What is the downside of a water softener?

There are a few disadvantages to using a water softener:

Water softeners can be expensive to purchase, with ongoing costs for salt or potassium chloride (used to regenerate the resin beads) and, on occasion, maintenance or repairs.

Water softeners use a process called ion exchange to remove minerals from water, which produces brine as a byproduct. Typically, brine is disposed of down the drain, which can contribute to water pollution. More Info

One of the major disadvantages of water softeners is that they add sodium to the water. This can be a problem for people who follow a low-sodium diet or have high blood pressure.

Water softeners are only effective at removing the minerals that cause hardness. They do not remove other contaminants such as bacteria, viruses, or heavy metals, so addressing these issues may necessitate the use of a separate water treatment system.

Water softeners require routine maintenance, such as refilling the salt or potassium chloride and cleaning the resin bed, to ensure that they function properly. next