
The softener capacity is calculated in three simple steps:
- 1. Convert water hardness from ppm to grains per US gallon Total Hardness (ppm) = Total Hardness (gpg) Example: 118 ppm TH = 6.9 gpg; 17.1 17.1
- 2. Calculate softener capacity in grains Ft3 resin X resin exchange capacity (typically 30,000 grains/ft3) = Grains capacity Example: 6 ft3 resin X 30,000 grains/ft3 = 180,000 grains of capacity
- 3. Calculate softener capacity in gallons
- Multiply the number of people in your family times 70 (gallons of water used per day, national average).
- Multiply the answer by your water hardness in grains per gallon (to convert mg/l or ppm to grains, divide by 17.1). ...
- This is your "grains per day" number.
How to size your water softener?
What Size Water Softener Do I Want?
- Deciding Your Water Hardness Level. Please Note: Understanding your water's precise hardness level is a must. ...
- Determining Your Daily Water Usage. Step two is to evaluate your household's daily water intake. ...
- Finding Your Daily Softening Demand. ...
- Estimating Your Expected Total Grain Capacity. ...
- Considering Salt Efficiency. ...
How to choose a water softener for your home?
💠Additional Considerations
- Your Budget. Your budget may affect the choices you have when buying a water softener. ...
- Space Available For Installation. Not all water softeners take up the same amount of space in your home. ...
- Buying vs Renting a System. ...
- Maintenance Required. ...
- Bypass Valve. ...
- Regeneration Initiation. ...
- Bluetooth Connectivity & Control. ...
- Certifications. ...
- Technology Type. ...
- Warranty. ...
What size softener do I Need?
- 0 – 3,500 grains per day needs a softener capacity of 24,000 grains.
- 3,501 – 4,500 grains per day needs a softener capacity of 32,000 grains.
- 4,501 – 5,750 grains per day needs a softner capacity of 40,000 grains.
- 5,751 – 6,850 grains per day needs a softener capacity of 48,000 grains.
How to choose a water softener?
Method 2 Method 2 of 3: Getting the Best Value Download Article
- Compare prices. Call local companies to get quotes for water softening systems for your home. ...
- Ask about installation fees. Professional installation, at an additional cost, is required for water softening systems.
- Research credible companies. ...
- Look into renting a water softener. ...

What should my water softener capacity be set at?
Softeners are usually assumed to be set at 15 lbs per cubic foot (ft3). At that setting, your softener will deliver the softest water (<1 p.p.m.).
What size water softener do I need for a family of 4?
In general, a 32,000 or 33,000 grain water softener will suit most families of four.
What size water softener do I need for a family of 7?
Determine the proper water softener based on your hardness and number of people in your house.Hardness in Grains Per Gallon1 to 2 people*7 to 8 people*5-10 GPG32,000 Grain40,000 Grain11-20 GPG32,000 Grain48,000 Grain21-30 GPG32,000 Grain80,000 Grain31-40 GPG40,000 Grain96,000 Grain4 more rows
How do you calculate soft water regeneration?
Daily Water Use: 4 People X 75 Gallons per day = 300 gallons per day. Daily Softening Requirement = 10 grains per gallon X 300 gallons per day = 3000 grains per day. In the example above, the softener will be removing 3000 grains per day. A softener is usually sized to regenerate about once per week.
Can I get too big of a water softener?
While an oversized water softener will certainly have the capacity needed to make sure that every gallon of water you use is appropriately treated for hardness, going too big can result in channeling, which can be less effective and efficient at low flow rates.
Can you install too big of a water softener?
If your water softener is too big for your home, it won't do enough work to trigger regeneration on time. When a water softener doesn't regenerate, it's not as effective and bacteria can grow in the tank. Make sure your water softener is properly sized for your home with the right quantity of resin beads for the job.
How often should a water softener regenerate for a family of 4?
It is generally agreed upon that regular regenerations are the best, because they keep the resin bed active. This should be every two to three days, although highly efficient softeners may generate every day or even multiple times a day.
What is the ideal hardness for household water?
The general rule of thumb is to drink clean water, with hardness being somewhere in the middle of soft and hard, 60 mg/L to 120 mg/L. Some also advise to not go beyond 170 mg/L, which indicates very high levels of calcium and magnesium.
How many gallons can a water softener treat?
If your family uses more water each day or got an improperly sized water softener system, then your water softener will have to regenerate more and dispose of spent water each time. The amount per regeneration can be between 25-65 gallons of water.
How often should a water softener regenerate in gallons?
Typically, the regeneration should occur after every 12 to 14 days or it should occur after a predetermined gallons of water that you use. You can set the number of gallons used before it regenerates through the water softener's valve.
What does capacity mean on a water softener?
The capacity of a water softener is simply the amount of hardness it can remove before it needs to regenerate.
What does 30000 grain capacity mean?
30,000-grain water softener means that it is theoretically capable of removing that many grains of hardness before it needs to regenerate. The hardness is the number of minerals that the water softener can take in before it needs to refresh and drain itself.
How often should a water softener regenerate for a family of 4?
It is generally agreed upon that regular regenerations are the best, because they keep the resin bed active. This should be every two to three days, although highly efficient softeners may generate every day or even multiple times a day.
What does 64 000 grain water softener mean?
What You've Probably Seen Online. The internet is littered with websites selling 24,000 / 32,000 / 48,000 / 64,000 grain water softeners. What does this mean? As mentioned above, the capacity of a water softener describes how much hardness it can remove before it needs to regenerate.
How many bags of water softener do I need a month?
On average, a family of four with average water hardness will use roughly one 40-lb bag of salt each month. If this applies to your current situation, maintain a half-full tank of salt. For smaller households, never keep your tank more than half full.
How do I choose a whole house water softener?
Choosing a water softener? Here are some important guidelines and features to understand.Household Size and Water Usage. ... Regeneration Style. ... Remove Additional Contaminants. ... Other Convenience Features. ... Adding a Water Filtration System. ... Installation. ... Don't Forget the Warranty.
What Does The Grain Capacity Even Mean?
The capacity of a water softener is measured in grains. Essentially, water hardness is measured in ‘grains per gallon’ or GPG. This unit can be converted to parts (of hardness) per million or ppm.
How many grains of hardness can a water softener remove?
What that means: A water softener has the capacity to remove 48,000 grains of water hardness after 1 regeneration cycle.
What is the whole point of a water softener?
The whole point of a water softener is to reduce the hardness of the water. Look at how many ppm tap water has and what is considered soft water in the sketch below:
What are the factors that determine the size of a water softener?
Calculating the correct size of a water softener is not easy. Factors include the water expenditure, hardness of water and potential iron content.
How much water does a family of 5 use?
A family of 5, for example, can use up to 500 gallons of water per day. To have continuous access to soft water, you would need to regenerate such a softener every 9 or so days.
How many gallons of water do you use a week?
Calculation: If you used 10,000 gallons in a month, you can fairly estimate that your water use per week is about 2,500 gallons (1 month = 4 weeks).
How much water does a person use per day?
On average, each person uses about 80-100 gallons of water per day.
Why is it important to take water softener sizing into consideration?
That is why it is critical for you to take water softener sizing into consideration to ensure your water treatment system is fully optimized for your business. Whether it’s during a routine maintenance check or while you’re considering purchasing a water softener system, be sure to do your research or ask your water softener specialist about ...
What does it mean to sizing a water softener?
Properly sizing your water softener could mean maximizing efficiency, consistent and reliable water production, saving overall costs, and prolonging the softener’s lifespan. Water softener sizing is not to be taken lightly, so be ...
What is total GPD?
The Total GPD will allow you to determine what size water softener is needed based on the water softener system’s grain capacity. Keep in mind, this is an estimated calculation. You should consult a water softener expert when looking into water softener sizing for your commercial business or industrial plant.
What is flow rate?
Flow rate refers to the possibility of how quickly water will need to travel throughout your facility and during peak times. Water hardness is the measurement of calcium and magnesium found in the water supply in grains per gallon. Total GPD refers to the daily softening requirement measured in grains per day.
Is a water softener too big?
Water softeners vary in size and depending on a number of factors, your water softener may be too big or too small for the commercial business you’re running. Having the wrong water softener size can lead to various issues with inefficiency, frequent servicing and more that can end up costing money and resources in the long run.
