Did you know that around 90% of American homes have hard water? While hard water isn’t harmful to your health, it is very harmful to your appliances and plumbing.
If you have hard water in your home, you need to consider investing in a good water softener. This system will ensure your appliance last longer and make your water easier to use.
With several types of water softeners available in the market, you need to know what to consider when buying one. This guide will help you know how to choose a water softener and ensure you pick the right one for your home.
Here are several tips for buying a water softener.
Have a Budget
Though you should never compromise quality over price, you need to know the cost of having a water softener and how much you should budget. How much you will pay for a new water softener depends on several things.
You will need to consider the cost of testing your water, type of water softener, the cost of installation, type of water softener, and more. Plumbing experts sell and install quality water softeners and can help you save money.
You can request a free quote and get professional help to ensure you have the right system in your home. Apart from buying and installing a new water softener, you also need to consider the cost of repairs, maintenance, and replacement.
Choose a good softener that can fully handle your soft water needs and is also not expensive to maintain.
Know Your Water Hardness Level
There are several signs to watch for to determine if you need a water softener. Common signs include stain buildup, or your soap doesn’t lather. This is mainly because of the minerals present in the water.
The minerals present in the water and the hardness is measured in grains per gallon. Hard water has very high grains per gallon; the harder the water. Before you buy a water softener, it is best to test your water to determine how hard it is and the grain capacity.
Around four to seven grains per gallon is moderately hard water, and seven to 10 grains per gallon is hard. Anything above ten is very hard water.
Since different water softener systems can handle different grain capacities, it is crucial to know your water hardness level. Suppose you have high grains per gallon. In that case, you will need a water softener that has a larger grain capacity.
Testing your water will also help you know the contaminants and bacteria present in your water. Get a testing kit or talk to the right experts to help you test your water hardness level and ensure you make the right choice when choosing a water softener.
Determine the Size of Water Softener You Need
Water softeners come in different sizes. The size you choose will depend on your daily water consumption. When considering water softener sizes, calculate your average daily water consumption.
If you choose a smaller system, you will run out of soft water when you still need it. On the other hand, an oversized system will also waste your resources. Therefore, know how much water you use in your home and get a system that can handle your level of consumption.
To do this, know how many people are in your home and the number of water-based appliances you have. Note that the more water you use, the bigger the water softener size.
Consider the Types of Water Softeners
Knowing the types of water softeners in the market is good, and determining which one fits your needs is good. Here are some types of water softeners available:
Salt-Based Water Softeners
Also known as ion exchange water softeners, this is one of the most common types of water softeners. The softener uses resin beads to remove magnesium and calcium from the water.
Since resin has to be recharged regularly, you will need a softener that regenerates after some time or after handling specific gallons of water. Depending on your consumption, this can be after a few days or one week.
Magnetic Water Softener
If you don’t have a lot of space, this might be an ideal system for you. Magnetic water softeners are compact, and you can fasten them onto your water pipe. The system uses a magnetic field to remove positive or negative ions from the water.
This will cause the minerals remaining in the water to be neutral and will not stick to each other, resulting in soft water.
Dual-Tank Water Softeners
As the name suggests, this water softener has two tanks. One tank is dedicated to the salt regeneration process, while the other contains soft water at all times.
Salt-Free Water Softeners
These water softeners do not use salt to remove minerals from the water. The softener uses a system that attracts minerals and then turns them into crystals. The crystals then prevent the buildup of minerals, resulting in soft water.
It is crucial to understand how the different types of water softener technologies work and which is the best for your home. Note that, though all these systems may work, the result will be different. Talk to an expert and explore the options available.
Also, before buying a water softener, ensure you ask for a warranty. A good product and labor warranty will help you protect your investment.
Consider These Tips to Help You Choose a Water Softener
The above tips will help you choose a water softener for your home and also save you money.
If you are ready to buy a water softener and need help choosing the right one, contact our experts at Just Plumbing, and we will handle all your questions. Call us today for an appointment and learn more about our water softener system.