Can A Water Softener Be Too Big? YES! Here’s Why!

Many water softeners are relatively small, but the sales guy from a water company tried to sell you a very big water softener that he said would work better for you. Is there any benefit to having a big water softener, and can a water softener be too big?

An oversized water softener may not operate correctly if the incoming water pressure is too low. A big water softener may not regenerate often enough to efficiently regenerate its water softener resin and prevent bacteria growth inside of the system. A water softener is not better because it is big.

You have probably heard the phrase “BIGGER is always BETTER”, but that doesn’t always hold true when it comes to sizing-up a water softener for your home. Just because you may think that you need a big water softener, doesn’t mean that a bigger water softener is better.

You SHOULDN’T get a water softener that is TOO BIG!

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Factors to consider about getting a big water softener.

⦁ Price

Naturally, a bigger water softener will cost more money than a smaller one. In some cases, you could pay thousands of dollars more for a bigger water softener when a much smaller one was all you really needed.

Many sales brochures will say how getting an 80,000-grain water softener for $2000.00 will save you big money in the long run because it will only have to regenerate half as much as a 40,000-grain water softener that costs less than $1000.00.

But that is not exactly how a water softener works!

A water softener uses about 1 pound of salt to remove 2,400 grains of hardness from its water softener resin.

How Much Salt Does A Water Softener Use? Is It Too Much?

This rule of thumb applies whether the water softener has a 40,000-grain capacity or an 80,000-grain capacity.

So the overall amount of salt needed for either system is basically the same. An 80,000-grain capacity water softener is just slightly more efficient than a 40,000-grain capacity system. The difference in efficiency between the two is often far less worth the difference in the price.

⦁ Water flow rate

You may think that when it comes to the flow of water, a bigger water softener would certainly be better than a small one, right!

But it’s not always that simple.

While a big water softener will not restrict water flow as much as a smaller water softener, it will have more water softener resin to pass through. 

Although the additional water softener resin has little effect on water flow if the water pressure is good, if your water pressure is poor, to begin with, the additional resin may make your water pressure worse.

More importantly, a bigger water softener will require more water flow and water pressure to perform its regeneration process.

If a big water softener does not have enough water flow and pressure, it may not be able to draw the brine from the brine tank fast enough and the brine may get too diluted to be effective for regenerating the water softener resin.

Drawing the brine too slowly can also mean that when the water softener should be rinsing away the brine, it could be still drawing brine, and therefore it may leave brine behind in the water softener after regeneration.

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Having a big water softener when the water pressure in the home is low can mean VERY low pressure when the water softener is regenerating.

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⦁ The volume of water to be used

Big water softeners are meant to be used when a big volume of water will be used.

Having a big water softener when only a small volume of water will be used on a regular basis can mean that only a small amount of the water softener resin will be used over and over again.

This will wear out the water softener resin faster than if the correct sized water softener is used where all of the resin will get used more evenly and therefore the resin will last longer.

Here’s a quick video explaining how a properly sized water softener works.

Naturally, a large family of 6 or more will need a big water softener simply because they will be using a large volume of water, but getting a big water softener when you will only be using a small amount of water is basically just a waste of money.

⦁ Characteristics of the water to be treated

The more hard minerals in your water, the more the water softener will have to work in order to remove them. So it would make sense that a big water softener would be better than a small one if your water is very hard or contains a high amount of iron.

Well, that is not really the case. If you have a high amount of hardness in your water, a big water softener would have to regenerate less often to be effective for removing the hard minerals from your water.

But if you need your water softener to remove more than just common water hardness (like iron), a big water softener may not be the way to go.

⦁ Do you have any iron in your water?

But a big water softener that would regenerate less often is not such a good solution when there is iron in your water.

Calcium and manganese are the primary sources of hardness in water and are easily removed from water softener resin by the process of ion exchange. But removing iron from water softener resin is another story.

Iron clings to water softener resin much better than calcium or manganese. This is why when you set your water hardness on your water softener, you should always add 3 to your hardness setting for every 1 PPM(Part Per Million) of iron in your water.

Because iron is tougher to remove from water softener resin than normal hardness, it is very important that your water softener regenerates frequently to prevent the iron in your water from building up on the water softener resin in your water softener.

When it comes to having iron in your water, a big water softener that operates less frequently is certainly NOT a better water softener!

⦁ Softening capacity of the water softener

Just because a big water softener has two tanks or one big tank doesn’t always mean that it has a much bigger capacity.

The capacity of a water softener is the measurement of its potential ability to remove hard minerals from your water based on the amount of water softener resin that it contains.

Simply put, the size of the water softener on the outside doesn’t necessarily have any bearing on the water softener’s capability on the inside. And two tanks are not necessarily better than one.

A big water softener that may have 1.5 cubic feet of water softener resin in it may have 50% more capacity than a water softener that contains only 1 cubic foot of water softener resin.

But the amount of water and salt needed to regenerate 1.5 cubic feet of resin is almost exactly 50% more than the amount of water and salt needed to regenerate 1.0 cubic feet of water softener resin.

So the extra half of a cubic foot of water softener resin is not actually saving you any money to speak of and a big water softener will use more water and salt at one time where a properly sized water softener will use less water and salt per regeneration.

⦁ How often the water softener will have to regenerate

For the most part, the only reasons to get a big water softener are if you have a high amount of hardness in your water, require a large volume of water to be softened or if you want the water softener to regenerate as little as possible.

While the first two reasons are perfectly logical, the last is generally NOT a good reason.

A big water softener that regenerates less often than a smaller one only means that the water softener resin will have more hardness on it when the water softener regenerates.

As a rule of thumb, a properly sized water softener that regenerates more often will be more cost-effective over time than a big water softener that regenerates less often.

Will a big water softener use more salt than a small one?

A big water softener will normally mean that there is more water softener resin inside of the water softener tank. So naturally, the more water softener resin that there is, the more salt that will be required to regenerate the water softener resin.

But because it takes 3-7 pounds of salt to regenerate 1 cubic foot of water softener resin in a modern high-efficiency water softener, the proportion of salt used by a big water softener compared to a small water softener will be the same, right!

Well, not exactly!

Because a big water softener will be regenerating more water softener resin at one time and with a bigger dose of brine to perform the ion exchange process that regenerates the water softener resin, it will actually regenerate the water softener resin a little more efficiently.

While a big efficient water softener may sound like a good idea, the difference in the amount of water and salt used per cubic foot of water softener resin by a big water softener is minimal compared to a standard sized water softener.

Is my water pressure strong enough for a big water softener?

Providing that your well water pressure tank is working correctly and you don’t have a history of running out of water from your well, you should have adequate water pressure even for a larger water softener.

A well water pressure tank draws water from your well and stores it under pressure for when you or your water softener needs it.

The water in your water pressure tank is normally kept at a pressure high enough for even a big water softener to work correctly providing that it calls for water from your well often enough to maintain the water pressure.

Most well water pressure tanks will draw water from your well when the pressure drops to either 30 PSI (Pounds Per Square Inch) or 40 PSI depending on the type of pressure tank that it is.

At 30 PSI a standard-sized water softener will have plenty of water pressure to operate properly and is enough for a slightly bigger than average water softener as well.

But there is a point where a water pressure of 30 PSI will simply not be enough for a very big water softener to properly perform the regeneration process that the water softener performs to regenerate its water softener resin.

Without sufficient water pressure, a big water softener may not be able to draw the brine from the brine tank fast enough to provide a strong enough dose of sodium during the regeneration process.

This can lead to the water softener resin being unable to remove hard minerals from your water and can even leave brine behind after the regeneration process is over which can mean salty-tasting water coming out of your water faucets.

Is the water pressure from municipal water enough for a big water softener?

More than likely, your municipal water is coming into your home with more than enough water pressure for even a very big water softener.

In some cases, municipal water pressure may be too high for any water softener.

High water pressure may sound great at first, but excessive water pressure going into a water softener can cause leaks because the high pressure causes the seals to separate.

A water softener bypass valve may not be able to move because the high water pressure will not allow the valve to turn.

And a water softener can even crack or burst open when the water pressure going through it is excessively high.

This is why municipal water coming into a home may actually require a pressure reducing valve to maintain a safe level of pressure for your water softener, your water-using appliances, and the plumbing in your home.

Can a big water softener drain my well dry?

Naturally, a big water softener will require more water to regenerate than a small water softener!

Not only will a big water softener need to use more water to regenerate its water softener resin because there is more resin in its bigger tank, but it will also need to use more water very quickly and for a long period of time.

When a big water softener needs to regenerate, it will use a large volume of water for up to about 90 minutes.

During this time, a big water softener will need a strong and steady flow of water and plenty of it.

Because a big water softener uses a large volume of water over a long period of time, a slow-yielding well could run dry due to this huge demand for water.

If you believe that you will need a big water softener to provide softened water for your home, it is highly recommended to make sure that it will regenerate at a time of day when it will have ample water available for it to regenerate properly.

This is why most people that use a larger water softener have it set so that the water softener will regenerate well after the demand for water in the home is done for the day, and well before there will be much demand for water in the home again.

Ideally, a large or small water softener should be scheduled to regenerate when there is no or little other demand for water in the home.

Does slow water flow in a big water softener cause channeling?

Channeling in a water softener is when water tends to flow in the same path through the water softener resin over and over again.

This channeling can mean that only a portion of the water softener resin will be regenerated and reused to remove hard minerals from your water.

When this happens, the portion of water softener resin that is being used over and over again can wear-out much quicker than the rest of the resin which means that your water softener will stop softening your water sooner than if all of the water softener resin was being used.

Slow water flow or poor pressure going through a water softener that is too big for the amount of water available can cause channeling and premature replacement of the water softener resin.

If your well water pressure tank is too small to provide enough water for a big water softener, a bigger pressure tank may be needed for a big water softener to operate correctly.

What size family would need a big water softener?

If your water is very hard (20 Grains Per Gallon or more for example) or if your water is moderately hard but also contains more than just a trace amount of iron, a big 48,000-grain capacity or more water softener may be needed for even a small family of 1 or 2.

It’s not just the size of a family that would justify getting a larger-sized water softener.

A home that has water that is only slightly hard (less than 7 Grains Per Gallon for example) may only need a big water softener if a large family of 6 or more are living in the home.

But with low hardness in the water, even a standard-sized water softener with a grain capacity of 30,000 to 48,000 will be able to not only soften the water but will also be able to remove low levels of iron from the water when properly programmed.

Only when a family is very large with 7 or more people and when the water hardness is moderate to high (7 Grains Per Gallons or more) would a big water softener really be necessary unless there is also iron in the water.

With even moderately hard water, a larger family of 7 or more should consider a larger water softener with a higher grain capacity of 64,000, 80,000, or even 96,000.

For larger families, any of the larger capacity residential water softeners would not be considered to be too big because the volume of water that a large family would use would require a big water softener.

Recommended Water Softener Size Based On Water Hardness And People In The Home.

Water Hardness In GPG (Grains Per Gallon)	1 – 2 People**	3 – 4 People**	5 – 6 People**	7 – 8 People**
5-10 GPG (Grains Per Gallon)	1 Cubic foot of resin or 30,000-32,000 Grain Capacity*	1 Cubic foot of resin or 30,000-32,000 Grain Capacity*	1 Cubic foot of resin or 30,000-32,000 Grain Capacity*	1.5 Cubic feet of resin or 40,000-42,000 Grain Capacity*
11-20 GPG (Grains Per Gallon)	1 Cubic foot of resin or 30,000-32,000 Grain Capacity*	1 Cubic foot of resin or 30,000-32,000 Grain Capacity*	1.5 Cubic feet of resin or 48,000 Grain Capacity*	1.5 Cubic feet of resin or 48,000 Grain Capacity*
21-30 GPG (Grains Per Gallon)	1 Cubic foot of resin or 30,000-32,000 Grain Capacity*	1.5 Cubic feet of resin or 48,000 Grain Capacity*	2 Cubic feet of resin or 64,000 Grain Capacity*	3 Cubic feet of resin or 60,000-64,000 Grain Capacity*
31-40 GPG (Grains Per Gallon)	1.5 Cubic feet of resin or 48,000 Grain Capacity*	2 Cubic feet of resin or 64,000 Grain Capacity*	2 Cubic feet of resin or 64,000 Grain Capacity*	2.5 Cubic feet of resin or 80,000 Grain Capacity*
41-50 GPG (Grains Per Gallon)	2 Cubic feet of resin or 64,000 Grain Capacity*	2.5 Cubic feet of resin or 80,000 Grain Capacity*	3 Cubic feet of resin or 96,000 Grain Capacity*	4 Cubic feet of resin or 110,000 Grain Capacity*
51-75 GPG (Grains Per Gallon)	2 Cubic feet of resin or 64,000 Grain Capacity*	2.5 Cubic feet of resin or 80,000 Grain Capacity*	3 Cubic feet of resin or 96,000 Grain Capacity*	4 Cubic feet of resin or 110,000 Grain Capacity*
76-100 GPG (Grains Per Gallon)	2.5 Cubic feet of resin or 80,000 Grain Capacity*	3 Cubic feet of resin or 96,000 Grain Capacity*	3 Cubic feet of resin or 96,000 Grain Capacity*	4 Cubic feet of resin or 110,000 Grain Capacity*

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Doesn’t a small water softener work the same as a big one?

There is no one-size water softener that is a one size fits all solution to softening your water!

For the most part, a standard-sized water softener with a grain capacity of 30,000 to 48,000 that has been set properly for water hardness and iron will be sufficient for a family of up to 4 to 5 people depending on their water usage.

Most of the time, a big water softener simply contains more water softener resin than a standard-sized water softener so it can remove more hard minerals from your water between regenerations.

This does not mean that a small water softener is just as good as a big water softener.

A small water softener may be able to soften your water just as well as a big water softener, but if a small water softener has to regenerate twice as often as a big one, the mechanical parts of the water softener will also wear out twice as fast.

But, where a smaller water softener may wear out quicker, a big water softener that does not regenerate often enough can allow hard minerals and iron to build-up on its internal parts which can cause them to wear out prematurely as well.

Look for a properly sized water softener for your water characteristics and water usage. Test your water hardness and iron content, and then choose the correct water softener for your needs.

Is getting a big water softener just a waste of money?

In many cases, getting a big water softener may very well be just a waste of money!

A salesperson may tell you that a big water softener will use less salt and water than a smaller one.

That is actually true! Many high-quality larger water softeners will more efficiently regenerate their water softener resin than a smaller one and therefore they will use less salt and water.

BUT! The actual amount of salt and water that a big water softener may save you is so little, that it will most likely be much less than the additional expense of buying a bigger water softener.

Think about this!

If a standard size water softener needs 5 pounds of salt to regenerate 1 cubic foot of your water softener resin, and the same model but with a big tank needs 4.99 pounds of salt to do the same thing, are you really saving enough salt to justify paying an extra $1000,00 or more for the big water softener?

That doesn’t sound like a bargain to me!

When is a bigger water softener a good idea?

If you have an expanding family or are getting a water softener for a large home with several baths, showers, sinks, and so on, a big water softener may be just what you need.

High amounts of hard minerals in your water or high levels of iron in your water may warrant buying a bigger water softener just because a small water softener may not have the capacity to provide you with soft, iron-free water.

But getting a big water softener because it will not have to regenerate as often as a smaller one is not necessarily a good enough reason to purchase a big water softener.

Should I upgrade to a big water softener or keep my regular one?

If you are expecting that you will be using a considerable amount of more water in the future or if your water hardness or iron level has gone up, your current size water softener may not be enough to provide you with treated water.

Upgrading to a big water softener is a good idea if you are planning on adding an additional bathroom or kitchen in the future or perhaps you expect to have more people living in your home.

But if your current water softener is providing you with quality soft water, service your water softener regularly and test your water hardness occasionally to make sure that it is still working correctly and it should soften your water for many years.