Do you know how to set a water softener timer or hardness level? If not, then this guide will help you set your water softener correctly.
Are your sinks constantly riddled with unappealing stains and marks? Does your skin feel dry and itchy after every time you take a shower? If so, the most likely culprit is probably be your hard water. Hard water can cause a wide range of issues, including ruining your appliances, fading the colors of your clothes, and even affecting how your skin looks and feels. However, even if you have hard water in your home, that doesn’t mean that you need to suffer through these aggravations needlessly.
Water softeners are a great way to help rid your home of these annoyances with very little effort required on your part. These handy little devices can easily be installed by a team of professionals who will place it ahead of your water heater so that all the water that runs through your home is kept nice and soft to the benefit of your entire household. However, after this system is installed, there will be a wide range of adjustments that you will have to make to ensure that you end up with the perfect system that works to address your needs.
This is an incredibly important step, because at the end of the day, every family is different and what they need from their water softener will be just as unique. Doing so will help ensure that your pipes remain clear of all the damaging chemicals that you’re trying to get rid of in the first place. Here are a few tips to keep in mind that will help ensure that you’re able to properly set up your system today.
How to Set A Water Softener Timer
Believe it or not, your new water softener is going to need some down time to regulate and work properly. This is because the ions that are located within the system need time to regenerate in order to combat the chemicals that are in your water and causing it to be “hard” in the first place. Luckily, new water softeners come with a timer so you can specifically set your system to do what it needs to do while you and your loved ones aren’t using the water.
Most of these systems come with the timer set to regenerate at around 2 or 3 a.m. However, you can easily change this to your own specific needs if that doesn’t work for your family. The steps are incredibly easy to follow; however, it will depend on what kind of system you have. If you have a gear system, you’ll need to open up the gear and pull it out towards you, turn the gear to the current time of day (or whenever you’re looking to have it regenerate) and push it back in. However, if you have a newer, digital system, you’ll be presented with a menu and buttons which you’ll need to follow to get your desired outcome.
Of course, remember that if you find this set-up process to be too difficult, you can always call the team you had install the device or a professional plumber and have them come out and take a look to get things straightened out quickly.
How to Set A Water Softener Hardness Level
Of course, there are other important settings that you’ll need to take into consideration that can affect how often your system regenerates and what results you’ll get out of it. By setting your water hardness level to a specific amount, you can control just how many ions are released into your water and what kind of effect the system will have in the long run.
However, in order to properly set this number, you’ll first need to know exactly how hard your water naturally is. Many times, this will be tested when your softener is first installed. However, if you’re unsure of the number, you can buy a water hardness testing kit, often sold at your local hardware store, and take a look for yourself. Generally speaking, if your water is 3 or under on the grain scale, it’s considered slightly hard. However, if it reaches anywhere near 15, your water is considered extremely hard and will need quite a few ions in order to combat the hardness.
Once you know what your natural water hardness level is in your home, you’ll be able to set the proper expectations for your system. Make sure you find the right balance so that your water is the most comfortable for you to enjoy day in and day out.
Consider Other Factors
Modern water softeners are designed to efficiently serve large homes and families. However, it’s still incredibly important that you take certain factors into consideration both when picking out your system as well as when setting your specifications. One of the principal concerns you’ll need to think about is the capacity of your water softener. The size of your system can have a tremendous impact on its efficiency and how much you notice the difference it’s making. The larger the system, the more it will be able to handle in terms of softening, so you’ll need to think about the amount of water you tend to use on a daily basis.
This will depend highly on the practices of your family. Are you part of a large family? Do you, your partner, and your children all enjoy showers that tend to go on for quite some time? Do you enjoy a nice bath more frequently than not? Are you constantly running the dishwasher in order to keep your kitchen as neat as possible throughout the day? These are all factors that you’ll need to keep in mind and which will have a dramatic impact on the size of the machine that you’ll need.
You Shouldn’t Suffer from Hard Water
Choosing to put up with hard water can end up bringing devastating results. Not only will you have to put up with stained sinks and dishware, but it can even lead to your glasses becoming brittle and easily breaking. Not to mention, there’s the specifically harmful effects it can have on your skin and overall sense of comfort. Installing a quality water softener can be the perfect way to avoid this unfortunate situation, but it’s important that you remember how unique your family is, so you can find a system that will work best for you.
Remember to consider a wide range of factors, including the size of your family and the amount of water you use so that you can find the perfect unit for your needs. Once you have your system installed, making sure you set the settings correctly will make a world of difference. This investment is an important one, and you want to make sure you’re able to get the most out of it on a daily basis. Make sure you set the system to regenerate specifically when you and your loved ones use the least amount of water, and make sure that you also consider the hardness level of your natural water. That way, you can be sure you’ll achieve the ideal results from the very first day the system is installed.
