Sample untreated water
Use a tap before existing treatment, flush normally, record the method and units, and avoid relying on a vague color block when precise programming is needed.
Use the right tool
Field titration can support hardness sizing. Certified-laboratory testing is more appropriate for health-related concerns, private sources or unexplained chemistry.
Compare with the city report
Utility data explains system-level source and regulated results. The in-home sample captures the water and plumbing at your address.
Straight answers
Common questions
How do I convert mg/L to grains per gallon?+
Divide hardness in mg/L as calcium carbonate by about 17.1. Keep the original lab units in your records.
Should treated water test zero?+
A functioning ion-exchange softener is usually set to produce very low residual hardness, but confirm the installer’s target and method.