How Often Should You Service Your Water Softener?

If you are like most homeowners, you probably don’t spend too much time thinking about your water softener. Since they are typically designed to be completely automatic, they aren’t appliances that require much interaction. However, this doesn’t mean they don’t ever need maintenance. What needs to be done to keep your water softener in top condition, and how often should you have it done?

The Importance of Water Softener Service

The reason people don’t give much thought to water softeners is that these appliances are made to last for decades. Designed to remove calcium and magnesium from water, water softeners use an ion exchange system, in which the water passes through a tank that contains resin beads oversaturated with sodium. These beads bind to the mineral ions, and this exchanges magnesium and calcium for sodium. When the water flows out of the tank, it is free from harmful minerals, and is considered “soft.” When the beads become saturated with minerals, water from the brine tank is drawn across the resin, regenerating the sodium to replace the hard minerals. The soft water that comes out of the water softener flows through the faucets and appliances in the house, providing soft water for the household. Without the right service, however, the softening process can be disrupted, and this can result in hard water. If your home has hard water, you may notice that your skin starts feeling itchy, your glasses and dishes are spotty or cloudy, your laundry doesn’t seem as bright, and your soap and shampoo don’t seem to lather as well.

Should Water Softeners be Serviced by Professionals or Is it a DIY Project?

Water softener service is not extremely difficult, nor does it need to be done very frequently. However, most homeowners prefer to outsource the work, because it’s somewhat tedious. What’s more, professional technicians can do the job more efficiently and catch problems more effectively than a homeowner can. They’re also equipped to perform repairs, if necessary. Maintaining the water softener is primarily a matter of using the right kind of salt, and keeping the salt at the proper level. Information on how to do this should be fairly straightforward, and found in your owner’s manual. However, when it comes to the more in depth service needed by your water softener, it may be better to leave it to the professionals. During a service visit, the water softener technician will:

• Inspect the softener. This includes checking the unit itself for any issues, as well as testing the water.
• Clean the system. The brine tank will need to be cleaned, and so will the main tank, and the resin beads may need to be recharged. The venturi valve will need to be cleaned as well, and the technician will know exactly which issues to watch for, to make sure your system is running as it should.
• Optimize the settings. After talking with you to determine your family’s needs, the technician will make sure your system is running on the best settings for you, so that you aren’t softening unnecessary water, or softening too little water.
• Perform any necessary maintenance. As with any appliance, a water softener’s parts will wear out eventually. A professional technician can examine all the different components during your maintenance visit and determine if any need replacement.
• Assess the water. When you have a water treatment professional come to your home regularly to service and maintain your water softener, it is easy for that person to monitor the levels of impurities and minerals in your water. This is beneficial because it means changes can be caught quickly, so that a malfunction can be avoided.

How Often Should You Have Your Water Softener Serviced?

Whether you have your water softener serviced by an expert or you do it yourself, the frequency with which the service is done depends on your particular water softener. Different brands of water softeners have different requirements, and most will specify in the owner’s manual how often the water softener should be serviced. It is a good practice to read the owner’s manual thoroughly, becoming well acquainted with it, so that you have a fairly comprehensive understanding of how it works. Learn the various controls and settings, and familiarize yourself with the water softener before something goes wrong, and you may be able to handle a problem on your own, just by changing your settings. Another thing you can learn from the owner’s manual is what kind of salt to use and how much of it you should use. Many manufacturers recommend checking the brine tank level every two or three months to make sure the salt level is correct. As to having your water heater professionally serviced, it is recommended that you schedule an annual professional inspection. Even though water heaters don’t usually need repairs done any more frequently than every two or three years, having your unit inspected annually is the best way to avoid having to have major repairs done. A professional inspection will catch any small issues, so that they can be addressed before they become larger, more expensive issues.

When You Need Experts to Service a Water Softener, Call Hydro-Flo Plumbing and Heating

A well-maintained, high-quality water softener can last for decades, especially when cared for by experts like those at Hydro-Flo Plumbing and Heating. In addition to water softener maintenance, our team of experienced professionals also provides water softener repair and can install a new water softener when the time comes.  A locally owned and operated HVAC and plumbing company, we’ve been serving Edmonton, AB, and the surrounding areas for over 18 years. We have earned a reputation for excellence in the community, and we are committed to providing outstanding customer service, offering a wide range of high-quality residential and commercial plumbing and HVAC services, and completing our projects quickly and within budget. To learn more about our caring, compassionate service, as we work to make our community better, or for help with your plumbing or HVAC, contact us through our website.