Hard water is not ideal for drinking or any other use in the house such as washing clothes and dishes, appliances, bathing, and others. This is why you want to invest in a water softener. But how do you know which size is the perfect one for your house? Well, here is everything you need to know about it.
How To Size A Water Softener?
Water Softener Size For 1 To 2 People
If you don’t live with anyone or it’s just you and your partner, then you will need a water softener for 1 to 2 people. For this, you can opt for a 32,000-grain water softener.
Now, this is not a set number because you want to get something capable of softening water of all kinds of hardness. So, if you have very slightly hard water with about 3-5 grains per gallon of water, then a 32,000-grain water softener will be perfect.
However, if you have very hard water having a grain per gallon intensity of 100, then you need to go for a water softener with a capacity of about 80,000 grains. This is going to ensure that your water is softened properly and it won’t cause any problems in the long run. It’s also easier to maintain a water softener that’s not overworking.
Water Softener Size For 3 To 4 People
If you live with 3 or more people, then you want to go for a water softener that can remove about 32,000 to 96,000 grains of calcium and magnesium. Keep in mind that a 32,000-grain water softener is for moderately hard water, whereas for even harder water, a 96,000-grain water softener will suffice.
This is perfect for anyone who has a family of three or four people and they want soft water that is easily used all over the house, from drinking to everything else in between. So, the number of people matters when you’re choosing a water softener.
For 5 To 6 People
If you have a slightly bigger family of about 5 to 6 people, then you need a bigger capacity water softener. More people in the house means more water use, so you want to ensure that you’re getting the right one.
For moderately hard water, having a grain per gallon number of about 5 to 15, a 40,000-grain water softener will suffice. It will soften water without any problem. However, if you have really hard water, then you need to go for a higher capacity water softener, so anywhere from a 96,000 to 98,000-grain water softener will be ideal.
For 7 To 8 People And Up
If you have a big family of approximately 7 to 8 people and up, then you will need a bigger capacity water softener, of course.
So, if you have moderately hard water, then you can go for a 48,000-grain capacity water softener. It will do the work just fine. If the hardness level exceeds 90 grains per gallon of water, then you need to go for a 100,000 to 110,000-grain capacity water softener.
Tips For Choosing The Right Water Softener Size
Now that you know the basic gist of water softener sizes, the next thing to go over is how to choose the right size of water softener. Sizing water softeners is a bit different from water filtration systems Jefferson County. Here are some factors that you need to consider.
Hardness Level
Firstly, the hardness of water matters a lot. This will be the determining factor of how big or small of a water softener you need. You want to see the water hardness level in your city which can be easily checked online through your zip code or you can ask your local water supply company to help you out. There are also water hardness testing kits available for you to see the hardness level for yourself.
How Much Water You Need?
Another thing that you need to consider when deciding on the size of the water softener is to see how much water you need daily. Now, this can depend on the number of people and it can also depend on your daily use.
Regardless, you need to know how much water you’re using to determine the right size of the water softener. For more water, you will need to get a bigger capacity water softener, especially if the water is very hard too.
What The Water Will Be Used For?
Next up, you want to figure out what the softened water will be used for. To be fair, hard water can seldom be used anywhere, so you want to figure out how much softened water you will be using on a daily basis. If it’s just for drinking, then a small capacity water softener will do.
If you’re softening water for everything, including drinking, bathing, and washing clothes and dishes, then you will need a decent capacity water softener because a small one won’t cut it. This is why knowing the use of water is crucial.
Calculate Softening Requirements Yourself
Lastly, you can calculate soft water requirements by yourself too. It’s a really simple formula. All you need to do is multiply the number of people in your house with the gallons of water you use and the hardness level of water and you will get the water softening requirement.
For instance, if you are 4 people in the house and the daily use of water is around 80 gallons and the water hardness level is 10 grains per gallon, then the water softening requirement will be 4x80x10 = 3200 grains. So, collectively, you will need a 32,000 to 40,000-grain capacity water softener.
What Happens If You Choose The Wrong-Sized Water Softener?
There can be problems when you choose a water softener that is either too big or too small for you.
Problems Of Picking An Oversized Water Softener
Too big of a water softener means that you’ll be wasting a lot of money on the assembly. Water softeners are no cheap investments and they can add up, especially if you’re going for a bigger capacity water softener.
Plus, as the water softener is bigger than the water softening requirements, it will regenerate less frequently. Due to this, you may notice inconsistency in water softening.
Problems Of Picking A Smaller Water Softener Than Required
As for choosing a smaller water softener, there might be the problem of you constantly regenerating it. Since the smaller water softener isn’t enough to soften water without regenerating itself from time to time, you will need to stop the process and regenerate it once every week or so. This wastes water and salt. Plus, this is tedious because you’re not getting the set amount of soft water you need, but regenerating it is a must regardless.
Small water softener can’t keep up with the daily softened water needs. This leads to hard water problems that should not happen after installing a water softener like limescale buildup, no lather when using soap or detergent, and clogged dishwashers and washing machines.
This is why choosing the right size of a water softener is crucial because you want it to work properly without giving you too much burden.
Conclusion
A water softener is not exactly one size fits all, so now you know what size is perfect for your house, the number of people in your home, and how much water you need. You should have an expert carry out water softener installation Frederick County to avoid flaws and problems later.
