Water softeners are kind of mandatory for homes where hard water is the norm. Hard water is not usable and you have to install a water softener system to make it usable. But you should be careful when choosing a water softener because mistakes can be costly. Here are some common water softener buying mistakes people make.
Mistakes To Avoid When Buying A Water Softener
Not Considering The Size
When it comes to water softeners, there are different sizes available and you have to choose the right one, before you install it and call it a day. Choose too big of a water softener and it will be overkill and you’ll be drowning in high electricity bills. Choose too small of a water softener and you won’t have enough capacity and the water softener will run all the time, eventually burning out and leaving you in the dust.
Therefore, it is crucial that you go over the sizes of your water softener and all of it boils down to how much water you use for drinking and how much softened water you need in your house for use on a daily basis. That will tell you everything about the right size of water softeners.
Not Checking The Hardness Level
Before getting a water softener, you have to check whether your water is even in need of softening or not. This is something that a lot of people don’t even think about and they can get a water softener when they don’t need one.
So, the best way to figure things out is to carry out a DIY water hardness test or get your water tested by an expert or a lab. This is going to ensure that you know exactly how much concentration of calcium and magnesium is in the water and you’ll be able to get a water softener that will take care of everything else.
Not Knowing Your Water Usage
Tying in with the first mistake, this mistake is kind of common for people to make even though they should have a rough idea as to how much water they use on a daily basis. When it comes to choosing the right type of water softener, you need to get the amount of water you use daily right.
This will in turn determine the capacity of the water softener and you’ll be able to get a softener that isn’t too big or too small. It will be perfect for you and it won’t be overwhelming or underpowered.
There Is No Drain Space
If you don’t know how a water softener works, it softens the water by replacing the calcium and magnesium ions with either neutral or salt ions. After the process, the remaining water is flushed out of the softener and the process starts all over again.
Well, when the water flushes out of the softener, you need to ensure that it is not backlogging or flooding the water softener. There should be a proper drainage system and that is something to keep in mind when it is installed, so make sure that you don’t forget it, otherwise, your water softener will break down.
Not Thinking About The Space
If you didn’t know this already, a water softener needs a considerable amount of space to be installed and work properly in. You can’t just shove a water softener in a cramped place and hope for the best. It needs space to be able to ventilate properly and not get overheated.
If you don’t have enough space, then you need to think about how you can go about this problem, because it is an issue and space is a non-negotiable for a water softener. This is why you need to think about it before getting a water softener, because if you don’t, then you may waste a lot of time and money.
Choosing The Wrong Salt Type
Salt-based water softeners need a specific type of salt to function and if you don’t use the right thing, then you’re not doing things right. There are pellet salts, rock salts, evaporated salts, etc.
Some are less expensive than others but besides that, you will need to know which salt type is compatible with the water softener, because that is exactly what is going to turn hard water into soft water and you can’t risk the water softener not working properly just because you didn’t get the right salt type.
Not Getting A Bypass Valve
A water softener has multiple valves, but one that you shouldn’t skip at all costs is a bypass valve. So, what does a bypass valve do? Well, when you want to maintain a water softener, you obviously need to turn it off so that you don’t get sprayed all over with water.
So, a bypass valve shuts the water softener down without you having to turn off your home water supply, which is really cumbersome and very inconvenient. Getting a bypass valve will make things so much easier and you won’t have to go through the process of turning off your entire water supply just to maintain the water softener.
Not Doing Your Research
A water softener is not something that you can buy with both eyes closed. Even though they’re not rocket science, you still need to get a good quality water softener from a trusted retailer that has great reviews. How are you going to find this out?
This is where your own research will help you out. You need to go out there, survey the different retailers, and then decide which water softener has the most pros. That will be your best bet. Buying a water softener on a whim has never worked out for anyone.
Thinking That You Can Do Everything
Even though people can install a water softener by themselves, especially if they have done it before, you don’t want to think of yourself as a DIY guru. Sure, you might be great around the housework and you might also be a makeshift handyman at times.
But a water softener is completely different and it needs professional installation. It is something that you’ll need to call someone in for stress-free and error-free installation. If you don’t, then well, you will run into a host of problems and that is not ideal.
Not Considering Maintenance
You need to consider the maintenance of a water softener. Back in the day, maintaining water softeners was as hard as installing them or assembling them. But, as the years went by, water softeners have become more and more self-sufficient and they are easy to maintain.
So, if you want to get your hands on a water softener, then you need to choose one that is easy to maintain. It should be simple and quick and shouldn’t require you to have hard hardcore technical knowledge. That is what makes a water softener good.
Conclusion
Buying a water softener requires a bit of work. You should understand your requirements, the different types of water softeners, their sizes, and other things. But once you carry out water softener installation Erie with care, it can last for 10 to 15 years. So, the hard work is worth it.