A water softener system works by removing minerals like calcium and magnesium that cause hard water. The process primarily relies on ion exchange. Here's how it works: Mineral Removal: Hard water enters the softener tank, which contains resin beads charged with sodium (or potassium) ions. As the hard water passes through the resin, the calcium and magnesium ions in the water are attracted to the beads and replaced by the sodium or potassium ions. Soft Water Distribution: After the ion exchange, the water is now "softened" and free of the minerals that cause scale buildup. This softened water then flows out of the softener system and into the home for use. Regeneration Cycle: Over time, the resin beads become saturated with calcium and magnesium ions, losing their effectiveness. To restore their ability to soften water, the system enters a regeneration cycle. In this process, a concentrated salt (sodium chloride) solution, stored in a brine tank, is flushed through the resin beads. This solution displaces the trapped calcium and magnesium ions, recharging the beads with sodium. Rinsing and Resumption: Once the regeneration is complete, the system rinses the resin beads to remove excess salt, and the water softening process resumes. This cycle allows water softeners to continuously provide soft water while maintaining the efficiency of household appliances and preventing scale buildup.