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You may have noticed small issues around your home that have led you to believe you have hard water. Some tell-tale signs you have hard water can include: mineral build-up on faucet heads, your soap does not lather properly, you have dry or irritated skin after showering, and your clothes look dingy or feel stiff. These recurring issues can understandably be very frustrating to homeowners.
Nearly 85% of homes across the U.S. have hard water, so you’re not alone. If hard water is your only water quality problem, a water softener will quickly fix many of the issues you’re facing in your home. This is a great treatment option for residential and commercial properties that have hard water. Many homes have more than one filtration system in their home. It is common for homes to have a water softener and a reverse osmosis unit to filter out other impurities in your water besides calcium and magnesium. Before exploring those options, let’s explain how a water softener works and how you can maintain yours once installed.
A water softener is a whole-house filtration system that removes excess hard minerals from your water such as calcium and magnesium. The process by which these are removed is called ion exchange. When the hard water enters the minerals tank of your water softener, it flows through a bed of resin beads.
These beads are charged with sodium ions that have a negative charge. The excess calcium and magnesium have a positive charge. Since they’re opposite charges, as the hard water is passed through the resin, the beads grab the mineral ions and remove them from the water. This strips the hardness out of your water, providing soft water to your home and appliances. It is a common misconception that the salt by itself does all of the softening.
Like most home appliances, water softeners can only last so long. Inevitable problems can occur. Luckily, your water softener has a typical lifespan of 10-15 years. They can last much longer if well maintained. There are also other factors that can contribute to your water softeners lifespan, such as how often it is used and your home’s water quality.
You may feel like your water softener isn’t performing like it used to. This doesn’t mean that it needs a complete replacement, it may just need servicing. A water softener is made up of three parts: a control valve, mineral tank, and a brine tank.
Valves can become jammed or your softener could need a good cleaning. If you’re unsure, you can always call the water treatment experts that installed your softener. Here are four signs that your water softener may need servicing:
Visit our other blog, Hard Water vs. Soft Water, to learn about other signs your hard water is making a return.
Water softeners are a low maintenance solution to treating hard water. We want to provide you with a few tips to ensure you get the most out of your water softener, and to make it last as long as possible.
If you’re having issues with your home’s water quality, it can be more than just hard water. These water softening systems are designed to only remove hard minerals. Other problems may require additional filtration systems.
Always get your home’s water tested before starting your treatment journey to ensure you have the right equipment. The experts at Suburban Water Technology can always test your water and make the proper recommendations. We can treat both residential and commercial facilities in Pennsylvania and New Jersey! Visit our website to learn more or give us a call at 800-525-6464.
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