5 Signs Your Home Needs a Water Softener System
Purchasing the appropriate water softener system requires selecting one based on your household water consumption and hardness rating (measured in GPG). Your new softener should remove all minerals from your drinking water source.
As part of your water softener inspection process, it's also essential to identify signs that it needs replacing, such as white buildup on fixtures or skin irritation. Soap scum in the bathtub could also indicate this need.
After reading the signs, if you would like to know more about water softener systems, you can also check this article.
1. Dry skin and hair
An affordable water softening system can make a tremendous difference for your skin, hair, dishes, and household appliances - but like all appliances, it requires maintenance to remain operational and regular repairs in order to remain effective.
Signs that it's time for a replacement water softener can include scale buildup on sinks and bathtubs caused by calcium and magnesium deposits known as scale. Water softeners use ion exchange technology to eliminate these minerals, prolonging plumbing fixtures' lives while saving money.
Signs that it may be time for a replacement water softener include when your energy bill skyrockets during winter, suggesting your current softener is no longer functioning optimally or removing enough iron.
2. Scale buildup
Water softeners remove the calcium and magnesium minerals responsible for hard water from your home's supply. This prevents scale formation in plumbing systems and appliances using water, saving on costly repair expenses.
Assuming your water softener is working effectively, you should see reduced scale buildup and cleaner laundry, with soap lathering easily and leaving skin feeling silkier than ever.
However, if your water softener shows signs of low salts levels, its days could be numbered.
3. Damaged glassware
Hard water can leave behind spots and films on glassware even after going through the dishwasher or being rinsed with soap; these telltale stains contain calcium and magnesium deposits that remain long after the water has vanished.
Water softeners can reduce or remove these stains and protect utensils from being damaged, helping extend their lifespan and avoid costly replacement costs.
Refilling salt every month or less often in your water softener could be a sign that it's time to buy a new model. It could also indicate that its functions aren't being met correctly, or there may be issues in your plumbing system, potentially caused by buildups known as salt bridges in its brine tank.
4. Stiff laundry
If your clothes do not come out of the washing machine feeling soft and fresh, this could be an indication that your home has hard water. Hard water containing calcium and magnesium compounds can make clothes stiff after being washed - leading to quicker wear-and-tear of garments as well as shortening their lifespan.
Water softeners filter out extra calcium and magnesium ions from your home's water by replacing them with sodium or potassium ions, helping extend the life of plumbing fixtures, appliances, clothing and textiles - saving money long term! If you want more information on how a water softener could benefit your household, speak to a professional for an in-depth water quality test.
5. Strange taste
Water softener systems that go too long without replacing their salt may develop what's known as a "salt bridge," an indicator that your unit may have become compromised and needs maintenance or may even have gone bad.
Water softeners exchange calcium and magnesium ions in your water for sodium or potassium ions that are less damaging to plumbing, clothing and appliances - helping extend their lifespans and thus prolong their use.
An overdue regeneration cycle of a water softener can produce saltier-than-usual water that's unpleasant for drinking or use, usually signaling there is an issue in its brine tank, valves or hose. A professional service technician can identify and fix this leak to keep this from happening again while saving on expensive repair bills down the line.