• How a Water Softener Works
• How to Test for Hard Water
• How to Buy a Water Softener
• Installing a Water Softener

Considering a new water softener? This unbiased, expert guide will help you make the right choices.

By Don Vandervort, HomeTips 

If you find that soap and shampoo don’t lather well, dishes are spotted, the bathtub has a ring, laundry is dingy, and the coffee maker has scale deposits, your home probably has a hard water problem. What is hard water? It is simply water that is rich in minerals such as calcium magnesium carbonate, and manganese. Though these minerals are natural and not typically hazardous to health, they can create deposits in your plumbing, water heater and other water-using appliances, and make washing dishes, clothing, skin, and hair more challenging.

How a Water Softener Works

Water softeners are appliances minimize the mineral content of water; they are connected to the home’s water supply piping. A conventional water softener softens water with the help of negatively charged beads inside the appliance’s tank. These beads attract the positively charged ions of the minerals in the water. Sodium chloride (salt) is used to recharge the negatively charged beads. For more about this process, please see How a Water Softener Works.

How to Test for Hard Water

Whether or not your home is a strong candidate for a water softener depends on the hardness of your water, measured in parts per million (PPM) of dissolved hardness minerals. Water with less than 59 PPM is considered relatively soft. Water with more than 180 PPM is considered quite hard. (Note: In some cases, hardness is measured by grains per gallon (GPG); to convert PPM to GPG, just divide PPM by 17.1.)

If a municipal water company supplies your water, you can ask them for the hardness data. If your water comes from private supply or a well, you’ll probably need to test it yourself, which is easy and relatively inexpensive to do. For more about testing your water, see How to Test for Hard Water.

How to Buy a Water Softener

Water softeners are relatively costly appliances, so it pays to make a wise choice when buying a new one. You’ll need to understand the differences between basic types, such as dual-tank models, salt-free water softeners, and more. And you’ll want to be familiar with typical options, types of controls available, and how to properly size a unit. For complete information on buying a water softener, see Water Softener Systems Buying Guide.

Installing a Water Softener

Installing a conventional whole-house water softener is a relatively easy job for the experienced do-it-yourselfer. The job involves cutting into a water pipe and joining together some new pipes and fittings. For complete step-by-step information, see How to Install a Water Softener.