Do You Need A Water Softener?
In Edmonton, we’re big fans of water softeners. Our prairie water is hard, meaning it has a high amount of minerals (mostly calcium and magnesium) in it. Hard water isn’t bad for our health, but life is a little brighter with a water softener.
5 Reasons Water Softeners are Good for Your Home
But lately, you’ve suspected that something is wrong with your water softener. Since water hardness is a subtle part of life, it can be hard to tell. So, here are some signs that your water softener isn’t working properly.
1. Your skin feels “squeaky” after you wash it
When your water softener isn’t working, you’ll feel the effects of hard water on your skin. The calcium and magnesium in hard water can leave a film on your skin, making it feel sticky, dry, and itchy. With soft water, your skin should feel healthy and soaps will lather easily.
2. You’re seeing signs of hard water
Other signs of hard water will start to pop up if your water softener isn’t working. Since it’s not as obvious as the feeling of the water on your skin, you might have a hard time noticing these more subtle signs:
- Stiff clothes
- Water spots
- Crusty buildup around your pipes and faucets
- Soap refuses to lather
If you’re seeing these signs, you can confirm that your water isn’t being softened with a test. Water hardness test kits are sold at hardware and pet stores (in aquarium supplies). Test both the outgoing and incoming water to see how well the softener is working, if at all.
**Tip: Don’t test with a pool strip. Pool strips test for the water’s pH or how alkaline or basic water is, which isn’t the same thing as water hardness. That said, hard water is usually higher in pH and basic water is usually lower.**
3. The water tastes salty
If there’s too much salt in your water softener, you might see a thin, salty film left on the inside of the dishwasher or on faucets. Or it might actually taste salty.
To fix this, the softener may need to be cleaned and then refilled with salt. There are lots of different types of water softeners out there, so check your manufacturer’s guide or website to see how to clean yours. Here’s a general guide for cleaning water softeners.
Once it’s clean, check the salt settings against the current hardness of your water.
Salty water could also mean you have a jammed control or valve in your system, but it never hurts to give your appliances a cleaning every year or so.
4. Your brine tank is out of salt
This is actually the most common water softener problem, not enough salt. Just mark it on your calendar or set yourself a reminder to check the salt level once a month. You’d be surprised how many people will think their softener is broken only to lift the lid and see that it’s just out of salt. Most need to be at least half full of salt.
If the salt is less than half full and looks dry, refill it until it’s about ⅔ full (refer to your manufacturer’s guide for specifics). Those bags are pretty heavy, so be careful when you’re pouring so that you don’t overfill it (or get salt everywhere).
5. Your water softener is not working at all
If your water softener isn’t working at all, the problem could be with the electrical (wires, fuses, the plug-in), or it could mean important parts have worn out. Like all appliances, things wear out or break over time. Eventually, your water softener’s life will come to an end.
After ruling out minor issues like being out of salt or needing a cleaning, it could be time to call a pro. Kingstree Plumbing can service or repair your water softener. If it comes down to it, we can even recommend a new water softener and install it for you, giving you the best settings for your home.
So if you have a water softener, look out for these signs that it’s not working and have it fixed right away.
Looking for a plumbing repair service near you?
Check out Kingstree Plumbing! We provide residential and commercial plumbing services, including plumbing repair, installation, water softeners, water heaters, gas fittings, sump pumps, humidifiers, and whole-house repiping.
It’s our goal to ensure you have an operational plumbing system you can always rely on, regardless of the issues you may experience.
Our professional plumbers offer only quality services to you, helping you keep your plumbing systems in good operating condition with efficient repairs and replacements when necessary.
Fill out our contact form for regular services and more information, or call 780-695-2792 for emergency services.
