What Does the Grain Mean in Water Softeners?
Grain is a measurement that is used to determine the amount of hardness minerals that can be removed from water. If you have water with high hardness, then it will require more work from your water softener than if you have water with low hardness. This is a major reason to choose a water softener with a larger grain capacity.
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It is important to find a grain capacity that is suitable for your household. You should also take into account the amount of water that you use every day. The average American uses about 75 gallons of water per day. A larger family may need a larger softener. Using a water hardness testing kit is a good way to know what your hardness level is.
Most water softeners are reprogrammable. This means that you can change the regeneration cycles to meet your needs. For example, you might want to have a water softener regenerate only once a week. On the other hand, you could have a softener that regenerates once every two weeks. But the key is to find a balance between saving money and getting softer water. Choosing a larger grain capacity will ensure that your water softener can remove more hardness minerals from your water.
Your water will get cloudy and leave residue behind if you have too much hardness in your water. If you have a lot of minerals, you might need to use more salt to soften the water. Also, you should consider the size of your house. Larger homes need a larger water softener to deal with their water demand. However, you might have a smaller home and not need to upgrade your unit.
Water softeners use a process called ion exchange to remove hardness from your water. This process involves replacing the hardness particles in the water with sodium particles. While this process can effectively remove some hardness minerals, it can also foul with sediment and iron. In addition to leaving a cloudy effect on the water, it can leave behind a scale that sticks to your faucets.
Manufacturers will maximize the temperature and pressure of the regeneration process to get the maximum grain capacity. However, this will also increase the amount of salt that is required for each regeneration cycle. Excessive regeneration will wear out your device. So, it is best to keep your regeneration cycles between seven and 14 days.
Typical water softener grain capacity is around 32,000 grains. That means that you can expect to have a water softener that is able to remove approximately three times the hardness of your water. If you have a water hardness testing kit, you can estimate your own water hardness level and then multiply this by 10 to determine how many grains you will need to soften your water. Once you have this number, you can begin looking for a water softener with a grain capacity that will meet your needs.
Usually, a water softener with a higher grain capacity will have faster and more efficient flow rates. If you have a large household or high water demands, it may be a good idea to invest in a water softener with a bigger grain capacity.