Industrial and Commercial Water Softener Sizing Calculators

The following calculations can be used as rough guides for commercial and industrial water softener sizing. There are many variables in sizing water softeners beyond the scope of the water softener calculators below. Water pressure, temperature, flow rate and cubic feet of resin per tank are all variables that also have effects on sizing and are not considered here. These guides are to be used for quick estimates only. For detailed sizing including configurations (e.g. single, twin parallel, twin alternating, triples, quad softeners), control types (timeclock, metered, PLC, progressive flow, additive flow) or pretreatment for reverse osmosis, deionization or other ultra high purity water treatment equipment, please email or call Nancrede Engineering.

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General Industrial Water Softener Sizing Guide

Average GPM Flow Rate Per Day:
Peak Continuous Flow Rate GPM*:
Desired Hours Between Regenerations:
Hardness of Water (Grains Per Gallon):
Capacity per Cubic foot of Resin (Grains):
Total Gallons of Water Used Per Regeneration:
Cubic Feet of Water Softener Resin Needed Per Tank:
Inch Valves (estimate):

*Peak Continuous GPM is not instantaneous peak flow rate. It represents a continuous high flow rate at peak times of the day (e.g. for 30 minutes or more).
**Instantaneous peak flow rate is the maximum GPM for a short time (e.g. 1-5 minute period).

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Hospital Industrial Water Softener Sizing Guide

Number of Rooms:
Peak Continuous Flow Rate GPM*:
Daily Laundry Use (GPD):
Daily Kitchen Water Use (GPD):
Daily Boiler Makeup if Applicable (GPD):
Hardness of Water (Grains Per Gallon):
Capacity per Cubic foot of Resin (Grains):
Total Gallons of Water Used Per Regeneration:
Cubic Feet of Water Softener Resin Needed Per Tank:
Inch Valves (estimate):

*Peak Continuous GPM is not instantaneous peak flow rate. It represents a continuous high flow rate at peak times of the day (e.g. for 30 minutes or more).
**Instantaneous peak flow rate is the maximum GPM for a short time (e.g. 1-5 minute period).

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Large Commercial & Industrial Hotel Water Softener Sizing Guide

Number of Rooms:
Peak Continuous Flow Rate GPM*:
Daily Laundry Use (GPD):
Daily Kitchen Water Use (GPD):
Daily Boiler Makeup if Applicable (GPD):
Hardness of Water (Grains Per Gallon):
Capacity per Cubic foot of Resin:
Total Gallons of Water Used Per Regeneration:
Cubic Feet of Water Softener Resin Needed Per Tank:
Inch Valves (estimate):

*Peak Continuous GPM is not instantaneous peak flow rate. It represents a continuous high flow rate at peak times of the day (e.g. for 30 minutes or more).
**Instantaneous peak flow rate is the maximum GPM for a short time (e.g. 1-5 minute period).

Most failures in water softener sizing occur when softeners are sized too big as opposed to too small. The guide below shows the minimum continuous flow necessary to prevent water softener channeling.

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Industrial Water Softener Low Flow Channeling Guide

Tank Diameter In Inches:
GPM Minimum Flow Rate To Prevent Channeling:

If continuous flow falls below minimum flow rate, a recirculation pump is suggested to prevent Channeling.*
*Channeling occurs when the flow rate is too low for the size of the softener tank causing water not to flow through the whole bed of the water softener tank resulting in hard water leakage.

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