The 19 Best Pieces of Water Softener Advice You'll Hear Anywhere

If you are in the market for a new water softener, you will want to read the 19 best pieces of water softener advice you'll hear anywhere before you make your choice.

Table of Contents - Click on Each Corresponding Link

1. Choose the right model of water softener

2. Choose a demand initiated regeneration (DIR) softener

3. Find out how hard your water is

4. If you have a private well, get your water tested

5. Purchase the correct size of water softener

6. Determine your household's actual average water usage

7. Don't add an extra person to your water usage calculation if you have a dishwasher

8. Have a professional install your water softener

9. Set your water softener to the most efficient setting

10. Install a separate cold line for drinking water

We'd be happy to sit down with you, answer all of your questions, and help you choose the best water softener for your family's needs.

Read on for water softener advice you can use now.

Water Softener Advice: 19 Tips

1. Choose the right model of water softener for your needs.

Choosing the right water softener for your needs depends on several factors, including:

• The hardness of your water

• Your water usage

• Your overall budget

• Available space

By considering these factors, you can choose the right water softener that best meets your specific needs and ensures your household has soft and treated water.

Remember that water quality can vary from one location to another, so a water test and understanding your specific situation are crucial in making the best choice.

2. Choose a demand initiated regeneration (DIR) softener for the highest efficiency.

Demand initiated regeneration water softeners only regenerate when needed, unlike timed softeners which regenerate even when water usage is low.

DIR models will save water and salt when water usage is low and will also provide enough soft water when your usage is higher than normal.

3. Find out how hard your water is so you can select the right water softener for your needs.

You need to determine the actual water hardness level in your area in order to choose the correct size and set up your water softener.

Click here to look at helpful maps for Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, and the surrounding areas showing the hardness of water in each area.

4. If you have a private well, get your water tested.

People who have a private well will need to get their water tested for hardness and iron.

You will need to increase your grain hardness rating to take into account the amount of iron in your water.

You should add 3 grains per gallon of hardness to your hardness total value for every 1 milligram per litre of iron.

5. Purchase the correct size of water softener.

Water softeners come in many different sizes. You don't want to purchase one that is too small or too big for your needs. To determine the correct size of water softener for your home, use the handy calculations below.

6. Determine your household's actual average water usage; don't simply use your city's average.

To determine your household indoor water consumption, look at your fall and winter water bills.

Divide your recorded fall or winter bill water consumption (provided in cubic metres/M3) by the number of billing days for that billing period.

Next, convert the cubic metres into gallons by multiplying by 264 (this is because there are approximately 264.172 gallons in one cubic meter.)

7. Don't add an extra person to your water usage calculation if you have a dishwasher.

Do not listen to salespeople who try to tell you that you need to add another person to your calculation of water usage if you own a dishwasher.

According to watersoftenerfacts.ca, dishwashers, in fact, use less water than hand washing your dishes. Therefore, a dishwasher does not equate to one extra person in terms of water usage.

8. Have a professional install your water softener.

Don't take any chances with your installation! Let a professional do it for you.

If you are concerned about the cost of having a water softener installed, remember that installation is free for any water softener that is purchased from WaterSmart.

Read more about our installation service here.

9. Set your water softener to the most efficient setting.

Make sure you have your water softener set at the most efficient setting.

If you have purchased a unit from WaterSmart, our trained technician will make sure that it is programmed to run at optimum efficiency.

10. Install a separate cold line for drinking water.

If you prefer not to drink softened water you can have a separate cold line installed for drinking and cooking purposes.

Installing a separate cold water line for drinking water can be a great way to ensure that the water you use for drinking and cooking is of the highest quality.

Remember that plumbing work should be performed by a licensed professional if you're unsure about any aspect of the installation.

Additionally, it's important to follow local plumbing codes and regulations to ensure the safety and quality of your plumbing work.

11. Purchase a water softener with a silencer.

Water softeners create very little noise.

The only sound you will hear is the movement of water through the unit during the backwash. If you are concerned about the noise you can purchase a model with a silencer.

WaterSmart Systems have a silencer on the valve to cut the noise by approximately 50 percent.

12. Consider purchasing a machine that has controls to minimize water usage.

Some machines are designed to minimize the amount of water used during regeneration.

Often, one cycle a week will be sufficient for a family of four.

Water is a precious resource, and reducing water usage is an important aspect of environmental conservation. By using a water softener that is more water-efficient, you can contribute to the conservation of water resources, particularly in regions prone to water scarcity or drought.

Additionally, water-efficient water softeners typically use less water during the regeneration process. As a result, you'll see a reduction in your water bills over time, which can lead to cost savings.

13. Purchase a water softener with a Teflon composite o-ring.

Seal kits are a common replacement on water softeners in the Kitchener-Waterloo region because of the chlorine used to sanitize the water here.

Chlorine is commonly used to sanitize water and make it safe for consumption by killing or inactivating harmful microorganisms. This process is called water chlorination and involves the addition of chlorine to water to disinfect it.

Teflon composite o-rings are less susceptible to the effects of chlorine than rubber o-rings. Due to this, all of WaterSmart's water softeners use Teflon composite o-rings.

14. Keep your resin clean.

If your water contains iron, check for iron deposits in the resin bed. Keeping your resin clean will improve the efficiency of your water softener.

There are products that you can pour into the salt tank to attempt to clean the resin, such as Iron-out. It costs about $15CAD.

15. Check for salt build-up in the brine tank.

To keep your unit running efficiently you should occasionally check to see if a crust of salt has formed in the brine tank. If so, you can vacuum it out.

Afterwards, clean the tank with soap and water and rinse it well.

16. Check the resin tank injector.

If the resin tank injector is plugged with "dirty" salt, then you should shut off the unit's bypass plug, run a manual regeneration, and finally clean the injector and injector screen.

17. Check the state of your salt tank on a regular basis.

If your salt tank is over half full of salt with no water in it, pour 20 to 40 litres of warm to hot (not boiling) water into the salt tank. This will:

Prevent salt bridging

Aid in salt dissolution

Maintain overall efficiency

It's important to note that you should use warm to hot water, but not boiling water, as boiling water could damage the plastic components of the salt tank. Always follow the manufacturer's recommendations for maintaining your specific water softener, as there may be slight variations in the process depending on the make and model of the device.

18. Use the right salt.

There are 3 types of salt:

• Rock salt

• Solar salt

• Evaporated salt

Rock salt is the cheapest but it contains more insoluble material.

Because of this, solar and evaporated salt will keep your softener cleaner.

If your water softener regenerates a lot then you should consider buying solar or evaporated salts to avoid fast build-up in your machine.

19. Use potassium chloride if you are concerned about excess sodium in your drinking water.

Potassium chloride is an alternative to buying the more common sodium chloride to use in your water softener.

It is more expensive but doesn't contain excessive amounts of sodium like the regular salts do.

You can use potassium chloride in most units but you should check your owner's manual before switching, just in case.

THE BEST WWATER SOFTENER ADVICE:

COME TO WATERSMART TO PURCHASE YOUR WATER SOFTENER

WaterSmart has been in the water softening business in the Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, and Guelph region for more than 28 years.

We know this area and the special water needs it has. Let us help you choose the best and most efficient water softener for your needs.

HOW TO FIND US

14-105 Lexington Road, Waterloo, Ontario, N2J 4R7
Phone: 519-886-7331
Fax: 519.886.8021
Email: info@watersmartsystems.com

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