Water softeners for St. Charles County homes
A water softener removes the calcium and magnesium that make water hard. It stops scale in your water heater, spots on glass and dishes, and soap that will not lather. It treats all the water in the house.
How a softener works
Hard water flows through a tank of resin beads. The beads hold on to calcium and magnesium and give up a little sodium in exchange. When the beads are full, the softener rinses them with salt water from a second tank and sends the minerals down the drain. That rinse usually runs in the middle of the night.
What a softener does not do
A softener is not a filter. It does not remove chlorine, lead, bacteria or PFAS, and it does not make unsafe water safe. If you want better-tasting drinking water, that is a job for a reverse osmosis system or a carbon filter.
Do you need one?
On the U.S. Geological Survey scale, water above about 7 grains per gallon is hard and above about 10.5 is very hard. Most city water in St. Charles County is in that range. Wentzville's city wells tested at 17.3 grains per gallon. If your water is under 7 and scale does not bother you, you may not need a softener, and we will say so.
How we size it
A softener that is too small wears out early. One that is too big wastes salt. The sizing sum is simple:
people in the home × about 75 gallons a day × your hardness in grains per gallon = grains to remove each day
A family of four on 10-grain water needs about 3,000 grains removed a day. A typical softener with 1.5 cubic feet of resin holds roughly 30,000 grains at an efficient salt setting, so it would rinse itself about every ten days. We do this sum with your real numbers after the test.
Salt and sodium
A softener uses salt to rinse its resin. In the example above, that is roughly one 40-pound bag every six weeks.
Softened water carries a little extra sodium: about 8 milligrams per liter for each grain of hardness removed. At 10 grains per gallon, that is about 19 milligrams in an 8-ounce glass. If you are on a low-sodium diet, ask your doctor, and ask us about reverse osmosis for drinking water or potassium salt for the softener.
What you get from us
- A test at your tap before any recommendation.
- A written quote that names the equipment and the price.
- The manufacturer's warranty terms in writing before you buy.
- Installation by a licensed plumber.
Common questions
How long does a water softener last?
The resin and tank usually last many years. The control valve is the part that needs service. We give you the manufacturer's warranty terms in writing with your quote.
Will soft water feel different?
Yes. Soap rinses differently in soft water, and many people describe the feel as slick or silky. You will also use less soap and detergent.
Where does a softener go?
Near where the water line enters the house, usually in the basement or a utility room, with a drain and a power outlet close by.
Can I drink softened water?
Yes. It has a little more sodium than before, as explained above. Many people add a reverse osmosis faucet at the kitchen sink for drinking and cooking.
Find out how hard your water is.
The test is free, it takes place at your kitchen sink, and you see the numbers yourself.