If you have a decent amount of calcium in your water, it can be referred to as ‘hard water’. Water softeners are installed to remove the calcium from the water. Here’s how you can choose the right water softener for your home.
Sizing
One of the first steps is figuring out what level of calcium you have in the water. Different areas, wells, and subdivisions all have different levels of calcium in the water. It would definitely be a good starting point to have the water tested by a professional who knows how to size a water softener properly. Knowing the amount of calcium in the water is important because the water softener removes calcium and holds it until it regenerates or backwashes to dump the hardness/calcium down the drain. If you undersize your water softener, you’ll experience very frequent regeneration or backwash cycles, which will use excessive water and salt. A properly sized system will prevent excessive cycles, saving both water and salt.
Capabilities
It isn’t a good idea to jump to a decision and install a water softener without addressing other potential materials in the water. If you also have chlorine in your water, we have a product that removes both hardness and chlorine. Municipal water typically has a high amount of chlorine, so it would be a better and more efficient choice to use one unit that resolves both of these issues. I always encourage people to speak with a professional that knows water softener and water treatment equipment before installing a water softener in the home.
Efficiency
Not all water softeners are created equal. Although most of the concept of how they work is the same, the differences lie in the brains of the water softener, which consists of the computers and control mechanisms. A water softener might be very efficient or inefficient, and its efficiency is largely assessed by how much salt it uses. I think anyone would prefer to buy and transport less salt. A water softener that has smart technology for managing regeneration and backwash cycles will use less salt and be more efficient overall. It will probably end up saving you money in the future.
Should Homeowners Self-Install?
When we’ve seen homeowners try to install water softeners themselves, most of the time they purchased the unit from a hardware store or big-box store. These units simply don’t have very much longevity. Just like everything else, you get what you pay for. In my opinion, these shouldn’t be throw-away appliances. It’s best to have a system that will service you well for many years to come.
If you want to get the right water softener for your home, contact us online or give us a call at 540-483-9382.
