How to Read Water Softener Specifications
Understanding grain capacity, flow rate, salt efficiency, and warranty terms.
Grain capacity
The total grains of hardness the softener can remove before regeneration. Common sizes: 24,000 to 80,000 grains. Bigger is not always better. an oversized system wastes salt if it regenerates before the resin is fully exhausted. See our sizing guide.
Flow rate (GPM)
How many gallons per minute the softener can deliver without significant pressure drop. For most homes, 7-12 GPM is adequate. Homes with multiple simultaneous water uses (3+ bathrooms, irrigation) need higher flow rates. Undersized flow rate causes low pressure during peak usage.
Salt efficiency
Measured in grains of hardness removed per pound of salt used. Higher is better. Typical range: 2,000-5,000 grains per pound. High-efficiency systems with upflow brining and demand-initiated regeneration achieve the highest efficiency.
Warranty
Look for: lifetime on tank, 5-10 years on control valve, 10 years on resin. The control valve warranty is most important because it is the most complex and expensive component to replace.