

Magnetic descalers treat the water by using a magnetic coil that is placed close to the pipe. It emits a dynamic electromagnetic field that will transform calcium and magnesium in water and make it unable to glue on the surface.

This method is less popular because it is hard to verify whether this method works properly or not. About thousands of studies are performed that are relevant to magnetic water softening, but unfortunately, a conclusive result is not found yet!

While some studies have shown that a magnetic water softener shows marginal effects, this research is not enough to justify this filtration system. Although some magnetic water softeners are sold independently, and many of them have shown some good results, there is no way to know that you are going to get guaranteed results.

When it comes to making the final decision between a descaler vs water softener, it depends upon your necessities. If you want an easy system with no maintenance, then a water descaler can be suitable for you, but if you have a high level of hard water that disturbs your daily activities, then the best choice will be a water softener.

Many people ask questions like do magnetic water descaler work? Its proper answer is still unknown, but a magnetic water descaler has been proven to be useful many times, but still, its results are not granted.