How to adjust water softener hardness

[Dairylander]

I have a WaterSoft by Amtrol water softener.
It has a button that digitally adjusts the "hardness setting" on a scale from 1 to 99.
It's currently set at 40.
If I want harder water, do I go to a higher or lower number? Or does the hardness setting not control that?
We seem to burn through a lot of salt and I hate that slippery feeling when the soap won't rinse off.
An adjustment to slightly harder water won't put my appliances at risk, will it?
Thanks.

[Pipestone Kid]

The hardness setting is a number that is determined by the "grains" of hardness in your water and the iron content. You cannot set how hard or soft you want the water. It is either hard or soft--no adjustment for in between.

[cutnail]

Did you get your waters hardness tested? The test results (ex. 20) is what you set the hardness for.

[wookie]

We're assuming someone did a hardness test ( grains of hardness) when the unit was installed. That number can change and softner can be adjusted to the new info. Hardness setting just determines capacity of your softner, lower the hardness number the longer between regenerations ( assuming this is a on demand system), when regenerating you use a brine solution (salt). No matter the number you will get that slimey feeling as long as the softner is doing its job, looks as though it is, you have HARD water.

This has been a quick explanation.

The slime is not residual soap, thats how your skin really feels without hard water deposits on it


wookie

[Dairylander]

Thanks guys.
Our appliances are technical these days, I'm surprised no one has invented a way to have sorta-soft water.
I never tested the hardness myself. Hopefully the previous owner did.
I guess if I want a good shower I'll have to use the hose.

Originally Posted by wookie

... the lower the hardness number the longer between regenerations ( assuming this is a on demand system)

So why wouldn't less frequent regenerations mean harder water?

[lmpg]

Originally Posted by Dairylander

So why wouldn't less frequent regenerations mean harder water?

It will- sorta.

You'll basically run the thing out of softening capacity before regeneration, so the water will start to "harden up." After regeneration, it will be 100% soft again.

The only way to get semi soft water is to somehow blend a small amount of hard water back into the softened water.

That's real tough to do and be consistent, IMO.