How Are Water Softeners Rated?
It is important to know how water softeners are rated. If you do not, you may end up with an expensive device that doesn’t work effectively. In addition to the high price of the device, you may end up paying for the salt you use. You should understand the concept of salt use before purchasing a device.
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A typical water softener is made up of a tank, a control unit, and a brine tank. The tank contains resin beads that draw out negatively charged minerals from the water. The brine tank is filled with salt, potassium chloride, or a combination of the two. The control unit operates the entire system. The tank typically has a sticker on the side.
The amount of hardness a water softener can remove before regeneration is called its capacity. A water softener’s capacity can be measured in grains per gallon (gpg), or in “parts per million” (ppm). A “parts per million” number indicates the presence of heavy calcium or magnesium ions in the water. A high ppm number may mean the water is extremely hard. It may also indicate a need for a larger, more powerful water softener.
When buying a water softener, you must choose a model that is large enough to handle your water usage. A smaller capacity softener will have to regenerate more often, thus wearing out more quickly. A larger water softener is more expensive and will handle water consumption more efficiently. If you are not sure which softener is best for you, contact a dealer who has experience with the type of water you use.
How much salt a water softener uses is usually described in terms of grains per pound of salt. The more grain capacity a softener has, the less salt it will require. This reduces the amount of salt you will need to lug around and saves you money. If you are looking for a more efficient water softener, you can find one that is capable of removing more than 4,000 grains of hardness per pound of salt.
Water softeners use Template Assisted Crystallization to remove hardness. The beads in the resin have a negative charge, so they act as a magnet to attract and remove positively charged minerals from the water. This is a more efficient and effective way to soften water than other methods.
Water softeners can be used for both salt and salt-free. However, salt-free softeners do not actually soften the water, they just condition it. If you don’t want to buy chemicals or have them in your home, you can consider an electronic water softener. These are generally more efficient at removing calcium and manganese compounds, but may not be as efficient at eliminating other water contaminants.
If you’re planning on getting a water softener, be sure to check with your local health department to determine the hardness of the water in your area. Some areas are particularly hard, which means you will need a higher capacity softener.