Water plays an important part in our life. From the moment we wake up till the time we go to bed, we use water in so many ways. According to the 2019 statistics, a household of 3 members in Ontario used 630 litres of water every day. That’s 210 litres of water per person every day. Unfortunately, the problem of hard water is one of the most common issues in the city water. Hard water causes problems such as clogging, scaling, “graying” of washed clothes, etc. The best way to get rid of hard water for your whole family is to use a whole house water softener system. Finding the best water softener for home can be stressful and daunting. However, it can get a lot easier if you start your search by understanding your current and potential future needs. This includes considering your household size, lifestyle, budget, ideal manufacturer and more. So let’s look into it one by one to understand the difference and help you find the best water softener for your home.
What’s the right size of water softener for home?
The size of your home water softener is very crucial. After all, you do not want to run out of soft water, and also don’t want to pay extra for something you won’t need. The capacity of a water softener is measured by the grain capacity. The rated capacity of a water softener is the maximum number of grains of water hardness the unit can remove prior to regeneration. In Canada, you can find water softener for home ranging from 15000 grains capacity to 80000 gains capacity. There are three important considerations to make when finding the right size of water softener for your house.
- Household Size: Consider the size of your family. How many adults? How many kids? Consider the next 5 to 7 years. Will your family be growing? Or your kids moving out?
- Lifestyle: Considering the lifestyle is very important when choosing the right size of water softener for your home. The home water softener should be able to meet the needs of every member of your family. For instance, members in your household exercising regularly will ideally be using more water for drinking, bathing, and laundry. Understanding the current lifestyle of your household and also considering the future lifestyle will help you make a better investment.
- How Hard is your water: It is crucial to identify the hardness level of the water at your home to find the right size of water softener you need. The hardness of water is measured in grains per gallon (gpg). The Toronto city water is considered moderately hard at 6 to 7 gpg but a reliable evaluation is important to make sure you are not making any guesses. You can conduct a water test yourself or for a reliable test choose a water testing service. If you live in the GTA or nearby areas, you can call Lifetime Water Systems at 647-370-9650 for a free water test.
There are four steps to identify the right size of water softener for home and one important consideration to make sure you make the right investment.
Step 1: Add the total number of people in your household. For this example, we will consider a family of four.
Step 2: Multiply the number from step 1 with average daily consumption. On average, each Canadian uses 80 gallons of water every day. Following the example, this will be 4 x 80 = 320 gallons of water.
Step 3: Multiply the number from Step 2 with the grains of hardness in your water to find out the number of grains to be removed from your water each day. Following the above example and considering water hardness level as 10 gpg, 320 x 10 = 3200 grains per day. This is the number of grains to be removed from your home water each day.
Step 4: Typically, a home water softener should need to regenerate once a week. So multiply the number from Step 3 with 7 to identify the ideal capacity for the water softener which would regenerate once every week. In our example, it will be 3200 x 7 = 22,400 grains per week.
Although this calculation will give you an approximate idea of the size of the water softener system you need for your house, considering the right type and efficiency of the water softener is also very important to make the right investment for your home. For instance, a 24000 grain capacity water system or 0.75 cubic feet of softener resin would cost you more in the long run than a 32000 grain capacity or 1 cubic feet of softener resin.
If you are in GTA or nearby areas, you can call Lifetime water at 647-370-9650 to get a free consultation for your next water softener system.
Types of Water Softener for Home:
In Canada, there are two main types of water softeners which can be used for the whole household. Single tank water softener and dual-tank water softener. Each type of water softener system has its own pros and cons. See the table below for a key comparison.
| Single-Tank Water Softeners | Dual-Tank Water Softeners |
|---|---|
| Ideal for small households | Ideal for large households or houses with high water usage |
| Contains one resin tank and one brine tank | Contains two resin tank one brine tank |
Can not be used during regeneration | Can be used during regeneration |
| Takes up less space | Requires more space |
| Cheaper than dual-tank water softeners | This option tends to be more expensive because of the extra tank and high efficiency |
| Lower efficiency when compared to Dual Tank | Highest efficiency for less water and salt waste |
Price
Price is an important consideration while choosing a water softener system for your entire house. Understanding the efficiency of the water softener system is very important if you do not want to end up with a water softener with a lower capacity or an expensive one in the long run. You can find water softener for home starting from $1000.
Manufacturer/Seller
One of the most important things to consider is choosing the right manufacturer or seller. Make sure the water softener seller offers after-sale service in your area. One other important consideration is if the manufacturer or seller offers financial plans or contracts for the water system.
The importance of water can never be overstated. At Lifetime water, we believe that soft water doesn’t only lead to better appliances and better pipes, but also a better life. Schedule a consultation with our water expert today and get a complimentary water analysis for your home water.