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If you use well water at home, then you are probably already familiar with the hardness of the water. From causing dry skin problems to forming build-ups in plumbing fixtures and pipes, hard water is responsible for various household and health problems.
Thankfully, with the help of a top well water softener, you can deal with hard water issues efficiently. Besides addressing the significant problems with well water, softeners also help improve the water quality throughout the home.
These are the features to consider while buying a well water softener.
Type of Well Water Softener
There are three types to choose from when it comes to well water softeners: salt–free water softener, ion-exchange softener, and resin-type softener.
The ion-exchange type usually cycles the water through two different tanks, thereby completely removing the mineral residues. On the other hand, salt-free softeners do not entirely remove the calcium and magnesium in the water. Instead, they minimize the impact of their action.
An ion-exchange water softener will be a good match for well water, which has high concentrations of minerals, iron, and sediments.
Flow Rate of the Water Softener
While trying to find the top well water softener for your home, it is essential to consider the size or capacity of the softener and its flow rate.
The size of the softener usually indicates how much hardness it can eliminate. And the capacities range from 8000 to even 80,000 grains of hardness. Moreover, softening is also a time-sensitive process. Given this, the size of the softener also determines the flow rate.
Undersized systems are more likely to get exhausted soon when compared to other suitable ones. But remember, even an oversized one will not do you much good.
So, the only way to find the right-sized well water softener is by determining the water hardness level and average water consumption daily. And, by calculating this, you can easily find a perfectly-sized well water softener for your home.
Check the Certifications
Whether you are buying a resin-type unit or ion-exchange softener, you must check the certifications that come along with it. Certifications like ANSI and NSF are proofs that you can compare to measure the manufacturer’s performance claims.
From structural integrity to material safety, reduction of hardness, removal of contaminants, accuracy in performance, and more, these certifications ensure the quality and safety features of the system.
While choosing a good water softener unit, look for information regarding these certifications to get an idea about the system’s efficiency and performance.
Maintenance of the Unit
No matter the type of well water softener you are investing in, you still have to perform maintenance tasks to keep it in prime condition. But it all comes down to how often you can clean the units.
Even if you are choosing a fully automatic unit, maintenance is still necessary. The task may include cleaning the brine tanks and restocking the salt supply. If you think you cannot constantly take care of the unit, installing a salt-free softener at home is better. But remember, even this unit comes with its drawbacks.
So, before picking one, take some time to compare the top well water softener units and check which one requires minimal maintenance practices.
