The great thing about a colorimeter is that it is very precise. Nonetheless, we hope this article has helped you become a more informed shopper. If the value falls between two capacities, choose the one with the higher capacity.eval(ez_write_tag([[336,280],'clu_in_com-banner-1','ezslot_8',106,'0','0'])); When it boils down to it, what size water softener you need will depend on 4 key factors. This isn’t a wise decision, though. What Is a Water Softener?Water softeners are appliances that are designed to filter water throughout your whole house. As mentioned earlier, 85% of the water in the United States is hard. If it is extreme, get in touch with your local water softener company (that’s American Home Water and Air if you live in Phoenix). Also, all technicians visiting customers’ homes will be equipped with gloves and masks. After all, there are toxic substances that may be present in your water that can cause severe allergic reactions even without ingesting it. You need to test your water hardness in order to accurately determine how to size a water softener for your home. There are many benefits to having a water softener installed in your home, and you’ll want to make sure every member of the household can use it. Fortunately, there are numerous water testing facilities, like Simple Water, that can assist you in doing…, Most Americans rely on the federal or state government for their drinking water. How often you will use the system, what you will be using the system for, how many people will be using the system and how often the system regenerates. Clu In participates in the Amazon Associates affiliate program as well as other affiliate programs. Additionally, a water softener that is too small will require more frequent regeneration (read here to learn more about ideal regeneration cycles). Many consumers are tempted to forgo proper consideration of their water softener tank size. Find Out, Best Water Ionizer Reviews + Buying Guide. You can then take that figure and compare it to the capacity figures we mentioned above. If it is extreme, get in touch with your local water softener company (that’s American Home Water and Air if you live in Phoenix). It removes magnesium and a low level of iron too, though it isn’t particularly designed to remove iron from the water. The next step in figuring out what size water softener you need is to determine the daily water usage in your home. The well-being of our employees and customers is a priority for us during these tough times; therefore, AHWA is taking extra precautions due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Exactly how hard the water is can differ from region to region, though, as you can see from the map above. This will give you a more accurate reading of water consumption. And while experts will often recommend test strips, there is a better and more accurate option. Even if you do buy an oversized water softener, you need to be aware of what the manufacturer-provided capacity figures actually mean. Once the beam passes through the filter it transmits either a color or a certain group of light wavelengths to a photodetector.eval(ez_write_tag([[468,60],'clu_in_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_7',103,'0','0'])); The photodetector will measure the information it receives and compare it with the amount of light that comes from a colorless sample. The “GR” in those figures stands for “grains.” This is one of the common metrics water softener manufacturers use to communicate buyers of the system’s capacity. Let’s answer this question by exploring it from a couple of different angles: your available options and what factors you need to consider before making a decision. Some recommended products may use affiliate links. We get it. Choose a softener that has a capacity closest to the one you calculated. As such, beyond a certain level of usage (or if you open up too many faucets at once) the unit will be bypassed and hard water will make its way through your plumbing. If for some reason you are unable to find this information on your water bill, you can get a rough estimate by multiplying the number of people in your home by 80 gallons. If you have the typical American family of four, a 32,000 GR softener will be adequate, provided your water hardness isn’t extreme. Choose a softener that has a capacity closest to the one you calculated. Note: Consider looking at a bill for winter months when you would not have used water outside your home. Now that you know the hardness of your water and how much water your family uses on a monthly basis, the next step is to determine the daily softening needs of your home so you’ll know how big of a water softener you will need. This equation gives you the grain capacity needed and gives you a rough estimate on what size water softener you need. As previously stated, there are several different ways you can go about determining the hardness of your water.