Find Your County's Water Hardness
Hardness ranges from Soft (0) through Moderate, Hard, and Very Hard to Extreme (400+ ppm).
⚠️ Florida Water Fact: 70% of FL homes have water hardness above 150 ppm — among the highest in the nation. Southwest Florida (Collier, Lee, Sarasota) regularly exceeds 300 ppm, causing visible scale deposits within weeks.
Hardness Scale Reference
| Classification | Hardness |
|---|---|
| Soft | 0–60 ppm (0–3.5 gpg) |
| Moderately Hard | 61–120 ppm (3.5–7 gpg) |
| Hard | 121–180 ppm (7–10.5 gpg) |
| Very Hard | 181–250 ppm (10.5–14.6 gpg) |
| Extremely Hard | 250+ ppm (14.6+ gpg) |
Grains per gallon (gpg) is the unit water treatment professionals use. Divide ppm by 17.1 to convert. Most water softeners are rated in grains per gallon removed.
Appliance Hard Water Damage Calculator
A calculator estimates annual hard water cost from your county (or a manually set ppm hardness, default 150 ppm) and the number of each appliance you own, producing a total annual hard water cost breakdown.
Treatment Options Comparison
A comparison tool covers treatment options including salt-based water softener, salt-free conditioner, reverse osmosis (drinking water), and whole-house RO, with install cost, monthly operating cost, effectiveness, and whether a CFC permit applies. (Detailed values are populated dynamically by the on-page tool.)
10-Year Cost Projection
A projection tool compares 10-year total cost of no treatment vs. treatment based on county hardness, home size (studio/1BR condo, 2–3 BR home, 4–5 BR home, commercial), and treatment choice (no treatment baseline, salt-based softener, salt-free conditioner, RO drinking water, whole-house RO), and reports 10-year total savings.
Get a Free Water Quality Test
Licensed technicians test your water on-site and recommend the right solution for your home and budget. Licensed CFC Plumbing Contractor serving all of Florida.