5 Tips to Choosing the Right Home Water Softener and Descaler

When the water in your home gets hard, the problem can only be remedied by using a softener or a descaler. A water softener actually eliminates the ions of impurities such as iron, copper, and magnesium by replacing them with salt. A water descaler, on the other hand, prevents the build-up of ions by forming a magnetic field on the edges of the pipes that traps the ions of the contaminants.

The hardness of water causes deposits of impurities to cling on home appliances such as water heaters, kitchen sink, bathtub and cooking pots. These clogs usually cause your water pipes and appliances to stop functioning efficiently which leads to more money being spent to cater for repairs.  It’s also difficult to wash clothes with hard water. This is because the soap takes ages to lather. There are a few considerations that have to be made before acquiring a water softener as outlined below.

1. Check Online Reviews

The easiest way of finding the best water softener is by reading user reviews that are available on the internet. By checking these reviews, you will get first-hand information from people that have already used various brands of water softeners. It’s recommended that you give first priority to top-rated brands. This is because they tend to be more efficient than ordinary brands.

2. Go for high-Quality Components

What looks cheap at a glance may be expensive in the long run. Even if you are on a budget, it’s recommended you opt for a water softener that has high-quality components. When you compromise on quality, you will initially spend little money. However, the consequences of cheap stuff will haunt you later when you have to spend lots of money to repair damaged water pipes and appliances. In fact, you should opt for models that feature a metered valve because it allows you to adjust to various levels of tenderness.

3. Consider Softener Capacity

Before you buy any water softener, it’s recommended you check how many gallons of water it can treat at a go. A softener with low capacity is ideal for a home that has few occupants while a  

softener with high capacity is recommended for heavy users. However, it’s advisable you invest in a softener that has a higher capacity than your needs to ensure that you have adequate supply of tender water at all times. In such a case, you should get a tank to store water that has already been treated.

4. Features and Controls

You should pay attention to the features of any softener that you are interested in. A softener that comes with many features is more efficient than one that is mean with features. As a matter of fact, you should settle for a programmable softener so it can continue treating water even when you are not at home. There are also smart softeners that treat more water according to demand. Such softeners analyze meter readings to determine the volume of water that should be softened in readiness for increased demand.

5. Dual Tanks

Under normal circumstances, a water softener will stop functioning when recharging. This means you will not be able to use soft water when the system is recharging. This problem can be avoided by getting a softener that features double tanks to ensure that you always have enough water regardless of whether the system is recharging or not.