Getting Started FAQ
What is water softening?
When water contains a high amount of calcium and magnesium, it is called hard water. Hard water is known to cause significant build up on critical heat transfer areas such as water heaters and dishwashers. Hard water reduces soap and detergent dissolving in water. Water softening is a technique that serves the removal of the ions that cause the water to be hard, in most cases calcium and magnesium ions. Iron ions may also be removed during softening.
What is hard water?
When water is referred to as 'hard' this simply means, that it contains higher minerals than ordinary water. These are especially the minerals calcium and magnesium. Increased dissolved calcium and magnesium result in an increase in hardness.
Magnesium and calcium are positively charged ions. Because of their presence, other positively charged ions will dissolve less easily in hard water than in water that does not contain calcium and magnesium. This is the reason that soap doesn't dissolve very well in hard water
I have a private well and I need my water tested, what are my options for testing and what is the cost?
Discount Water Softeners, Inc. can provide your with some simple testing options with little or no cost to you. If you are on a private well and your only concern is the water hardness, you can go to our contact us page, fill out your contact information and select "Send me a test kit".
If you think your water contains other impurities or may have other issues, you can send us a sample for testing of total hardness, dissolved iron, pH, and TDS. Just simply go to our contact us page, click and print the form called "Send us a Sample" Follow the instructions for drawing your sample and mail it to the address listed on the page. Be sure to send your sample on a Monday or Tuesday so that it does not sit over the weekend. The quicker the sample is tested the more accurate your results will be.
Your third option is to select one of the testing kits that we have available on our site under the Water Testing section. Our Water Check 6 kit is simple and can be done right in your home. Our more in depth WaterCheck test kit options are done in a laboratory that is nationally recognized and conforms to EPA regulations. Your results can be sent directly to you.
Should I purchase a timered water softener or on demand (metered) water softener?
Timered Water Softeners: The timered system is older technology that still works today. Basically the water softener is set up to regenerate after a predetermined amount of days regardless of the amount of water used. This is fine but, you may not use the same amount of water each day. So, the water softener could regenerate early or late depending on how much water is used resulting in higher costs over time. A timered water softener system is lower in cost when purchased.
On Demand Water Softeners: An on demand or metered system is newer technology that actually counts every gallon of water used so that the system can regenerate only when needed. If you use twice as much water or half as much water as usual the system will know it. These water softening systems cost slightly more when purchased but save on operating expenses in the long run by as much as 40%.
