What is a water softener? Water softeners are products that eliminate minerals from hard water making it essential for use. The minerals include; magnesium carbonate, iron, manganese, and calcium. If you detect signs of hard water in your home like spots on dishes, rings in the bathtub, and dingy laundry, consider purchasing a water softener. The market offers a wide variety of water softeners. The challenge is finding one within your price range. The details of this article are essential for helping you choose the best water softeners that fit your budget.
1- Purpose
Before you even decide on buying a water softener, you need to first determine the kind of issues with your hard water. It includes knowing the concentration level of minerals, and type in water. You can achieve this by taking samples for laboratory testing. After analyzing the condition of the water, you can go ahead to research the right system to install. The internet has enough content about the water softener types for hard water. You need to be careful because anyone can write details and post them on a site. All that is needed of you is to find a useful page with reliable information that guides on how to get the best water softener type. If the concentration of minerals in the water is high, find fair prices for oxidation filters which are the best fit for the problem.
2- Quality
As much as you want to go for the most affordable water softener in the marketer, you need to consider the quality. Not all systems are equal. Remember that cheap can be expensive too. A lower-priced product can tear out more quickly. You may end up paying more for repairs, than the amount you bought the system. Prices vary from one supplier to the other. Buy a water softener based on how long you want to use it. If the period is short, then a low-quality system is good to go. But if you are planning to have it for a longer period, find a quality softener at fair prices. You can ask from your neighbors and friends, then compare their pricing with your research, to get the best pricing. It saves you money in the future.
3- Size
When finding an affordable water softener, you need to consider the size fit for your needs. Water softeners are in various sizes. The size you buy highly depends on the rate of water flow in your home as well as the level of hardness in the water. Remember that the capacity of a water softener shows the number of grains of hardness to be removed before it can generate. An undersized system may exhaust ahead of time, lowering the flow rate of the water. Determine the average daily water consumption for your home and figure out the amount you need for the right size. The correct size ensures an efficient flow of water and saves you money. The bottom line is choosing the right size at a fair price.
4- Certifications
The other factor that helps get a water softener that fits your budget is by looking at the product’s certifications. The certificates are what bring out the difference in the performance claims of the manufacturers. The market has standardization of systems established water softeners designed to lower water hardness from both private and public water supplies. The certifications give you peace of mind knowing that it’s safe for use. Some of the standard scopes include;
- Structural integrity
- Material safety
- Reduction of hardness
- Rated pressure drop
Performance efficiency details about the water softener should be readily available from suppliers. Although most suppliers don’t disclose regeneration water consumption figures for their water softeners, it is an added advantage if they do. You should be able to get the salt efficiency information for your water softener. If you don’t find the details, always remember to ask the supplier for a performance sheet.
5- Features
In most cases, suppliers use the extra features that distinguish a product to explain why it’s costly than the others of a similar kind. When it comes to buying a water softener, be on the lookout for such features. Some like whistles and bells have the least importance in the softeners. The system can operate well without them, which means, you don’t have to incur the extra cost in buying systems with such features. Look for softeners with advanced necessary features that allow easy monitoring and configuration. You also need to be aware of brands that offer services you don’t need.
Conclusion
Hard water is revealed as a nuisance when in use. It is less an issue of health than of potential expense. Hard water results in malfunctioning of appliances which are costly to fix. Water softeners can fix these issues. When you buy a water softener you must make your choice with care. If you find yourself confused about the best choice, I recommend you seek the help of a professional to do the analysis for you.
