Best Water Softeners for Arizona Hard Water
Most Arizona residents would agree that water softeners are worth the investment. Why? Arizona has some of the hardest water in the country.
If you look at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) map of water hardness areas, almost all of Arizona is dark red. The red indicates high concentrations of calcium carbonate, a key mineral that makes water hard.
Water hardness can damage your home’s plumbing, spot dishes, ruin laundry, dry your skin and hair, and cause appliance wear and tear. Hard water is really bad news if you’re an Arizona homeowner!
FilterSmart believes you should be smart about the standards you set for your home’s water, and ultimately, the water softener you decide to use. Here’s everything you should know about the best water softeners in Arizona that will combat the state’s widespread hard water problem:
How Hard is Arizona’s Water?
Water hardness is measured in grains per gallon of water (gpg). Here’s a water hardness scale to get a clearer picture of Arizona’s water hardness levels:
- Anything less than 1 grain per gallon is considered soft
- Slightly hard: 1 - 3.5 grains per gallon
- Moderately hard: 3.5 - 7 grains per gallon
- Hard: 7 - 10 grains per gallon
- Very hard: anything over 10 grains per gallon
Phoenix's latest Water Quality Report (2021) shows the city’s current grains per gallon are between 10.1 to 16.2. These numbers indicate that Phoenix’s water is considered “very hard.”
According to Scottsdale’s latest Water Quality Report, the city’s current water hardness levels fall between 16-25 grains per gallon. These numbers indicate that Scottsdale’s water is also deemed “very hard.”
You might notice that Scottsdale water could be described as extremely hard because the grains per gallon far surpass the water hardness levels in Phoenix. In fact, the higher end of Phoenix’s water hardness is the lower end of Scottsdale’s water hardness.
Do you see a pattern of “really hard” water in Arizona? If you don’t live in Phoenix or Scottsdale, you can find your area’s water hardness levels below:
- Bullhead City (36 gpg)
- Chandler (17 gpg)
- Gilbert (13 gpg)
- Glendale (17 gpg)
- Lake Havasu City (19 gpg)
- Mesa (17 gpg)
- Nogales (20 gpg)
- Peoria (13 gpg)
- Sierra Vista (9 gpg)
- Tempe (12 gpg)
- Tucson (12 gpg)
- Yuma (21 gpg)
What is the Best Type of Water Softener?
If you live in the Arizona area, you most likely have “very hard” water. It doesn’t matter whether you live in Tucson, Glendale, or Bullhead City — Arizona residents have to deal with naturally occurring hard water. You should invest in a water softener to eliminate issues stemming from hard water and make your home’s water use more enjoyable. Here are five common types of water softeners and how to choose the best water softener in Arizona:
Shower head water softeners: shower head water softeners are a great solution for people who live somewhere that doesn’t have “really hard” water. While shower head water softeners are great for eliminating the dryness and itchiness of washing your skin and hair with hard water, it doesn’t solve the entire problem.
Dual-tank water softeners: dual-tank water softeners are best for homes with high water usage. The issue with this type of water softener is that it takes up a lot of space to solely soften your home’s water. If you have the space for a dual-tank water softener, perhaps you should consider a whole-house water filter and softener combo. You can have a water softener and whole-house filtration system in your home — for a lower price than dual-tank water softeners typically cost!
Magnetic water softeners: magnetic softeners are affordable and compact, but they use electricity to function (increasing your electric bill). You’d think that a water softener using electricity would fully soften the water, but this option only temporarily changes the water’s chemical composition (keeping water softened for just a few days at a time).
Salt-based water softeners: this is the most commonly used type of water softener because it’s affordable and effective. One of the major cons to this type of softener is that it adds salt to the water. What’s the point of getting a softener to make water less hard (remove minerals) if low amounts of salt need to be added to remove the other minerals? It doesn’t make much sense.
Salt-free water softeners: water softeners that don’t insert salt into the plumbing ensure there’s no mineral buildup. Salt-free water softeners are also a great option if you want better water without the heavy maintenance required for alternative systems, like salt-based water softeners.
FilterSmart’s salt-free water softeners are environmentally friendly, don’t require electricity, and have up to 99% scale reduction. The reusable tank is guaranteed for life, and maintenance is simple, making it easier than ever to enjoy soft water in your Arizona home.
