What does grains mean in water softener

What is unfortunately never, or very very rarely, talked about by dealers and consumers alike, is that the amount of resin in the softening tank of a softener is only half responsible for determining the grains capacity of the softener. It turns out the the amount of softening that a given quantity of resin can achieve is a function of the amount of resin in the softening tank and the amount of salt that is used when the softener is regenerated.

To illustrate this point, we'll look at a very commonly sold water softener - a 32, grain system:. A 32, grain water softener is much more accurately described as a 1. This is because the softener is built with 1. Well, at some point along the line the marketing people that make and sell softeners decided that 32, sounds a lot better than 20, or 25, The bigger the number, the better the softener, right. What gets lost in this approach is the efficiency rating of the system.

If we return to our example above you'll see that to achieve 32, grains of softening from a 1. To maximize the efficiency of a softener we want it to remove the maximum number of grains for the minimum amount of salt used. A much more efficient way to regenerate that same 1. So, should this system be called a 20, grain or 32, grain system? Just starting your hard water research? Have you ever wondered how adding salt to your tank softens your water?

These terms help break down the process. With a new understanding of the key terms associated with hard water and water softeners, finding the best solution for your home will be a breeze. To help narrow down your search even more, get your personalized softening solution based on your unique needs. HomeWater Hard Water Basics. Hard Water Just starting your hard water research?

Hard water: A high concentration of calcium and magnesium make water hard. When water flows through soil and rocks, the materials are mixed with the water. Depending on where you live , your water could be harder than most because your water is traveling through more soil than other areas. Grains per gallon: Grains per gallon — or gpg — is the unit used to measure the hardness of water.

Soft water is considered to have less than 1 gpg. Hard water is anything greater than 7 gpg. Parts per million: Measuring water hardness in parts per million ppm is rare, but you will occasionally see it when shopping for a new softener. The conversion is It is very difficult to remove once the stain has been applied, but you can prevent this from happening with a water softener. Capacity : Water softeners are measured by either grain capacity, gallons or cubic feet.

Before buying a system for your home, you should consider the number of people in your household and how much water you use. Our step-by-step tool will easily guide you toward determining which size is best for your home. Laundry Problems.

Crusty Buildup Around Pipes and Faucets. Your Water Tastes Different. How to Set the Regeneration Cycle on a Culligan Water Softener Follow the instructions in the owner's manual to reset the time if necessary.

Choose the number of days between regeneration cycles. The amount of salt you should add to your softener will vary by the level of hardness in your water and the amount of water your family consumes. The average family of four with hard water , or levels around grains per gallon hardness, will typically use about 10 lbs. There are typically four different types of water softeners.

The four types of water softeners are Ion exchange, salt free, reverse osmosis and magnetic. Brine concentration also has an impact on softener efficiency. The softener capacity is calculated in three simple steps: Convert water hardness from ppm to grains per US gallon. Calculate softener capacity in gallons. Hard water is not a health hazard. In fact, the National Research Council National Academy of Sciences states that hard drinking water generally contributes a small amount toward total calcium and magnesium human dietary needs.

Researchers have studied water hardness and cardiovascular disease mortality. What does the grain number mean in water softener? Category: food and drink food movements. What size water softener do I need for a family of 4? How do you know the grain of hardness in water? How often should I regenerate my water softener? What brand of water softener is best? How much water does a water softener use during regeneration?