Water softeners are devices that remove hardness minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, from water. Salt-based water softeners use ion exchange to remove these minerals, but they can also add sodium to the water, which can be a problem for people on low-sodium diets. Salt-free water softeners, on the other hand, do not use ion exchange, so they do not add sodium to the water. Instead, they use a variety of other methods to remove hardness minerals, such as template-assisted crystallization (TAC), chelation, and magnetic or electronic water conditioning.
Salt-free water softeners are becoming increasingly popular because they offer a number of advantages over salt-based water softeners. First, they do not add sodium to the water, which makes them a good choice for people on low-sodium diets. Second, they are typically more affordable than salt-based water softeners. Third, they are easier to maintain, as they do not require regular salt additions. Finally, they are more environmentally friendly, as they do not produce wastewater.