Different Types of water softener systems
If you are considering buying a water softener system to help you with the problem of hard water, you will first need to consider what kind of water softener system you want to use. There are three main different kinds of water softener systems and because they will all do the same basic job, it’s really just a matter of personal preference. Which type of softener you choose will mostly depend on how much salt you want to use to regenerate the softener, and how often you want to use it. The three main different kinds of water softener systems are: timer regenerated, meter regenerated, and manually regenerated.
Timer regenerated water softener systems work on a timer system for regeneration. This means that you will set the timer for when you want the water softener system to regenerate. Usually about once a week, the water softener system will regenerate at the same time every week and will use about 8 pounds of salt every time it regenerates. Timer regenerated water softener systems really only have the one benefit of price over the other two types. They are the cheapest kinds of systems that you could buy however you have virtually no control over how much salt you use, which could end up being more expensive.
Meter regenerated water softener systems are the most popular choice of systems because these types only use as much salt as is necessary. These metered systems actually read how much water is being used in the house, how many people are using that water, and how many grains of salt you are using. All of this is done during the set up process however the meter will continue to adjust the amount of salt being used once it is in place. This means that as your water usage fluctuates, the meter will adjust itself to the proper amount of salt needed. You will never use more than you need and you also will never be without the proper amount. Even though these models might be a bit pricier than timer regenerated models, you will most likely end up using less salt pellets, which could save much more money in the end.
Manually regenerated water softener systems give you complete control over when the softener is drained, how much salt is used, and when it is added. By simply checking the level of sodium in the softener, you will be able to add it when you need to. Another advantage that comes with manually regenerated water softener systems is that they can be easily moved. This comes in most handy when the water softener system cannot be placed near a drainage system. When the softener needs to be drained of excess water, and calcium and magnesium ions, it can be moved outdoors to a hose and be drained that way. In order to reduce the number of times that the softener needs to be drained, buying softeners with large tanks can help.
July 22, 2009 at 8:31 PM