There are many reasons why a water softener is necessary these days. With hard water minerals like calcium and magnesium finding their way into our tap water, getting the right water softening system makes all the difference. But with so many options available, it's easy to get overwhelmed. We break it down so you can get educated on the differences between salt-based ion exchange, salt-free conditioners, electronic descalers and how they work so you can make the best decisions for your needs.