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Magnetic Water
Conditioners: Do They Work?
Magnetic water
conditioners have been used in industrial settings since the end of the
19th century, but they have not been available for home use until
recently.
Water dissolves so many different
materials that it is called the universal solvent. Hard water is caused
by acid rain, which in turn is caused by rain absorbing carbon dioxide
as it falls through the air. Acid rain is a weak carbonic acid that
dissolves rock after hitting the earth. The resulting hard water
contains dissolved minerals that leave spots on faucets, sinks, shower
doors, and bathtubs. These spots can only be removed by extra scrubbing
with vinegar and water. Hard water also leaves lime deposits in kettles,
hot water heaters, and pipes. Soap doesn’t lather or rinse off well in
hard water.
Treating hard water with a traditional water softener will eliminate
these problems but add sodium to the water. A carbon-based filtering
system will also work but may be expensive. Today there may be a new way
to treat hard water: a magnetic water “softener.” This method does not
actually soften the water, as no minerals are removed, but rather
conditions it.
Briefly, the theory is that as water flowing through the pipes passes
through the magnetic fields of the magnets permanently installed in the
plumbing system, the electrical charge of the ions is changed in such a
way that the dissolved minerals cannot form lime scale. As the mineral
ions fracture into micro-mineral particles, algae and harmful bacteria
are destroyed as well. However, placement of the magnets is important,
as high voltage lines within three feet of the magnetic fields will
interfere with the water conditioning process.
Magnetic water conditioners have been used in industrial settings since
the end of the 19th century, but they have not been available for home
use until recently. At present they are generally available only through
independent distributors. The question is: Do they really work? If they
do, they would be the least expensive, longest lasting, and most
maintenance free of all systems for treating hard water. Plus, they
would be the most environmentally friendly, with no filters to throw
away.
Water treated magnetically is completely safe to drink. Traditional
water softeners using salt filters leave sodium in the water, which is
especially unhealthy for people with high blood pressure. The sodium in
the water also quickly corrodes the plumbing and appliances hooked up to
the water system. Many researchers believe the use of salt water filters
also harms the environment, and they would like to see them banned from
use altogether.
The magnetic water conditioner does not add or remove minerals from the
water. The water is still a source of vital mineral nutrients for both
humans and plants. Water filtering and purification systems such as
reverse osmosis and distillation remove all minerals from the water.
It costs about $90 to $200 to install a magnetic system, as compared to
$1,400 for a mechanical system. Operating costs are obviously much lower
as well. Clothes washed in magnetically conditioned water may last
longer and water heaters work more efficiently without lime buildup.
But again: Do magnetic water conditioners really work? In a 1996
Consumer Reports study, two water heaters, one with magnets and the
other without, were compared after two years of operation. The study
found no difference in the amount of lime buildup.
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