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What Size Water Softener Do You Need? Insights from a Pentair Water Softening Company in Kildeer, Illinois
If your water softener is too small, it will be working overtime to keep up with your household’s needs, which means it will need to be repaired and replaced more frequently. But if it is too big, you will only be spending more money than you should without getting any real value out of your system. So, what size system is right for your home?
To make the decision easier for you, this Pentair water softening company in Kildeer, Illinois is going to explain how you can determine the best water softener size for your home.
Measure your home’s water hardness.
Water hardness is caused by high levels of minerals like calcium and magnesium in your water. It is usually measured in grains per gallon (GPG) or parts per million (ppm), and the higher the number, the harder your water.
You can buy a test kit to test the water hardness in your home’s water supply, or you can check with your local water provider and get a report. To give you an example, in Kildeer, Illinois, the water hardness level is at around 148 ppm (or 8.7 GPG), which is classified as hard water.
Measure your home’s water consumption.
The EPA estimates that the average American uses about 82 gallons of water per day. However, your actual water use can change based on your personal habits, the efficiency of your appliances, and some other factors.
To estimate your household’s total daily water use, multiply 82 gallons by the number of people in your home. For example, a family of four would use about 328 (82 x 4) gallons per day, though this number can be lower if you also have water-efficient fixtures and appliances in your home.
Measure the hardness your softener must remove.
You can do this by multiplying your daily water usage by your water hardness level. For example, if your household uses 300 gallons a day and your water hardness is 10 GPG, your water softener will need to remove 3,000 grains of hardness per day (300 × 10).
A knowledgeable Pentair water softening company in Kildeer, Illinois will refer to this number when helping you find the right system for your needs. A properly sized system will keep your home’s water consistently soft without running regenerations too frequently.
How many bathrooms do you have?
Many manufacturers recommend water softener sizes based on the number of bathrooms in a home. Pentair, for example, recommends different capacities for different household sizes.
For a home with one or two bathrooms, they recommend a system with a 30,000-grain capacity. If you have three to four bathrooms, a 45,000-grain system should be a better option. And if your home has four or more bathrooms, you may need a larger system with up to a 60,000-grain capacity.
Find the best regeneration schedule for your softener.
Your water softener must regenerate regularly to remove trapped hardness minerals from its resin bed. But how frequently this happens depends on the size of your softener, water hardness, and household water use.
Industry guidelines recommend regenerating every two to three days for best performance. That said, homes with very hard water or higher-than-average water usage may need to regenerate more frequently. A larger softener with a bigger resin tank can hold more minerals and go longer between regenerations, so that is one option you should keep in mind.
If you are still confused, a professional Pentair water softening company in Kildeer, Illinois can help. They will help you understand everything so you can find the best system and regeneration schedule for your home.
Looking for a Pentair Water Softening Company in Kildeer, Illinois?
Are you tired of dealing with the problems caused by hard water? If so, and if you’re ready to have a new water softener installed by the best Pentair water softening company in Kildeer, Illinois, Johnson Water Conditioning is the top choice. Contact us today to get started.