What is the media inside the Echo Salt Free Water Conditioner?

Template Assisted Crystallization (TAC) is a water treatment technology used in salt-free water conditioners to prevent scale buildup. Here's how it works and what it does in a water conditioner:

What is Template Assisted Crystallization (TAC)?

• TAC Media: TAC uses a specialized media, typically a resin or polymer, which has microscopic sites or "templates" on its surface. These templates are designed to attract and hold hardness minerals like calcium and magnesium ions temporarily.
• Crystal Formation: When hard water flows through the TAC media, the calcium and magnesium ions attach to the templates. These ions then crystallize into microscopic crystals on the media surface. The templates promote the formation of these stable crystals, which are the key to preventing scale.
• Release of Crystals: Once formed, the crystals are released into the water stream. These crystals are too small to adhere to surfaces like pipes, appliances, or fixtures, preventing scale buildup.

What Do TAC Crystals Do in a Water Conditioner?

• Prevent Scale Formation: The primary function of TAC crystals in a water conditioner is to prevent scale from forming on surfaces. The stable crystals that are released into the water do not stick to surfaces. Instead, they remain suspended in the water and are carried away with the flow.
• Maintain Water Flow and Efficiency: By preventing scale buildup, TAC helps maintain the efficiency of water heaters, plumbing systems, and appliances, which can become less efficient or damaged over time due to scale.
• No Chemical Change: Unlike traditional water softeners, TAC does not remove the hardness minerals or chemically alter the water. The calcium and magnesium remain in the water, but they are in a form that doesn't contribute to scale.

Key Benefits of TAC in Water Conditioners:

• Low Maintenance: TAC systems do not require salt or regular regeneration cycles, making them easier to maintain compared to traditional water softeners.
• Eco-Friendly: TAC does not introduce chemicals into the water supply, making it an environmentally friendly option.
• No Wastewater: Unlike water softeners that produce brine wastewater during regeneration, TAC systems do not create wastewater, as they only condition the water.

Summary:

TAC in a salt-free water conditioner helps prevent scale formation by transforming hardness minerals into harmless, non-adhering crystals. This technology offers a maintenance-free, eco-friendly alternative to traditional water softening, particularly in applications where reducing scale buildup is the primary goal.