Water consists of naturally occurring elements such as Calcium Carbonate, Magnesium, and iron. As it passes through the ground, it absorbs these elements and becomes hard water as a result. Water softeners are therefore essential for the removal of such dissolved minerals.
Choosing the right softener will guarantee you efficient and hassle-free water usage. Below are 10 important considerations you should have in mind before you buy a water softener.
Table of Contents
1. The Level of Water Hardness
Before buying a water softener, you should know the level of water hardness you’re dealing with. Generally, this depends on the type of soil within your locality.
According to the U.S Geological Survey, water hardness varies from one region to another. While at home, the surest way to tell this is to use a water testing kit.
2. The Size of Water Softener
Water softeners do not have a universal size. They vary in sizes expressed in gallons per minute and the maximum number of mineral grains they can effectively remove. You should therefore analyze your water softener’s capacity.
An undersized softener will be a disappointment while an oversized system will be a waste of money. The simplest way to determine the size of your softener is to multiply the number of people in your home, by the quantity of water used every day.
3. The Price of Water Softener
An important consideration when buying a softening agent is its cost. It all depends on your budget and household needs. The cost of water softener units ranges between $400-$5000.
If you need a softener for short-term use, you may consider leasing from plumbers and services providers.
4. Care and Maintenance Procedure
Regardless of the water softening system you buy, you should conduct scheduled maintenance to ensure it serves you better. Maintenance involves keeping your system clean and restocking the salt content (for salt-based softeners).
Some advanced water softening systems may require the services of a plumber or maintenance technician. Be sure to consult your service provider about its care and maintenance.
5. Household Fixtures and Appliances
Salt-based water softeners can easily corrode metal surfaces due to chemical reactions. As a result, you should carefully consider the type of household appliances and fixtures you have.
An assessment of more than 20,000 wells in the US revealed that untreated underground water can cause severe corrosion.
Important home appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers, and utensils should have stainless steel coating to prevent corrosion. You may consider buying non-salty softeners as an alternative.
6. Potential Allergic Reactions
Your level of tolerance to salt consumption or use is important when buying a water softener. Salt solutions may cause allergic skin reactions in people who are sensitive to salt.
If you have health-related complications or allergic reactions due to salt, then you should consider salt-free water softeners. Best Waterdrop water filtration system for outdoor needs.
7. The Amount of Space Required
How much space do you have in your home? Some water softeners such as salt-based ion solutions use multiple tanks to cycle water.
As a result, you need more space to accommodate the whole water softening unit. If your home is not spacious enough, then smaller alternatives such as plug-in magnetic devices will be ideal.
8. Ease of Use and Operation
Before you buy or lease a water softener, ensure you are acquainted with its features and control knobs.
Be sure to understand how to regulate the regeneration cycle, the amount of water or salt recharge, and how long a typical cycle should last. You may also opt for a fully automated system to have easy control.
9. Product Guarantee
Water softening systems have a wide range of features and benefits. Some manufacturers will have a warranty for their product, while some may not.
When buying a softener for long-term use, it should have a product warranty. This will cater to the repair of unexpected defects and malfunctions over a specified time.
10. Expertise of the Company
When it comes to buying water softener, the expertise of the company you are buying from is very important. You need a good supplier who will help you in the installation process and offer sound advice when you need it.
You can talk two several companies and seek customer reviews before you settle on your ultimate supplier.
Grappling with salty water to perform daily household chores is truly mind-boggling. Besides, you may incur high costs of renovating corroded water pipes and household appliances. Are you battling the menace of untreated hard water? Then it is that time you considered buying a water softener!