How to Select a Water Softener For Your Home?

Water softeners are used to reduce the amount of chemicals and minerals that are in tap and well water. They can fix situations where hard water is causing stains and problems with the water fixtures inside the home. In homes where there is a well, a water softener is very important to have in order to clean out the harsh minerals and also any cloudiness that may be present in the water. It is important to select the correct type of water softener for your home.

1. Get the water tested. Water testing will tell you how hard the water is and what minerals are most prevalent in it. Knowing how hard the water is will help you in deciding what options to consider for a water softener. Generally electric ones are used for heavy duty filtering of very hard water.
2. Choose between a salt or non-salt system. Most water softeners use salt to remove the mineral out of the water. The downside of this is that they can add up to 400 mg of sodium into the water supply. For most people, this is not a big deal. For people who are on a strict low salt or no salt diet, this can be a problem. A no-salt system uses special carbon filters to remove the minerals and chemicals from the water.
3. Decide whether electric or non-electric system will work. The non-electric systems are the best option for people who have moderately hard water and wish to conserve energy. These systems use water pressure to filter water through them. The electric systems are most suited for very hard water that normal softeners would have a hard time filtering. They use an electric pump to push the water through the filters.

For more information about water softener systems and how they work, contact American Water.