How to Choose a Water Softener
- Household Size and Water Usage. …
- Regeneration Style. …
- Remove Additional Contaminants. …
- Other Convenience Features. …
- Adding a Water Filtration System. …
- Installation. …
- Don’t Forget the Warranty.
Does it matter which water softener to buy?
These fundamental considerations include the hardness level of your home’s water, the size and composite water use of your household, your budget and the technical functionality of specific water softener systems.
What do I need to know about a water softener system?
A water softening system replaces those two chemicals with salt, which leaves you with water that feels softer than normal and water that won’t clog pipes over time. Water softening systems are known to increase the life span of all of your water-reliant household appliances.
Is a higher grain water softener better?
A water softener that is too small will not be able to keep up with your needs and will wear it down faster. High grain water softeners cost more money and on over-sized softener means wasted money. This page will help you determine the right size water softener for you.
What happens if I oversize my water softener?
Oversized Water Softener Problems
Regeneration will occur less frequently and the unit will use salt more efficiently. When regeneration does happen, it will, of course, utilize more water and salt but this may be negated by the fact that the cycles occur less frequently.
How long do water softeners last?
between 10 and 15 years
While they can last much longer if well maintained, water softeners have a typical lifespan of between 10 and 15 years. If your water softener was installed more than a decade ago, replacing it may be the right option.
How many grains should my water softener be?
Daily Softening Requirement = 10 grains per gallon X 300 gallons per day = 3000 grains per day. In the example above, the softener will be removing 3000 grains per day. A softener is usually sized to regenerate about once per week.
What hardness level should my water softener be?
While water softeners can remove iron from the water, they are not specially designed to handle high concentrations of it. So, you may need to adjust the hardness setting. The rule of thumb is that a good hardness level should not be higher than 120 to 170 mg/L, i.e., seven to ten grains per gallon of water.
What is grain count in water softener?
A common way to assess the effectiveness of a water softener is a measurement known as grain count. To understand grain count, you first need to understand grains per gallon (GPG). This figure is a measurement of water hardness, and you can use it to determine the best water softener size for your home.
What does a 32000 grain water softener mean?
What is sold typically as a 32,000 grain system contains 1 cubic foot of water softening resin. If one looks at the specification provided by the resin manufacturer you will see that 1 cubic foot of resin under ideal laboratory conditions can remove about 32,000 grains of hardness.
Can you drink softened water?
Can I Drink Softened Water? While most softened water is perfectly safe to drink, the amount of sodium in the treated water will depend on the hardness of the original water. If the water hardness is below 400 ppm calcium before you soften it, then you can drink it with little concern.
How do I know what size water softener to buy?
Use the following formula to calculate the proper size:
- Multiply the number of people in your family times 70 (gallons of water used per day, national average).
- Multiply the answer by your water hardness in grains per gallon (to convert mg/l or ppm to grains, divide by 17.1). …
- This is your “grains per day” number.
Can I install a water softener myself?
Installing a water softener yourself allows you to work on the project at your own pace and without spending extra money on a plumber. If you’re simply replacing an old water softener, this can be done in under an hour.
What are the pros and CONs of a water softener?
There are a number of pros and cons about softened water to consider:
- PRO: Reduces the “hardness” of the water, which can have several benefits for consumers, including: Less soap and detergents needed. …
- PRO: Only removes the minerals that cause hardness. …
- PRO: Reduces scaling and lime deposit build-up. …
- More CONs:
