Keep Your Water Softener Running Smoothly in California

Keep Your Water Softener Running Smoothly in California Photo of someone filling a glass with water from a faucet.

A water softener removes calcium, magnesium, and other minerals from your Roseville water supply, improving what flows out the tap and protecting your plumbing system.

But it can only do its job well if you maintain it.

Like most appliances, a water softener requires periodic maintenance, including cleaning, replenishing the salt supply, and inspecting for potential leaks and other problems.

If you install a water softener, you will likely spend more time maintaining it than other water-using appliances, like your water heater or dishwasher. It is a small price to pay to improve your water supply.

Water Softener Upkeep

Owning a water softener involves do-it-yourself maintenance tasks. These tasks typically occur monthly and are easy to accomplish.

Your system also requires occasional professional maintenance. At US Trenchless, we offer water softener services that provide peace of mind, including maintenance, repair, and installation.

Our specialists can ensure your tap water is clean and devoid of minerals that corrode your plumbing system.

This blog explains the monthly water softener maintenance you can tackle and the tasks you should ask a professional to perform. Let’s also look at water softener components and how they work together to remove minerals from your water supply.

How a Water Softener Works

Water softening is all about ion exchange. When hard water enters the system’s resin tank, which holds negatively charged resin beads coated with sodium ions, the positively charged calcium and magnesium in the water cling to the beads.

The sodium ions replace the minerals in the water, which flows out of the tank and through your water supply lines and faucets.

A control valve triggers the system’s regeneration cycle when too many minerals cover the resin beads. The cycle brings the salt solution stored in the brine tank into the resin tank to wash over the beads.

Sodium ions in the brine solution displace the minerals and coat the beads, readying them to soften water. The system flushes away the brine solution and minerals and rinses the beads.

High mineral levels and more water consumption typically lead to frequent regeneration. Softener system size and capacity and softener settings also affect regeneration frequency.

Read your water softener instruction manual for guidance on regeneration settings and frequency.

DIY Water Softener Maintenance Tips

The system requires an adequate amount of salt for regeneration to work correctly. Check the salt level a few times monthly. Check more often if your household uses a lot of water or if the water supply has high magnesium and calcium levels. Here are a few recommendations for the salt level:

  • The salt level should be above the water line. Add more salt if the level is low.
  • Follow manufacturer recommendations on the salt you should use in your system. Using rock or table salts can damage your system.
  • Break up salt bridges that form over the salt pile. This hard covering can prevent the salt from dissolving in the water.

While checking the salt levels, take a few moments to inspect the system for leaks and sediment. Clean the brine tank when sediment builds up and sanitize it annually. Check your water softener instruction manual for cleaning recommendations.

Signs Your Water Softener Needs Attention

Besides maintaining the correct salt level and cleaning the brine tank, knowing when to call a professional to check for potential issues can prevent equipment breakdowns. Consider these signs:

  • Odd noises could point to mechanical problems.
  • Water spots indicate minerals are present, and the equipment is not softening the water adequately. The problem could be mechanical, or the resin beads may need replacement.
  • If the unit’s regeneration cycle runs more frequently than recommended, look for issues with the control valve or resin beads.
  • Leaks you can’t fix need professional attention.

Professional Water Softener Maintenance

An annual professional tune-up and inspection can prevent budding problems from becoming major issues.

During a maintenance check, our US Trenchless technicians examine the resin beads, valves, seals, and connections and replace worn components. We also clean and sanitize the brine tank.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) says maintenance and care can extend your water softener’s lifespan beyond 10 to 15 years. 

Neglecting your equipment leads to poor water quality and costly issues. Consistent maintenance keeps your water softener operating at peak efficiency. It ensures a steady supply of softened water that protects your plumbing, eliminates water spots from fixtures and dinnerware, produces an effective soap lather, and tastes good, too!

Schedule Water Softener Maintenance Today

Let US Trenchless inspect and maintain the water softener in your Roseville, CA, home. We will ensure your water remains soft and free of hard minerals. Call us at 877-916-7473 or request service online.

Need Plumbing Services?

Contact the experts at US Trenchless.

Call us at 877-916-7473!

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