It’s imperative to evaluate commercial water softener sizing based on your business’s specific needs.
Systems come with various features and are available in many different sizes. The smallest-size units are designed for residential use and often would not provide the capacity to work in most commercial business environments (with the exception of small office settings).
If you choose a water softener that’s too small or too large, it could be detrimental to your monthly costs, business output, and customer experience. Since the system you choose can have such a direct impact on your business’s efficiency, it’s important to know exactly what to keep in mind when shopping the market for a commercial water softener.
First and foremost, which size commercial water softener is right for you?
Start by using this calculator, which will show you recommendations based on your specific commercial use and needs.
Various-sized systems on the market are a match for the following businesses, but as a general rule of thumb, businesses with greater water demands (like a laundromat, for example) will require larger systems:
- Car washes
- Restaurants
- Gyms
- Schools and daycare facilities
- Small businesses like spas and hair salons
- Retail stores
- Hotels/motels
- Dry cleaners
- Laundromats
- Residential buildings with multiple units
What affects commercial water softener sizing?
There are two main factors that are crucial in selecting the commercial water softener size that’s best for your business:
• Flow rate – Different systems can handle different water volumes, so it’s important to know when your business’s peak times are and what volume is required at all times. Most businesses benefit from a metered system as opposed to a timed system so that the unit reacts to high demand and pushes out treated water and sufficient pressure when you need it most. This directly impacts your bottom line in terms of energy usage and a smoothly functioning day-to-day experience. The flow rate is measured in grains per minute.
• Grain capacity – Hard water minerals such as magnesium and calcium create the scale that wears down your equipment and clogs plumbing. A water softener system is measured on how much hardness (grains) it can remove before it needs to regenerate. Regeneration is when the tank’s sodium-ion-charged beads have grabbed hold of the magnesium and calcium, released sodium into the water, and then require the hard minerals to be flushed down the drain prior to continued water treatment. Higher grain capacity water softener systems can treat larger volumes of water before needing to regenerate. If your business needs a heavy flow of treated water around the clock, you’ll need to consider the maximum grain-capacity units.
What else is there to consider?
Upfront, it’s important to think about your business’s water quality, pressure, and temperature needs. As mentioned above, equally crucial is looking at your company’s fluctuation in demand.
When shopping the market, look at the amount of resin that the tank can hold (capacity per cubic foot of resin) as this also contributes to efficiency per volume flow.
Some systems offer the option of adding an additional tank—for example adjusting from a duplex configuration to a triplex. This is perfect for a growing business that foresees expansion.
And don’t forget…
There are many ways a commercial water softener can benefit your business in the long run. The below factors should also be considered when determining what which system is right for you:
- Reduced corrosion and damage to fixtures
- Long life of equipment and appliances
- Economic use of detergent and soap
- Sparkling clean dinnerware for restaurants
- Efficient energy usage
It’s important to note that every commercial business is unique, and not all businesses require the same sizing or have the same priorities when it comes to water pressure, flow, and quality. A commercial water softener sizing professional can be of substantial service to help you calculate what size system will meet your business’s specific needs. When you land on the right size and system for you, you’ll see the significant pay-off in the long run.
Try this calculator to see the recommended systems for your specific commercial use.