How to Choose the Right Hard Water Softener

Living with hard water can be a frustrating problem for a homeowner. It causes problems like the clogging of pipes, accumulation of soap scum, and eventually appliance damage. Installing a hard water softener is an appropriate solution for all these problems, but selecting the right one for your home involves quite a bit of consideration. This guide will walk you through the important factors to choose the right system for your needs.

What Is Hard Water and Why Is It a Problem?

Hard water is the term for water that has a high mineral level, particularly of calcium and magnesium. These minerals do not represent any health risk to humans. However, they bring along numerous difficulties in your home. Over time, you can have the following:

Limescale formation within pipes and appliances, meaning less efficient performances

Highly expensive plumbing systems repair.

Less effective soaps and detergents, require more to achieve the same results.

Dry skin and dull hair since minerals do not completely get washed away.

Installation of a water softener can be very helpful in preventing this problem.

What is a Water Softener?

A water softener is an appliance that will remove calcium and magnesium from your water source and replace those minerals with sodium or potassium ions. Through the action of ion exchange, you'll prevent scale formation in your plumbing and extend the lives of your appliances. There are also several kinds of water softeners, and it's necessary to understand some of their differences to help guide a final decision.

1. Determine Your Water Hardness Level

Step one to making the right choice for a hard water softener will be determining how hard your water is. Water hardness can be measured in several ways grains per gallon, or parts per the higher the number, the harder the water. You can get a test kit for determining your water's hardness, or you can hire a professional to test it. Knowing the degree of hardness will help you select the correct size softener.

Soft water : 0-3 GPG 

Moderately hard water: 4-7 GPG 

Hard water: 8-10 GPG 

Very hard water: 11 GPG or more 

If your water is said to be "hard" or "very hard", you ought to seriously think about acquiring a water softener installation.

2. What are the Different Types of Water Softeners

There exist many different types of water softeners and a knowledge of them will serve to best guide you in selecting the perfect one for your house:

a. Salt-Based Ion Exchange Softeners

It is the most common type of water softener. It uses salt to replace calcium and magnesium ions in your water with sodium ions. Despite its high effectiveness, salt-based softeners need to be maintained regularly, including salt replacement and sometimes cleaning.

b. Salt-Free Water Softeners

Salt-free softeners do not even remove minerals in the first place. It neutralizes them so they will not stick on the surfaces of your house. This system is suitable for a low-maintenance setting homeowner who would want no sodium added to his water in the house. Perhaps they are less effective when used on very hard water, though.

c. Two-Tank Water Softeners

A dual-tank system is appropriate for large homes or households that consume a lot of water. The system is comprised of two tanks, which alternate; hence, soft water will always be in supply even while one is in the regeneration mode.

d. Magnetic or Electronic Water Conditioners

These are small, simple-to-install devices claiming to soften water using a magnetic field. Cheap and no maintenance, yet effectiveness has been starkly contentious. They should work for any moderately hard water but not hard water.

3. Size and Capacity

When choosing a water softener, a person has to choose a system that can accommodate water usage in a given house. These units are rated by the capacity of hardness that they can remove before they have to be regenerated.

When you want to estimate the ideal capacity of your water softener at home, consider the number of people living in your house and the degree of hardness of your water. In an average household with people, about 75 gallons of water are used per person daily. Multiply that by the degree of hardness to get the number of hardness removal required daily. That amount is what the grain capacity of the softener should be able to handle.

4. Regeneration Method

The regeneration serves to clean the resin beads of harvested hardness minerals. There are two types of regeneration methods:

a. Time-Based Regeneration

These systems regenerate on a set schedule regardless of the amount of water consumed. It ensures consistent soft water but has less efficiency since the system may sometimes regenerate when it is not necessary.

b. Demand-Initiated Regeneration

These systems self-regenerate according to the actual water consumption. They are more efficient and conserve water as they only self-regenerate when required. They are suitable for larger families or individuals wishing to save on water usage as well.

5. Professional Installation vs. DIY

While some homeowners may prefer to install a hard water softener in their homes themselves, generally it is more efficient to hire a professional. This ensures that all of the system is properly installed and calibrated to work at its peak. They can also test your water, suggest the appropriate softener, and provide you with maintenance tips.

Conclusion

When it comes to selecting the perfect water softener for hard water, you will have to consider your water hardness, the size of your family, and your preference regarding maintenance versus efficiency. Whether you decide to have a salt-based, salt-free, or dual-tank system, water softeners always have an impact on the quality of your water, appliances, and much more. Call your Bounten Global expert today for professional advice and installation so you can find the perfect solution for your home.