{"id":2682,"date":"2023-01-17T21:26:57","date_gmt":"2023-01-17T21:26:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/knightplumbing.ca\/guide-to-buying-water-softener\/"},"modified":"2025-04-26T03:38:32","modified_gmt":"2025-04-26T03:38:32","slug":"guide-to-buying-water-softener","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.knightplumbing.ca\/?p=2682","title":{"rendered":"Guide to Buying Water Softener"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Looking to <a href=\"https:\/\/knightplumbing.ca\/plumbing-calgary\/water-softeners\/\">install a water softener<\/a>? Calgary is no stranger to hard water. While <a href=\"https:\/\/knightplumbing.ca\/blog\/guide-to-hard-water-buying-water-softeners\/\">Calgary hard water<\/a> isn\u2019t bad for you to ingest or use, it might have undesirable effects on your home, with mineral deposits building up in pipes, kettles, dishwashers, and other water-using appliances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this water softener buying guide, we\u2019ll go over the answers to your questions and help you decide if a water softener is right for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do I Need a Water Softener?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/knightplumbing.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/water-softener-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2724\" width=\"196\" height=\"294\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No matter where you are, there will always be a certain amount of water hardness in your pipes. In Calgary and the surrounding areas, our municipal water supply classifies as Hard to Very Hard, and the Bow and Elbow Rivers contribute a high level of calcium and magnesium to our local water supply. Calgary&#8217;s hard water can be a problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No doubt you\u2019ve noticed mineral build up around your taps and in certain appliances. If you\u2019re concerned about the type of damage this might do to your house, you\u2019ll likely benefit from a water softener.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Does a Water Softener Work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A water softener works to treat your drinking water supply and reduce hardness. It removes minerals through a process of ion exchange, leaving you with soft water for washing and cleaning. (Hard water can safely be used outdoors for watering your lawn and garden.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The process involves channelling the incoming water supply through a tank lined with a layer of porous polystyrene resin beads. Negatively charged with a sodium ion, the beads are described as anions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As the water flows over the beads, the positive mineral ions (\u201ccations\u201d) stick to them while the sodium ions are released.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The water softener\u2019s beads must be regenerated with a high-salt (sodium) solution every few days. Usually, this happens in the middle of the night to avoid interfering with the regular operation of the water softener.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to the manufacturer\u2019s directions, you will have to add sodium chloride to your water softener occasionally to produce the salty brine solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Water softener benefits include reducing clogged pipes due to limescale, more energy-efficient and longer-lasting appliances, and softer, more lustrous hair complexion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Types of Water Softeners<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are several types of water softener, and they differ based on size, type, capacity, and brand. The most common is a salt-based, whole-house, ion\/cation exchange unit.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Salt-Free Water Softener<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Salt-based softeners, which use sodium chloride, are the most common type. However, they add approximately 200 ml of sodium per litre of usable water. It won\u2019t turn your drinking supply into salt water, but if a household member must restrict their sodium intake for medical reasons, you might be advised to look for an alternative type of water softener.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Salt-Based Ion Exchange Water Softener<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Salt-free water softeners use potassium chloride \u2014 instead of sodium chloride \u2014 for their regeneration process. This is acceptable even on a low sodium diet. Rather than reduce the amount of hard water minerals found in your water, ion exchange water softeners actually descale and prevent minerals from being deposited to surfaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One caveat: Potassium chloride is quite a bit more expensive than sodium chloride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dual-Tank Water Softener<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dual-tank water softeners are equipped with two tanks so that even when one resin tank is undergoing the regeneration process, the other will be available to use. This will add convenience because you\u2019ll have a constant, uninterrupted flow of softened water at any time of day or night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Are Water Softeners Environmentally Friendly?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In your research for a new water softener, you might have noticed that water softeners aren\u2019t part of the Energy Star\u2122 program, which rates appliances based on their energy efficiency.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since many water softeners use chloride, there are concerns with the salt water draining into municipal wastewater treatment plants, which are not designed to remove chloride. This means that some salt could end up in lakes and rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What gets flushed from your water softener system will also contain the minerals being removed from your hard water, such as calcium and magnesium. These are not harmful to the environment, and may even be beneficial to the soil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Systems that are properly calibrated will use less salt, and will thus put less back into waste water. Keep your environmental impact at a minimum by making sure your water treatment system is properly installed and calibrated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Much Does it Cost to Install a Water Softener?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s difficult to give a precise estimate without determining the type, model, and size of the water softener you\u2019d like to install. The cost to install a water softener is variable. Your water softener installation cost will depend on several important factors, which include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The size of your home<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How many people live in your household<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The hardness level of your water supply (how many gpg of minerals you have to remove)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Other minerals you might wish to remove, for example sulfur or iron<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your family\u2019s special requirements in terms of dietary issues or water supply preferences<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Installing a water softening system will likely cost you anywhere from $1,200 to upwards of $3,000. This will include the system itself, plus professional installation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Water Softener vs. Water Filter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A water filtration system helps remove contaminants and dissolved solids from your home\u2019s water supply. While water softeners target the minerals that cause spots and buildup on your dishes and taps, the goal of a water filtration system is to make your drinking water taste better by removing physical contaminants. These can include metals, industrial byproducts such as pesticides, chlorine, or sediments and particulate matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Size of Water Softener Do I Need?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Water softeners are sized based on grains per gallon (GPG); essentially, the grain capacity of minerals per gallon of water. The smallest systems usually start at 24,000 GPG, and they can go up to 64,000 GPG.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sizing your water softener properly is important, otherwise you might end up spending more money and resources than you need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Take into consideration your water hardness and your daily water consumption to help decide what size is best for you. Multiply your water hardness by your average daily water consumption to get your daily water softening requirement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do Water Softeners Need Maintenance?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As with any household appliance, water softener systems will start to show signs of use, wear, and tear over the years.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Depending on the type you choose, your water softener may require some regular maintenance in the form of salt top-ups. Traditional ion exchange water softeners have a brine tank, which will need to be replenished with salt on a monthly basis.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The other part of a softener that requires maintenance is replacing the resin beads. However, most resin can last for upwards of 10 years, so this isn\u2019t a regular maintenance task you have to worry about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Trusted Water Softener Brands<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not all water softeners are created equal. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to work with a trusted plumbing company to buy a reliable model for optimal performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At Knight Plumbing, our professional recommendation is to install one of the following trusted water softener brands:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Aquamaster<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Aquamaster whole home water softeners combine high efficiency with convenience. These impressive fixtures soften up to 70-90 GPG hardness, according to the model you choose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Their fast regeneration process is based on actual usage \u2014 rather than a preset schedule \u2014 to save you money on water, salt, and energy. They\u2019re also easy maintenance due to their built-in self-cleaning filter\u2014no messy cartridge changes for you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">WaterBoss<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Water Boss is not just a water softener; it\u2019s known as a \u201cwater refiner.\u201d Its triple-action utilizes ion exchange resin beads, fine mesh filtration, and activated carbon. This winning design will remove dirt, sediment, and chlorine, in addition to the water hardness minerals \u2014 calcium and magnesium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The WaterBoss refiner\u2019s carbon filter comes complete with an innovative self-cleaning system (unlike other chlorine-removing carbon filters, which require frequent manual cleaning to prevent the growth of microorganisms).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Novatek<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Novatek water softeners offer up to 21 GPM for residential or commercial softening and filtration. They have an electronic timer that provides quick setup and programming and includes a battery back-up to keep time-of-day during a power outage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Knight Knows Water Softeners<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019re your Calgary plumbing experts. We know the local hard water problems\u2026 and we\u2019re here with solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Would you like more information on water softeners \u2014 or are you ready to order water softener installation for your home? Reach out to us for reliable help today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Looking to install a water softener? Calgary is no stranger to hard water. While Calgary hard water isn\u2019t bad for you to ingest or use, it might have undesirable effects on your home, with mineral deposits building up in pipes, kettles, dishwashers, and other water-using appliances. In this water softener buying guide, we\u2019ll go over [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":2683,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2682","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-water-softerners"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Guide to Buying Water Softener - Plumbing, Heating &amp; Cooling Services in Calgary<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.knightplumbing.ca\/?p=2682\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Guide to Buying Water Softener - Plumbing, Heating &amp; Cooling Services in Calgary\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Looking to install a water softener? 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In this water softener buying guide, we\u2019ll go over [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.knightplumbing.ca\/?p=2682\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Plumbing, Heating &amp; Cooling Services in Calgary\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/KnightPlumbingHeatingandAirConditioning\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-01-17T21:26:57+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-04-26T03:38:32+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.knightplumbing.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/water-softener-1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"900\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Dan Handiaz\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Dan Handiaz\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Guide to Buying Water Softener - Plumbing, Heating &amp; Cooling Services in Calgary","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.knightplumbing.ca\/?p=2682","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Guide to Buying Water Softener - Plumbing, Heating &amp; Cooling Services in Calgary","og_description":"Looking to install a water softener? 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In this water softener buying guide, we\u2019ll go over [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/www.knightplumbing.ca\/?p=2682","og_site_name":"Plumbing, Heating &amp; Cooling Services in Calgary","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/KnightPlumbingHeatingandAirConditioning\/","article_published_time":"2023-01-17T21:26:57+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-04-26T03:38:32+00:00","og_image":[{"width":600,"height":900,"url":"https:\/\/www.knightplumbing.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/water-softener-1.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Dan Handiaz","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Dan Handiaz","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.knightplumbing.ca\/?p=2682#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.knightplumbing.ca\/?p=2682"},"author":{"name":"Dan Handiaz","@id":"https:\/\/www.knightplumbing.ca\/#\/schema\/person\/05ef77d57a7f85b079af0281337fdc2e"},"headline":"Guide to Buying Water Softener","datePublished":"2023-01-17T21:26:57+00:00","dateModified":"2025-04-26T03:38:32+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.knightplumbing.ca\/?p=2682"},"wordCount":1426,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.knightplumbing.ca\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.knightplumbing.ca\/?p=2682#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.knightplumbing.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/water-softener-1.jpg","articleSection":["Water Softerners"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.knightplumbing.ca\/?p=2682","url":"https:\/\/www.knightplumbing.ca\/?p=2682","name":"Guide to Buying Water Softener - Plumbing, Heating &amp; 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