Most household water comes from wells and reservoirs where the water picks up elements such as calcium and magnesium making the water “hard”. The water is safe to drink, but these minerals can impart undesirable taste to the water, give it a somewhat yellow color and reduce its ability to wash. A home water softener is a device that that employs a simple process to remove these unwanted minerals by exchanging them with a more desirable and less intrusive one (sodium) using a simple saltwater brine. The water softener uses this mineral exchange principle to create soft, good tasting water with a constant flow and capacity for your home.

When comparing water softeners, look for these features:

• Capacity – water softener units have variable sizes to correspond to different water hardness degrees (measured in units called grains) and water demand. Have your water tested for hardness to get the correct size for your house.
• Dimensions – softener units come in a wide range of sizes and shapes. Select a unit that fits the area where you will connect to your home water supply.
• Reloading – you will need to consider the height and placement of the water softener unit when deciding on reloading. You will need to add a bag of salt (usually weighing 25 lbs) into the holding compartment at regular intervals. Make sure that you will be comfortable with heaving a large sack of salt up to the level of the loading bin.
• Other Freatures – it is a good idea to get a unit that will regenerate when it has determined the salt has been exhausted, and also used a timer so that water flow is not interrupted during a high use period. Also keep in mind that the unit can make a great deal on noise during regeneration and poor placement can be a problem if you decide to regenerate at late at night.