What Size Water Softener Do You Need?
What Size Water Softener Do You Need?
Recent Blogs
Can Saving Water Save You Money?

Can Saving Water Save You Money?

Read More...
Toilet Leaking at the Base? This Could Be the Problem

Toilet Leaking at the Base? This Could Be the Problem

Read More...
Pressure Tank Problems and What to Do About Them

Pressure Tank Problems and What to Do About Them

Read More...
Are Drain Cleaners Safe to Use on Plumbing?

Are Drain Cleaners Safe to Use on Plumbing?

Read More...
Toilet Flange Leak Causes

Toilet Flange Leak Causes

Read More...
COUPON

Toilet Replacement

$50 Off Toilet Installation and replacement.

"Not valid with any other offers. Limit one coupon per customer."
$50 OFF OFF
Print
COUPON

Shut-Off Valve

Free Emergency Shut-Off Valve

"Not valid with any other offers. Limit one coupon per customer."
FREE OFF
Print
COUPON

Plumbing Service

10% Off Any Plumbing Service of $400 or More

"Not valid with any other offers. Limit one coupon per customer."
10% OFF OFF
Print
COUPON

Gas Line Repair

Any Interior or Exterior Waterline or Gas Repair

"Not valid with any other offers. Limit one coupon per customer."
$35 OFF OFF
Print
Reviews

Rowena Hyndman

Earl was awesome, he crawled  under our house to get to the clean out for the sewer drain. When he open it gallons of sewer…

search

Logan Kreider

Chris was very pleasant to work with. He told us exactly how it was without beating around the bush. He took his time explaining the…

search

Christina Fike

Matt was very respectful and professional. He was very thorough in his explanations of work being done and the work he performed. The workmanship was…

search

Stephen McWilliams

Adam showed up wearing a mask and quickly diagnosed the problem. The previous plumber from a different company installed the sink drain gaskets incorrectly and…

search
What Size Water Softener Do You Need?
Aug 02, 2021

What Size Water Softener Do You Need?

It’s time to settle the debate: not all water tastes the same. In fact, not all water looks or feels the same either and this is because water is rarely just water. For instance, hard water has a high composition of minerals such as calcium and magnesium. As a result, this water can leave chalky residue on glassware, silverware, and appliances. It can also make your hands feel slimy even after washing with soap. There is good news, however. A water softener can “normalize” that hard water. Your friends here at Mr. Rooter Plumbing have put together this article to help you select the best water softener for your household.

What Is Hard Water?

Water that has an overabundance of minerals such as calcium and magnesium is called “hard water.” The hardness of this water is measured by the amount of such minerals in the water. You might be confused because most people consider calcium and magnesium to be valuable for our health. Why not have extra minerals? Well, hard water is not necessarily harmful to drink, but it can have consequences for your plumbing system, fixtures, and appliances.

The Risks of Hard Water

If you have ever washed your hands or even showered and felt slimy even though you used soap and shampoo, then you likely experienced hard water. This happens because the minerals in hard water do not allow cleaning products to completely dissolve. Ironically, in this situation, you feel dirty BECAUSE you used soap and shampoo. Jokes aside, the problem is the hard water.
Another consequence of hard water is that chalky residue you find on your faucets, sinks, shower glass, silverware, and so forth. That residue is the mineral deposits and buildup. Though these stains are an eyesore, it could get worse – and it usually does. If this chalky buildup happens in your pipes or appliances, then you can expect costly blockages and low water pressure.

What to Do?

Ok, so you know what hard water is and what it can do to your body, kitchenware, and plumbing system, but what can you do? Chances are you can’t go out and change your water source, but you can alter the quality of your water source with an aptly named “water softener.”

A water softener eliminates the excess minerals in your water supply. When hard water enters the system, it flows through sections of resin beads in the softener tank. There, the positively charged minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, and sodium attach to the negatively charged tank. The softened water then continues through the plumbing system and is distributed throughout your building. These systems usually use salt, but there are salt-free alternatives for those who are sensitive to sodium.

Choosing Your Water Softener

Choosing the size of your water softener depends on two primary factors: the size of your household and the grains of hardness in your water. Usually, a 32,000-grain water softener can take care of a family of four, but call Mr. Rooter Plumbing to get in touch with a live representative and arrange an appointment to have your water hardness tested with our dedicated plumbers.