Do you notice that your faucets and shower heads seem to collect mineral deposits and gunk? Are you disappointed by how your clothes don't seem as clean as they should be when they come out of the washer? Do your dishes end up spotty after a wash in the dishwasher? If so, it is likely that you have hard water. Luckily, you can improve your situation by seeking out a water softener to treat your water supply. Here are some things you should think about when seeking the best softener for your home.

Use a Home Testing Kit

While you might want to go out to the store and start looking for a water softener, it is important that you first test the water in your house. If you don't do this, you could end up with a softener that is too strong or weak for the water in your house.

Typically, a testing kit includes tablets or strips that change color when you run them under water. The kit will have a range of colors so you can match up the tablet or strip to determine how hard your water is. Hardness is measured in units of grains per gallon; the test will give you a good idea of the range your water is in, so when you search for softeners you can use that information.

Get One That Suits the Size of Your Family

Once you have an idea of how hard your water is, you need to then look for one that has the capacity to serve your family. To get an idea of the proper size, first multiply the number of family members you have by 70. That will give you an idea of how much water everyone uses each day. Next, take that number and times it by the number of grains per gallon you got from your testing kit. The resulting calculation provides the grains of water per day that your softener will need to work on. As you shop, look for softeners that match up with your grains per day calculation. 

Use all the details in this article to provide assistance during your search for a good water softener. Talk to a retailer in the industry to get more advice about which softener is best suited to your house. Then you and your family can start to enjoy the benefits of softer water. To learn more, visit a website like http://johnsonwater.com/.