Thursday, March 28, 2024
No menu items!

How to Choose a Water Softener: The Complete Guide for Homeowners

Must Read

Are you planning to buy a water softener for your home?

About 90% of American homes have hard water. It contains minerals causing scaling and build-up, resulting in clogged plumbing and waterlines.

It also affects the efficiency of some appliances and promotes the growth of bacteria. With a lot at stake, you need to choose a water softener correctly. Continue reading below for a complete guide:

1. Do You Need One?

When you choose a water softener, determine if it’s the correct treatment. Check the hardness per gallon of the grains in your water.

Get a water test kit to get the grains per gallon of your water. It will determine the water’s calcium and magnesium concentration. If the results show anything above 120 mg/L, consider getting a water softener.

The cost of installation is $1,600. Thankfully, you don’t need to buy one if you don’t have the budget. You opt for water softener rental as an alternative.

2. Consider Regeneration

Ask about the water regeneration cycle of the water softeners. The regeneration cycle is the process it takes for a softener to filter the minerals from your water. During the filtering process, it is best to avoid using your water.

By learning about the regeneration cycle, you can gauge how long you can afford not to use your water. Some water softeners have a programmable feature for filtering schedules. Others only regenerate when necessary.

3. The Features Count 

Another factor to consider is the key features. With so many options for water softeners, they can complicate your choices. The rule of thumb is to find water softener features that match your specific requirements.

For example, if you have a pool at home, find a softener that removes the chlorine taste. If you want to filter water throughout the entire property, find one that can do so.

4. Decide on the Type 

Learn about the different types of water softeners. These are salt-based ion-exchange softeners, salt-free water conditioners, dual tank water softeners, and electronic or magnetic descalers.

Salt-based ion-exchange softeners are the traditional options. They use water softener salt to remove water hardness. Meanwhile, salt-free water conditioners crystallize the minerals to keep them from scaling to surfaces.

Meanwhile, dual-tank softeners use two resin tanks. The setup allows a continuous supply of soft water with no downtime.

Lastly, electronic or magnetic descalers attach to your main water line. They send electromagnetic waves to change the minerals’ composition to prevent scaling.

5. Choose a Water Softener Provider

Lastly, pick a reputable water softener provider. With the potential health hazards of hard water, you shouldn’t settle for anything sub-par.

Go to the websites of different manufacturers and check the online customer reviews. Are their customers happy with their water softeners? Talk to their staff and ask as many questions about their product.

A trusted company should provide clear answers. They should also be transparent with the pricing.

Discover More Helpful Tips Now

Learning how to choose a water softener allows you to pick the best one for your home. You can get the right features and the best value for your money.

Learn about other helpful tips for your daily living. Check out our other articles for more guides today.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Latest News

Choosing The Right Tankless Water Heater for Your Home

When you need to pick the best tankless water heater for your home, it feels like you are trying...

More Articles Like This