Water softeners can be an invaluable investment for homes, as they remove minerals from tap water. But to continue running efficiently and cost-effectively, regular maintenance must be conducted.
The first step of water softener maintenance should be to check salt levels. Typically, this requires refilling the brine tank approximately every two months.
If you want to keep your water softener in top shape, remember to give it some TLC, and for more tips and professional assistance, visit this company for more guidance on water softener maintenance.
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Check the salt levels
Salt is essential in water softeners as it regenerates and cleanses their systems, so without enough, your family could suffer complicated water problems. For optimal performance, check your brine tank at least once every month; top off to just below the full mark to prevent salt bridge formation in your tank, which could clog it and hinder its ability to function correctly.
Besides regularly monitoring salt levels, keeping your brine tank clean by regularly emptying and inspecting it would be best. Open up its lid and peer inside. If dirt or mineral build-up is inside, use a wet vac or scoop to clear away debris. Doing this helps ensure its efficient functioning while also prolonging its life span.
Clean the brine tank
Cleaning your brine tank once annually should be one of your crucial maintenance tasks to keep its salt inlet valve working effectively and avoid an accumulation of insoluble material that could cause salt mushing.
Suppose your brine tank is left untouched for too long without being cleaned regularly. In that case, a hard crust of insoluble salt may form and prevent your water softener from reaching soluble salt sources – this is known as a “salt bridge” and can render your softener unusable.
Clean your brine tank by turning off its power, disconnecting its brine line and draining any remaining softener water.
Next, mix two gallons of fresh, clean water with 1/4 cup of unscented household bleach to create a cleaning solution; soak this mixture for 15 minutes in your freshly cleaned brine tank before thoroughly rinsing it out afterward if possible to keep any dissolved bleach solutions away from any plants or shrubbery.
Check the venturi valve
Venturi valves are devices used to regulate fluid flow. Their design includes an inlet and outlet connected by a tapered nozzle with fluid moving through at an increasing velocity following its pressure difference, making this device ideal for water softening applications.
An error may indicate that your water softener’s float valve may have been set too high to prevent it from completing a regeneration cycle.
The solution to this issue lies in adjusting the float valve. A too-high-set float will prevent enough salt from being released during regenerating cycles into your resin tank, so make sure it’s adjusted appropriately, and you are using the appropriate salts for your system. Likewise, ensure you regularly wash your injector with CLR/rust-out products to maintain the cleanliness of its components.
Schedule a tune-up
Water softeners require minimal upkeep, yet scheduling at least an annual tune-up is still essential. The process usually includes visually inspecting equipment, cleaning the resin vessel and inspecting or cleaning a venturi valve, auto valve, and strainer.
Water softeners use resin beads to extract hard minerals from your water supply, then flush them away, leaving clean and softened water suitable for everyday household needs.
Most water softener manufacturers recommend annual professional maintenance visits for optimal softener operation. A technician can assist in determining an optimum number of regeneration cycles, calculate daily usage and maintain the resin vessel.
They can also clean venturi valves and other components prone to calcium build-up, such as inlet valves and nozzles, and check for salt bridges in brine tanks – early identification can prevent them from further damaging appliances.
