u/Key-Armadillo-7741

I’m dealing with obvious hard-water problems at home: white scale on faucets and shower glass, spotted dishes, dry skin, and buildup in the water heater. I’m planning to test the water first, but I’m already comparing a Clack WS1 system with 10% resin, Fleck 5600-based units, and a few complete softeners from SpringWell and Aquasure. We have four people in the house, so I’m trying to choose the right capacity without buying something oversized or paying for features I don’t need. My budget is around $1,000–$2,000 installed, although I’d rather spend more upfront than replace a poorly made system later. For long-term reliability, is a Clack valve really worth choosing over Fleck, and how do you calculate the correct grain capacity?