How To Tell If Your Water Softener Needs Attention 

February 28, 2023 6:51 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

If you’re experiencing water softener issues, it might be time to call in a professional. Fortunately, these problems are fairly common and easily fixable by an experienced technician. 

If you’ve been diligent in your water consumption, it can come as a shock when your bi-monthly water bill suddenly skyrockets. It might seem like a mistake on the utility company’s part or you might simply be using more water than usual. If your high-water bill is a short-term hike due to increased usage, you can work with the utility to resolve the discrepancy. Be prepared to show previous months’ bills, canceled checks and meter readings. Leaks are also a common cause of high-water bills. Luckily, most leaks are easy to fix and will not require expensive plumbing repairs. 

If the water coming out of your faucets is yellow, brown, or orange it indicates a high concentration of natural minerals like iron and manganese. When these minerals are mixed with rust particles, it can result in discolored water. This is not a health concern but it can be an unpleasant sight and one that you should get to the source of quickly to avoid any problems. 

If your water pressure is low, whether you’re taking a weak shower or waiting for your washing machine to fill, this issue can be a real pain. Depending on how long you’ve been suffering from this problem, it could be a sign of a bigger plumbing issue that needs to be fixed. One possible culprit is a pipe blockage or buildup of minerals in the pipes. These can reduce water pressure and even cut off flow if left unchecked. Another common culprit is a clogged resin bed in your water softener. This is often caused by sediment or iron clogging the resin beads. 

If you notice that soaps and shampoos don’t lather as well, your water softener needs attention. This can be caused by mineral buildup in the pipes or by the softener itself. White chalky rings and splotches on faucets, sinks, tubs, or dishes fresh out of the dishwasher are also signs that your water softener needs a little TLC. These are called scales and are the heavy minerals like calcium and magnesium left behind when water evaporates. 

If your water tastes salty, there’s a good chance that your water softener isn’t working properly. During regeneration, the system pulls brine solution (containing sodium ions) from the brine tank and sends it into the resin tank where it’s rinsed away. If this isn’t the case, you could have a problem with your brine injector (the Venturi valve) which regulates the flow of water from one tank to the other. The pistons in the injector can become clogged with sediment and hardness minerals, which partially restricts the flow of water during the regeneration process. This can cause pockets of concentrated brine to develop, resulting in salty water. 

 

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