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Water Softener Maintenance: All You Need to Know

It is accurate because water is constantly running through the system, leading to a buildup of rust and other residue types if not cleaned and serviced regularly. Sometimes just regularly checking things like salt and water levels is enough to spot and troubleshoot any issues. In other cases, taking the time to clean or replace certain system parts before they cause serious issues will save money and hassle in the long run.

Regular water softener maintenance is essential in residential areas, where water hardness levels are often high. Your water softener has to work harder to soften this water and may require more frequent maintenance to continue operating well. Whether you've just had a new water softener installed or want to keep your current softener working well, follow these simple tips to keep your water softener in tip-top shape.

Regularly Check Your System's Salt Levels

If the salt level is too low, your softener won't have what it needs to perform this process. The result is hard water that leaves chalky white residue on fixtures and leaves skin and hair feeling sticky and dry.

Clean Your Brine Tank Regularly

Salt can form clumps or sludge and reduce the effectiveness of your softener's regeneration process. If your water has high levels of iron or sediment, you may need to clean your brine tank more often.

Look For and Eliminate Salt Bridges

A salt bridge is a crusty buildup of salt residue that collects in the tank of your water softener. When a salt bridge forms, the salt will not dissolve in the water to form brine. Without the brine, resin does not regenerate properly, so the water does not get softened-a salt bridge forms in high humidity or uses low-quality salt.

Replace Your Water Softener Resin

If the water softener consumes salt regularly but doesn't produce enough soft water, it may be time to replace the resin bed. Tiny particles in your water called "fines" are also a good indicator that the resin is beginning to break down and is a sign that it's time for a resin replacement.

Water is the most critical resource issue of our lifetime and our children’s lifetime. The health of our waters is the principal measure of how we live on the land. Luna Leopold

Use the Right Type of Salt

Use only high-quality salt in water softeners. Other types of salt will have a high level of insoluble impurities that could build up and clog your system. High-purity salt costs more than other types of salt, but the investment is worth it to protect the longevity of your water softener.

Add a Prefilter

A pre filter removes these contaminants from your water supply before it reaches your water softener and remains effective for six to nine months before a replacement. Ideally, your water softener company will include a prefilter when your system is installed. Unless you have considerable plumbing skills, however, adding a prefilter after your softener is installed should be left in the capable hands of an expert.

To conclude, it's wise to periodically test the hardness of your water to make sure that your system is satisfactorily softening your water. If your area has water with 30 grain per gallon of hardness, and you notice that the water at your tap is creeping up to 15-20 grain per gallon, this is a sign that the softener is underperforming. If your resin is over a decade old, it's undoubtedly time to replace it, as it will only continue to degrade and lose its ion exchange capacity.