We often tend to splurge on the things we don’t really need, and we end up ignoring the ones we do. It’s in our nature to spend money on luxuries instead of essentials. One of those forgotten essentials is a water softener, and it can change your life. This device removes minerals from your tap water like calcium and magnesium. Those can lead to clogged pipes and a lot of plumbing problems, not to mention spots on the tiles and just about anything you wash with hard water. More importantly, this problem causes skin problems to many people, and it could cause you to feel dry and itchy. This is why you need to get yourself a water softener as soon as possible. Before you buy one, you should know the factors that affect the cost of such a device.
Your Plumbing Network
The first factor affecting the cost of a water softener is your plumbing system. How big is your plumbing network? Does it need a special system owing to the size and nature of the connections? The condition of your plumbing system might also factor into the price of the water softener you will need. If your piping is too far damaged and can’t sustain any more damage from the minerals in hard water, you might have to spend more money to buy a better water softener. This is why you should install one as early as possible, and don’t wait until your plumbing is destroyed. The sooner you install one, the less sophisticated it has to be.
The Device Size
The size of the water softener makes a significant difference in the cost, too. So, what size do you need? That will depend on the house you are living in and your family’s needs. A couple living in a one-bedroom apartment won’t need as big a water softener as a family of 5 living in a house with 3 bedrooms and with 3 bathrooms. This is why you have to consider your family needs when selecting one of these devices. The more the people, the bigger the device as you will need more water and a higher flow rate so that all bathrooms can be successfully covered. Make sure to consult with experts before buying a water softener, they will tell you exactly what size you need.
If you need a commercial water softener, it is important to consider how many gallons of water your business uses per day. This will help determine the size of the commercial water softener to make sure there is no loss of pressure.
Water Levels
If you are on public water, you can go to your city website and look-up the water hardness. However, if you are on a private system, like a well, you may have to pay to have your water tested. Not just for hardness, but for more dangerous chemicals like arsenic, iron, lead, and more. Once you know what is in your water, you will be able to treat it. This may lead to a larger water softener or an additional filter or reverse osmosis system to remove harmful contaminants.
Options
Water softeners also vary in terms of the features you get with the device, and there are a few differences. Older models regenerate manually, and those are the cheapest. But you might want to consider splurging on a metered water softener with timed regeneration. This is obviously much less of a hassle as the process is automatically metered and you don’t have to do it manually. Another cool option that you should consider investing in is a digital control head, which can help you set up the device with ease and efficiency –– it also lets you know if the system needs maintenance, which is another load off your shoulders.
A water softener is anything but a luxury, contrary to popular belief. It can make your life a whole lot easier, and you will face significantly fewer problems with plumbing around your place. You won’t deal with as many stains on everything that comes in contact with water either. Most importantly, you won’t have skin problems because of the hard water. All in all, these powerful benefits make water softeners a worthy investment.
