How is the capacity of a softening system calculated?

Table of Contents

• What is the significance of capacity?
• What happens when the capacity is "empty"?
• What does the capacity depend on?
• How exactly is capacity calculated now?
• What does the capacity say?
• Isn't that easier?

Click here to go directly to the calculator: To the capacity calculator for softening systems

What is the significance of capacity?

In connection with water softening, the capacity can be imagined like the capacity of a smartphone battery. Every softening system that works with the ion exchange process has a certain capacity. The capacity depends on the tank size or the amount of exchange resin in the tank.

What happens when the capacity is "empty"?

If the capacity is exhausted, the system must be regenerated. This means that the system flushes itself with salt brine. We have put together exactly how this works in the section How a softening system works .

What does the capacity depend on?

The capacity is given in the unit m³ x °dH (cubic meters times degrees German hardness). It depends on two factors:

• Water consumption
• Water hardness

The higher the water hardness and the higher the water consumption, the higher the capacity must be chosen.

How exactly is capacity calculated now?

The calculation differs in the safety factor for basic and duplex systems. The safety factor ensures that the systems do not regenerate too often or too rarely, so that the systems are flushed regularly.

• BASIC systems: Capacity = daily water consumption in m³ x water hardness in °dH x 3
• DUPLEX systems: Capacity = daily water consumption in m³ x water hardness in °dH x 2

What does the capacity say?

For example, if a decalcification system has a capacity of 20 m³ x °dH, then in other words this means that the system can deliver 20 cubic meters of water per degree of hardness (°dH) removed. With a water hardness of 20 °dH, this would be one cubic meter of soft water (until the regeneration break).

Amount of water in m³ = capacity in m³ x °dH / water hardness in °dH

Isn't that easier?

Of course, you don't have to use your calculator now, you can have the capacity calculated using our calculator. This will immediately suggest the system that is right for you. To the capacity calculator for softening systems