How much do you know about a commercial water softener system for your commercial or industrial property?
Would you like to learn more about how it works, its advantages or specs like size or flow capacity, so that you can differentiate manufacturers? Let’s look at the most frequently asked questions as well as a link to a useful calculator to help you find the right one.
1) What is a Commercial Water Softener System?
A commercial water softener system uses an ion-exchange resin to remove minerals such as iron, calcium and magnesium from a water supply, replacing hard water with soft water. Commercial water softener systems are designed specifically for industrial or commercial operations – in contrast with residential systems, which are primarily made for homes.
2) How Does a Commercial Water Softener System Work?
A commercial water softener works by removing the minerals in your facility’s water supply that cause hard water.
As a water supply is sourced from local rivers, lakes, wells and other sources, it also gathers minerals. This brings “hard water” into your plumbing system. As it enters your workplace plumbing system, the minerals build up and block filters quickly. As the minerals accumulate, it causes appliance deterioration to occur, which reduces the lifespan by several years. There will also be stains on sinks and fixtures that affect their aesthetic appeal. Commercial water softener systems remove the high mineral counts through ion-exchange. A sodium ion exchange process softens the water to safer levels.
3) What Are the Advantages of Having a Water Softener?
The advantages of commercial water softeners include:
- Eliminates Corrosion on Pipes, Plumbing and Water Equipment
- Appliance Longevity: The Commercial Water Softener Removes the Minerals That Reduce Life Span
- Better Quality, Better-Tasting Water
- Lower Maintenance Costs
- Reduced Mineral Consumption
- Less Usage of Soap and Laundry Detergent
- No Hard Water Staining on Appliances, Sinks, Fixtures or Clothing
4) How Do You Choose the Best Water Softener System?
There are numerous manufacturers of commercial water softener systems. Some of the top-rated systems on the market today come from brands like Fleck and SoftPro, but there are many others. Brand name alone is not enough to make a decision. You’ll need to choose a water softener that fits your needs by looking at system size, features, grain capacity and flow rates.
5) How Do You Size a Commercial Water Softener?
The daily softening requirement is calculated by multiplying the grains per gallon (water hardness) by the number of gallons of water used per day (flow rate). For example, if your business has water hardness of 10 grains per gallon and uses 700 gallons of water daily, you would need a commercial water softener system that can process 7,000 grains per day. This will be the minimum requirement needed in a water softener system, as measured by its grain capacity.
6) How Do You Size a Commercial Water Softener?
Every system is different. Be sure to follow the instructions provided in the user manual. Or, hire a trained water treatment professional or plumbing contractor who can configure your system for you.
7) Is It Bad to Oversize a Water Softener?
There are issues with under-sizing and over-sizing a commercial water softener system. If your system is too small, it will not produce enough soft water. A commercial building will also experience a reduction in water pressure that will often require additional maintenance, which over time will significantly lessen the expected shelf life of a commercial water softener.
If you choose a commercial water softener system that is too big, it will affect the regeneration process. When this occurs, it can cause bacteria in the tank and affect system efficiency
Use this calculator to find the right commercial water softener system for you Not sure where to start? Use this calculator to get matched with systems that fit the needs of your commercial facility.