How to Size a Water Softener Based on Water Hardness
Hard water leaves a coating of minerals and scale behind. A water softener removes these excess minerals and scale from the water coming into your home. Water softeners come in different sizes (capacities), and the size you need for your home depends on the hardness of the water and the amount of water you use each day. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Determine whether you have hard water and need a water softener. Look for signs, such as scale buildup on pipes (a white substance that appears around the connections of water pipes in your home), a slimy feeling on your skin when you wash and trouble making lather with soap.
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Test your water through the local government water or environmental department, or a lab facility. If you notice any of the signs of hard water, call the water department (if you are on a public system) and ask about the hardness of the water. If you are on a well have the water tested. The local water or environmental department usually will do it for free and many private companies that sell water treatment equipment will also test it for free.
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Interpret the results of the water testing. The results will report grains per gallon, milligrams per liter (mg/l) or parts per million (ppm). This value should include grains per gallon from iron, which is measured separately. When iron is present it is measured in parts per million (PPM) and converted to grains (5 grains per gallon per every ppm of iron) per gallon. The U.S. Department of the Interior classifies water hardness in terms of grains per gallon as: soft (0 -- 1), slightly hard (1 -- 3.5), hard (7 -- 10.5) and very hard (10.5 >). Anything over 3.5 grains/gallon should be treated.
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Determine the size water softener you need for your house, based on the following formula: number of people X gallons per day per person X (grains per gallon + iron grains per gallon) = grains to be removed per day. Companies that sell water softeners use a chart to determine the size water softener you need (see Resources). The charts are set up so that once you know the grains per day to be removed you can easily determine the capacity water softener you need.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit water drop is falling down and impact with water surface image by Alexander Potapov from Fotolia.com
