What Is a Dual-Tank Water Softener?

Cloudy water, dry skin, faded laundry and gunky white buildup around your faucets are just a few of the annoying signs it may be time to install a dual-tank water softener. These issues are generally due to hard water in your home, and both traditional and dual-tank water softeners help eliminate the minerals that cause it.

This May Also Interest You: What Is a Water Softener?

However, while traditional water softeners work well to remove hard minerals, they're only equipped with a single tank and require downtime for recharging.

What Is a Twin- or Dual-Tank Water Softener System?

While specific features can vary depending on the make and model, most water softener systems feature tanks containing resin beads. These beads carry a negative electrical charge that pulls minerals such as calcium and magnesium from hard water as it flows through the system. Traditional water softener systems include a single resin bead tank, while dual-tank water softeners are designed with two resin tanks instead of just one. These systems alternate between the two tanks, allowing users to enjoy an uninterrupted soft water supply.

Over time, hard-water minerals build up on the beads and must be removed to ensure proper functioning of the water softener. The removal process is called recharging or regeneration, and it takes place in the resin bead tank. Both traditional and twin-tank water softeners are also equipped with brine tanks, which store the salt used to clean or recharge the resin beads.

While traditional and dual-tank systems soften water in the same way, single-tank systems can't produce soft water while the recharging process is taking place. With a dual-tank system, one tank recharges the resin beads with the salt solution from the brine tank while the second resin tank continues to process soft water. Many homeowners prefer a dual system such as the Fleck 9100, which automatically alternates between resin tanks, as this allows for consistent, on-demand softened water.

How Does a Dual-Tank Softener Differ From a Traditional Water Softener?

The main difference between dual-tank water softeners and traditional systems is the number of resin tanks the system is equipped with. Traditional water softener systems have one tank containing resin beads, while dual softener systems have two resin tanks. Both types are also usually designed with a single brine tank.

More Related Articles:

• How Much Does a Water Softener Cost?

• How to Know if Your Bathtub Has Hard Water

• Installing a Water Softener Isn’t So Hard: A 6-Step Guide

• How Much Do Home Water Filtration Systems Cost?

• How Do You Clean a Water Softener?

Dual Resin Tanks Vs. Single Resin Tanks

Water softeners with single resin tanks must stop operating while regeneration takes place. Although specific recharging times can vary, the process usually takes about 1 to 2 hours. The steps involved in recharging typically include:

• Filling the brine tank. As the recharging process starts, water fills the brine tank and mixes with the salt. This creates the necessary solution to recharge the beads.

• Brining the beads. Once the water and salt solution is prepared, it's sent to the resin tank via the system's brine valve. Next, the solution is washed over the beads to pick up mineral residue.

• Rinsing the beads. Following the brining process, the brine valve is closed to prevent additional salt water from flowing in. Clean water is then flushed over the beads and the brine water is pushed out through the softener's drainage system.

While both traditional and twin-tank water softeners safely remove hard minerals from a home's water supply, dual-tank systems provide continuous, on-demand softened water. With a single-tank softener, you won't have access to soft water while the system regenerates. Dual-tank systems eliminate downtime and provide an uninterrupted supply of soft water.