First off, need a water test . . .. the water needs to run for 5-10 min to get a good sample - preferable, when the pump is running consitantly (so if you can open all facets and run lawn sprinkler, so pump doesn't cycle off/on - you'll get the best representive sample). Then have it process right away, as iron and other minerals can settle out and screw the test. the sample needs to come from before the pressure tank spigit. If it's a new installation, you should have one there - or a test before any pressure tank, as minerals can build up in pipes and give higher or false readings with the test.

After you find your hardness and iron (if you have iron) amount, the proper softener can be selected (need to have one large enough to condition the water and handle your family needs. Average family of 4 uses around 425 gals per DAY.

Softener should be a regeneration on demand to save salt and such. It'll use between 35 -70 gals of water to flush it self (regeneration) when needed. Most softeners regeneration water gets dumped into the sewer system. Not the best, as it could affect the drain field. But, most all softeners get dumped into the homes sewer system. If you can or have an option to dump it in a drain field or driveway or something (doesn't work well to surface drain on driveway in the winter here), the better.

There are only about 3 mfg'ers of the metering heads in the USA (name brand and off brand), so a "no name" will do the very same thing as a big national name brand. You can pick you flavor -

Cost wise, no name will start around $600 and national name brand around $3500 so a wide range.

Here's a couple names you can start with Water Control Corp  http://watercontrolinc.com/ and water right - http://www.water-right.com/ (no brand companies)

then there culligan and kinnetico and a few other big name softeners - that frankly are over priced and you are paying for the advertising and fluff.

Take some time to call the two I mentioned and ask questions of their tech dept/service dept. They helped me and answered my questions, even though I wasn't a dealer.

Water softening isn't rocket science or some freaky voodoo . . it's water run through beads that are electrically charged and those charged beads then attrached the opposite charge of the minerial in the water you want to take out. WHen a system regenerates, it cleans the media (beads) of their contimanates and the process starts all over.

The media in the softener bottle is dependant on what type of minerals are in your water. That's wwhy the need for the good water sample . . . .