The Importance of Water Softeners

Improper water treatment is one of the leading causes of poor boiler performance and can cause boiler tube damage that is irreversible. This is because hard water, or mineral rich water, can result in scale on boiler watersides. This scale is undesirable in water systems because it acts as an insulator and prevents proper heat transfer. Scale deposits of just 1/16” thick can decrease boiler efficiency by 20% and can lead to premature boiler failure and costly downtime.

To avoid this scenario, water softening is a widely-used and economical type of pre-treatment for boiler system. A water softener is an ion exchanger designed to remove the positively charged ions and replace them with sodium or potassium exchanger ions. Hard water contains the positively charged ions magnesium, calcium and iron. The water softening process nearly frees the water from these minerals and decreases the risk of tube scaling and irreversible boiler damage. Water softening, when combined with a reliable water treatment chemical program and blowdown schedule, can lead to many years of reliable boiler system performance.

We’ve installed duplex water softening systems in all of our mobile boiler rooms and mobile steam plants to ensure optimal boiler performance. We also have larger skid-mounted duplex water softeners available for rent or purchase. For more information on products and services available, visit our website at www.nationwideboiler.com.