There is no mandatory requirement to soften your water. Softening your water is a personal choice that affects your home and the environment. If your home's water hardness is greater than 7 grains per gallon or 120 mg/L, you may need a water softener to ensure your appliances run well and to improve the taste, odor, or appearance of your water.
Other Methods
You can use some basic math to calculate the size and type of system you need:
The average person uses about 80-100 gallons per day. Multiply that number by the number of people in your home.
Multiply that number by seven to get your average weekly household usage.
Use a water quality test kit to determine the average number of grains per gallon (GPG). The national average is 10, but it can range from 3 (very soft) to 20 (very hard).
Multiply your weekly household usage by your home's GPG rating.
The system should be as close to this number as possible and no less than this number.
If the GPG is over 8, you need a sodium system.
If you experience multiple symptoms and they are moderate to severe, you may need a test kit. Water rated over 8 GPG requires a water softener, as does water rated just below 8 GPG. Frequent scale buildup is also a clear sign that a water softener is needed.
