Water Softener Seasonal Maintenance Checklist

1. Check softener for any salt bridging
2. Clean the brine (salt) tank with a softener cleanser
3. Clean the venturi valve

How to keep your water softener system healthy

1. Use higher purity salts, which will leave less storage tank residue, lowering the likelihood of salt bridges and salt mushing. It will result in less maintenance.
2. Don’t add salt until almost all the salt in the tank is used up. Then refill the tank no more than two-thirds full.
3. Use an iron-out solution once a year to clean the resin bed and the parts in the control valve.
4. Clean the brine tank once a year.

Learn more about how your water softener works here.

By periodically giving your water softener system a seasonal maintenance checkup, you’ll keep it running smoothly. Take a closer look at what hard water costs you if your home is left untreated.

The post Quick Water Softener Maintenance to Prep for Long Winter Days appeared first on HomeWater 101.

When it comes to water softeners, the selection and installation process can be a bit overwhelming. But with a few easy tips, savvy DIYers can solve their hard water problems easily and affordably. Here are a few key tips to keep in mind:

It all starts with research

• Learn your hard water number and assess your household’s water use to help determine the best solution for your home.
• Find out which tools you’ll need to successfully prepare for and install your water softener as well as any additional tubing or fittings.
• Purchase flex connectors to help the installation. They eliminate issues of mating pipes to the height of the softener inlet/outlet, reduce stress on pipes, and take less time than traditional soldering. Flex connectors are found at any home improvement store.
• Choose the appropriate salt pellets for your water softener. High-quality salts, like evaporated salt, which is the purest form of salt, will result in fewer maintenance problems over time. Additionally, for homes that are concerned with clear water iron in their water supply, salt pellets are available that include a rust remover component.

Preparing for the installation

• Select the right location for the water softener. The best spots are level and dry, have at least 10 feet of piping between the softener and the water heater and are near the main water line, a drain and an electrical outlet.
• If installing outside, ensure your softener will be protected from the elements (rain, freezing temperatures, direct sunlight)
• Create and follow a detailed checklist to ensure you don’t miss key steps during installation.

Installation checklist

• Turn off the water supply at the main.
• Drain the water lines by turning on a faucet at the highest and lowest points in the house.
• Make sure that the incoming water connects to the inlet on the valve and that the outlet on the valve connects to the water supply going into the house. (Note: Many homes have a cold water supply line that branches off the main to supply outdoor hose connections. This water should not be softened.)
• Optionally, install a remote bypass that lets you shut off the water going to the softener.
• Make the proper connections by making hard connections to the water supply lines or by using flexible connectors and connect any drain lines.
• Fill the brine tank half-full with salt.
• Slowly turn the water back on at the main and ensure the bypass valve is shut.

Start-up and maintenance

• Enter your home’s preferred regeneration settings (based on the number of people in your home and the average water use).
• Complete an initial manual regeneration to get the process started.
• Monitor salt levels and conduct routine maintenance.
• Upgraded to a new model? Call your local garbage company for guaranteed pickup of the old softener.

Whether you’re at the beginning of your water softener search or simply in maintenance mode, these are easy tips for every stage of the DIY process. However, if you would like to make sure that you have everything installed properly, contact one of our dealers for a free in-home assessment.

The post Top tips for the DIYer appeared first on HomeWater 101.

Avoid salt bridges and salt mushing
A salt bridge occurs when a hard crust forms in the brine tank and creates an empty space between the water and the salt, preventing the salt from dissolving into the water to make brine. Without the brine, the resin beads that soften your water can’t do their job. Common causes of bridging include high humidity, temperature changes around the water softener or using the wrong kind of salt. You may have a salt bridge if your salt tank appears full but you know your water isn’t soft. The quickest way to test for a salt bridge is to take a broom handle and carefully push on the top of the salt, using a little bit of pressure to break it up if it has solidified.

Salt mushing is the more serious of the two problems and happens when dissolved salt recrystallizes and forms a sludge on the bottom of the brine tank. This thick layer of salt keeps the water softener from properly cycling through the regeneration process, leaving your water hard and creating a serious blockage in the tank. If you test for a salt bridge but it doesn’t break up when pushing on it, salt mushing is probably the cause. Draining the softener of its water, digging out all the old salt and replacing it with fresh salt is the only way to fix this problem.

To avoid these salt snafus, opt for high-quality salt pellets, which greatly reduce the potential for any problems—especially salt mushing. Additionally, don’t overfill your brine tank with salt. Keeping it half-full prevents older salt from sticking to the walls of the tank. Finally, it’s important to manage the humidity level around your water softener. If it’s too humid, condensation can occur in the brine tank, causing the salt to bond together and bridge.

Be selective with your salt choice
There are three basic types of water softener salt: rock, solar and evaporated. Rock salt, the least expensive, contains higher levels of insoluble minerals or impurities. Over time, this can result in a muddy tank, decreasing the softening efficiency while leaving impurities in your water. Solar salt, which is much more soluble than rock salt, is obtained by the evaporation of seawater and is found in both pellet and crystal form. The best option is evaporated salt, which is obtained through a combination of mining and evaporation. This is the purest form of salt at 99.99% sodium chloride.

In general, look for higher purity salts, which will leave less storage tank residue, lowering the likelihood of salt bridges and salt mushing, and will result in less maintenance. High-quality salts—and salts in pellet form—help eliminate bridging problems. Additionally, many leading brands also offer salt products that address specific issues, such as high iron concentration, rust stains and sodium alternatives.

Resin bed cleaner
Even though your resin beads are routinely recharged by salt, it doesn’t hurt to flush the resin bed every few months with a water softener cleaner to keep it in top form. Over time, a water softener can become polluted with iron, silt, heavy metals and other organic compounds that cause your softener to lose its efficiency. To reduce the incidence of ineffective resin, simply pour the manufacturer’s recommended amount of water softener cleaner down the brine well and regenerate the system manually. The cleaner is then discharged during the normal flushing process of the water softening cycle. This action keeps the resin “clean” and able to absorb as much calcium and magnesium as possible throughout its lifespan.

Clean the venturi valve
The venturi and nozzle create the suction to move brine from the brine tank into the resin tank during the regeneration cycle. Because of this, the venturi valve sometimes gets plugged with sand, sediment and dirt, so a clean valve is imperative for the water softener to work properly. Simply unscrew the valve cover (don’t worry, there are no special tools required) and remove the internal parts, giving them all a good cleaning in soapy water. This process should be done twice a year to keep the water softening process smooth and efficient.

By periodically giving your water softener a checkup, you’ll keep it running smoothly. Take a closer look at what hard water costs you if your home is left untreated.

The post Water softener maintenance made easy appeared first on HomeWater 101.