Water softener comparison

Need advice on choosing a water softener?

How does a conventional salt water softener work?

Do you know how a conventional salt water softener works?

You should know that ALL salt water softeners work in this way, regardless of their quality, origin or date of manufacture. Are you ready?

What are the disadvantages of a conventional salt water softener?

Operation of a CO2 anti-limescale solution

You are looking for a water softener for your house or flat, but you don’t know which water softener to choose. Find out how an Ecobulles works to treat limescale.

See why it works and how it is good for you, your home and our planet!

Our solution is to inject CO2 into the water. On contact with the water, the CO2 turns into carbonic acid. This natural, mild acid lowers the pH of the water, solubilises limescale and prevents it from scaling.

H2O + CO2 = H2CO3

Discover how CO2 acts on the pH of water and why it is so effective against limescale.

Under the effect of CO2 in water, calcium carbonates (scaling limestone) are transformed into calcium bicarbonates (80 times more soluble than carbonates and therefore not scaling).

Compare for yourself!

Comparison of salt water softeners VS Ecobulles :

Installation

Salt softener

Noise nuisance

Noisy device during regeneration phase (frequently in the middle of the night).

The ECOBULLES system is silent.

Maintenance

Mandatory and frequent follow-up regarding salt level in its compartment. Stockage and frequent handling of heavy 25kg salt bags. Mandatory annual contract for maintenance against bacterial risks.

One 10kg bottle of CO2 can treat between 50 and 100 cubic meters of water (depending on its hardness). Which means, very little handling and maintenance.

Installation

Requires strong skills in plumbing. Requires an evacuation system into the sewage network, indispensable for the frequent resin regeneration process. It is also necessary to provide a non-treated water plant and a bypass to be able to set up the water hardness if the the salt softener is not equipped with such function.

Requires strong skills in plumbing. Requires an evacuation system into the sewage network, indispensable for the frequent resin regeneration process. It is also necessary to provide a non-treated water plant and a bypass to be able to set up the water hardness if the the salt softener is not equipped with such function.

Space required

Bulky and non-customizable equipment. 50 x 30 x 110 (indicative measurement) for a 4-people household.

Customizable installation. Equipment that does not take much place : 

  • Control box (17 x 17 x 6 cm)
  • Hydraulic module (44 cm).
  • CO2 bottle (Height: from 70 cm to 88 cm. Diameter: 20 cm.).
Septic tanks and microstations

A salt softener, when in regeneration phase, will reject into water big quantities of chloride that destroy microbial life and alter the efficiency of microstations and cesspools. Many purification system manufacturers proscribe the use of salt softeners in order to have their products work properly. In some cases, it can even cause unpleasant odours.

Perfectly compatible with the different purification systems.

Health &
Well-being

Salt softener

Hygiene

Risks of bacterial pollution because of water stagnation in the resins.

No water storage, therefore no risks of bacterial pollution. Moreover, the CO2 has a bacteriostatic property.

Balance / Water taste

Water is denatured because calcium and magnesium are replaced by sodium (water demineralisation). The presence of sodium creates a “sodium taste”. This kind of water is forbidden to people on a salt-free diet. In the case of very hard water, the sodium quantity “exchanged” in water can make the water unsuited to consumption (Decision of January 11, 2007 concerning limits and references of raw waters quality aimed at human consumption, regulation: SANP0720200 1A).

The water keeps all its mineral properties. It is more digest thanks to bicarbonates. Water taste is not altered.

Skin well-being

Pleasant water contact with skin. Improvement on skin rashes and irritations thanks to the reduction of calcium and magnesium carbonates.

Pleasant water contact with skin. The ECOBULLES process consists on diminishing the water pH very lightly, bringing it very close to the skin pH, which reduces significantly skin rashes and irritations. Morover, the input of bicarbonate allows a clear improvement on skin health and contributes to decrease itches.

Ecobalance

For a household of 4 people: 1200 kg of salt consumed, a minimum of 120 cubic-meters of wasted water and polluted with chloride.

For a household of 4 people: 120 kg of neutralized CO2 (average). No water waste and no chloride rejections.

PREVENTIVE & CURATIVE PROTECTION

Salt softener

Energy savings

Effective heat transfer thanks to unscaled up resistances.

Effective heat transfer thanks to unscaled up resistances.

Scaling protection

Very efficient process that protects pipelines, water heaters, sanitary facilities, domestic appliances, etc…

Very efficient process that protects pipelines, water heaters, sanitary facilities, domestic appliances, etc…

White traces

A softener installed by a professional is set to a hydrotimetric title (TH) between 10° and 15°. At this level, there are little non-embedding scale traces. In order to see no traces at all, it is necessary to set the salt softener TH close to 0°. At this level, the water gets corrosive and will alter your domestic appliances (water heater, electrical resistances, boiler pieces, heat exchangers, pipelines…). This is why manufacturers such as ATLANTIC, VIESSMAN…require a water TH setting at 15° minimum!!!

Reduction of white traces on stainless steel appliances, on dark surfaces, on shower walls… in “curative” phase, these traces can be more important. This is normal, because on top of the scale present in water, we progressively solubilize the scale already present in the domestic appliances. However, theses traces are made of bicarbonates (non-embedding) and disappear quickly with a simple sponge stroke.

Steam plant

You should refer to the instructions for your appliance. Some manufacturers recommend demineralised water and others tap water.

You should refer to the instructions for your appliance. Some manufacturers recommend demineralised water and others tap water.

Dishwasher

No need to add salt into your dishwasher anymore.

It is commonly advised to add salt into dishwashers in order to avoid the occurrence of white traces at the feet of your glasses (drying water drops combined with the presence of bicarbonates). However, you can make these traces disappear with a simple cloth stroke. Caution: if your dishwasher comes with a water hardness setup function, make sure it is set at the right level.

Curative effect

The curative effect is very low. It does not eradicate scale formation, nor organic deposits.

Soft and progressive descaling of all the domestic appliances (water heater, pipeline, sanitary equipment, electrical appliances…). Eradicates scale and existing organic deposits. The only curative process on the market.

Clothes

Clothes stay very flexible thanks to the absence of scale. Allergy caution: the rinsing power of a softened water is very low, which increases the risk of detergent residues inside the linen fibres.

Clothes stay flexible because the bicarbonates are soluble in water. They are evacuated during the rinsing phase along with the detergent impurities.

Cleaning products

Detergent and fabric softeners savings…thanks to the foaming power of water when treated by a salt softener.

Detergent and fabric softeners savings…thanks to the rinsing power of water when enriched with CO2.

Installation

Noise nuisance

Salt softener

Noisy device during regeneration phase (frequently in the middle of the night).

Ecobulles

The ECOBULLES system is silent.

Maintenance

Salt softener

Mandatory and frequent follow-up regarding salt level in its compartment. Stockage and frequent handling of heavy 25kg salt bags. Mandatory annual contract for maintenance against bacterial risks.

Ecobulles

One 10kg bottle of CO2 can treat between 50 and 100 cubic meters of water (depending on its hardness). Which means, very little handling and maintenance.

Installation

Salt softener

Requires strong skills in plumbing. Requires an evacuation system into the sewage network, indispensable for the frequent resin regeneration process. It is also necessary to provide a non-treated water plant and a bypass to be able to set up the water hardness if the the salt softener is not equipped with such function.

Ecobulles

Requires very little skills in plumbing. However, concerning the pH setup, we advise you to get the help of a professional. No need of a bypass, no need of an evacuation system.

Space required

Salt softener

Bulky and non-customizable equipment. 50 x 30 x 110 (indicative measurement) for a 4-people household.

Ecobulles

Customizable installation. Equipment that does not take much place :

  • Control box (17 x 17 x 6 cm)
  • Hydraulic module (44 cm).
  • CO2 bottle (Height: from 70 cm to 88 cm. Diameter: 20 cm.).

Septic tanks and microstations

Salt softener

A salt softener, when in regeneration phase, will reject into water big quantities of chloride that destroy microbial life and alter the efficiency of microstations and cesspools. Many purification system manufacturers proscribe the use of salt softeners in order to have their products work properly. In some cases, it can even cause unpleasant odours.

Ecobulles

Perfectly compatible with the different purification systems.

WELL-BEING & HEALTH

Hygiene

Salt softener

Risks of bacterial pollution because of water stagnation in the resins

Ecobulles

No water storage, therefore no risks of bacterial pollution. Moreover, the CO2 has a bacteriostatic property.

Balance/ Water taste

Salt softener

Water is denatured because calcium and magnesium are replaced by sodium (water demineralisation). The presence of sodium creates a “sodium taste”. This kind of water is forbidden to people on a salt-free diet. In the case of very hard water, the sodium quantity “exchanged” in water can make the water unsuited to consumption (Decision of January 11, 2007 concerning limits and references of raw waters quality aimed at human consumption, regulation: SANP0720200 1A).

Ecobulles

The water keeps all its mineral properties. It is more digest thanks to bicarbonates. Water taste is not altered.

Skin well-being

Salt softener

Pleasant water contact with skin. Improvement on skin rashes and irritations thanks to the reduction of calcium and magnesium carbonates.

Ecobulles

Pleasant water contact with skin. The ECOBULLES process consists on diminishing the water pH very lightly, bringing it very close to the skin pH, which reduces significantly skin rashes and irritations. Morover, the input of bicarbonate allows a clear improvement on skin health and contributes to decrease itches.

Ecobalance

Salt softener

For a household of 4 people: 1200 kg of salt consumed, a minimum of 120 cubic-meters of wasted water and polluted with chloride.

Ecobulles

For a household of 4 people: 120 kg of neutralized CO2 (average). No water waste and no chloride rejections.

PREVENTIVE & CURATIVE PROTECTION

Energy savings

Salt softener

Effective heat transfer thanks to unscaled up resistances.

Ecobulles

Effective heat transfer thanks to unscaled up resistances.

Scaling protection

Salt softener

Very efficient process that protects pipelines, water heaters, sanitary facilities, domestic appliances, etc…

Ecobulles

Very efficient process that protects pipelines, water heaters, sanitary facilities, domestic appliances, etc…

White traces

Salt softener

A softener installed by a professional is set to a hydrotimetric title (TH) between 10° and 15°. At this level, there are little non-embedding scale traces. In order to see no traces at all, it is necessary to set the salt softener TH close to 0°. At this level, the water gets corrosive and will alter your domestic appliances (water heater, electrical resistances, boiler pieces, heat exchangers, pipelines…). This is why manufacturers such as ATLANTIC, VIESSMAN…require a water TH setting at 15° minimum!!!

Ecobulles

Reduction of white traces on stainless steel appliances, on dark surfaces, on shower walls… in “curative” phase, these traces can be more important. This is normal, because on top of the scale present in water, we progressively solubilize the scale already present in the domestic appliances. However, theses traces are made of bicarbonates (non-embedding) and disappear quickly with a simple sponge stroke.

Steam plant

Salt softener

You should refer to the instructions for your appliance. Some manufacturers recommend demineralised water and others tap water.

Ecobulles

You should refer to the instructions for your appliance. Some manufacturers recommend demineralised water and others tap water.

Dishwasher

Salt softener

No need to add salt into your dishwasher anymore.

Ecobulles

It is commonly advised to add salt into dishwashers in order to avoid the occurrence of white traces at the feet of your glasses (drying water drops combined with the presence of bicarbonates). However, you can make these traces disappear with a simple cloth stroke. Caution: if your dishwasher comes with a water hardness setup function, make sure it is set at the right level.

Curative effect

Salt softener

The curative effect is very low. It does not eradicate scale formation, nor organic deposits.

Ecobulles

Soft and progressive descaling of all the domestic appliances (water heater, pipeline, sanitary equipment, electrical appliances…). Eradicates scale and existing organic deposits. The only curative process on the market.

Clothes

Salt softener

Clothes stay very flexible thanks to the absence of scale. Allergy caution: the rinsing power of a softened water is very low, which increases the risk of detergent residues inside the linen fibres.

Ecobulles

Clothes stay flexible because the bicarbonates are soluble in water. They are evacuated during the rinsing phase along with the detergent impurities.

Cleaning products

Salt softener

Detergent and fabric softeners savings…thanks to the foaming power of water when treated by a salt softener.

Ecobulles

Detergent and fabric softeners savings…thanks to the rinsing power of water when enriched with CO2.