Backwash Phase

• Water softeners have two tanks: the mineral tank and the brine tank. Depending on the design, the tanks might be separate or placed in a single housing. In either case, the water supply lines, a drain pipe and the lines leading to the house all connect to a series of time-operated valves sitting atop the mineral tank. In the backwash phase, the mineral tank is devoid of water after being emptied through the needs of the home. The mineral tank contains nothing but negatively charged polystyrene beads called zeolite, covered with sediment from previous use. Brine is pulled in through the brine tank to flush the mineral tank of all sediment, readying the zeolite for another use. The brine is then flushed from the mineral tank.
  
  

Recharge Phase

• Hard water--water that contains too much magnesium, iron and calcium--comes into the mineral tank from the water supply line. These substances can make water yellow and smell bad and difficult to clean with. All of these substances are positively charged at the molecular level. They are naturally attracted to the zeolite and will not leave the mineral tank when the water is sent through the house to meet needs, effectively softening the water.
  
  

Final Phase

• Before the mineral tank is emptied completely of softened water, the last of it is used to refill the brine tank. Once the mineral tank is emptied of softened water, the entire process repeats itself.