How Often Should You Have Your Water Softener or Water Treatment System Serviced?

Hard water is a common problem in homes across Minnesota and Wisconsin. Suspended minerals like calcium and magnesium cause pipe corrosion, stains, and spots to form on glass and other surfaces.

Hard water can also cause your laundry, especially white clothes, to be dull and stained. Bathing in hard water can leave your hair and skin feeling dry. You know that a water softener system can help eliminate hard water issues.

But, do you know how often you should have your water softener system serviced?

How Does a Water Softener Work?

Your water softener system is likely installed at the point the water enters your home. As the water enters the water softener, it flows into a tank that contains resin beads that are saturated with sodium (salt).

Every few days, the beads are rinsed with salt water, usually at night, to recharge the sodium level. The suspended minerals in the water bind to the sodium-rich resin beads and the water output are free of minerals.

This soft water is then safe to use for drinking, cooking, cleaning, and bathing.

Alternatively, you may be using a salt-free water softener to remove minerals from your home’s water. This type of water softener system doesn’t use salt or chemicals.

Instead, the system alters the chemical makeup of the magnesium and calcium in the water. This change inhibits the formation of build-up in your plumbing as well as providing the same skin, hair, and laundry benefits as salt-based water softening systems.

How Often Does a Water Softener System Need Service?

A good water softener system can last anywhere from 10 to 15 years with proper care and maintenance. Ideally, you’ll have a professional like Aquarius Water Conditioning service your unit at least once a year.

This is the frequency that the majority of water softener system manufacturers recommend. You’ll also want to have your water softener serviced if you notice a change in water quality, which could indicate an issue with the unit.

Do I Have to Hire a Professional to Service My Water Softener?

Like most of your home’s systems, there are some things that you can do to maintain your water softener. Keeping a good eye on the salt level and refilling it as needed is a good start.

But, it’s also a good idea to occasionally scrub the brine tank to remove built-up salt deposits from the sides. This helps to ensure that there’s a proper level of sodium in the softener to charge the resin beads, so they can do their job. Beyond that, there isn’t much you can, or should, do to your water softener.

What Does Professional Water Softener Service Include?

When you hire a water conditioning professional like us, you’ll receive a complete annual inspection of your water softener. The process of maintaining and servicing a salt-based water softener involves:

Inspection of the Unit

The first step of an annual water heater service visit is an inspection of the unit. This will include checking all the electrical connections, input and output valves for water, and moving parts. Any parts that are worn, defective, or broken are replaced during this visit.

Water Softener Cleaning

One of the most important steps in a water softener service visit is a thorough cleaning of the brine tank and other parts of the system. Our technicians are highly-trained, experienced professionals who know exactly where to look for crud and build-up and how to get rid of it quickly.

Charging the Resin Beads

Your technician will make sure that your water softener’s salt level is adequate, then they’ll initiate a charge for the resin beads. This will allow the technician to evaluate the system’s functions, making sure that everything is working as it’s supposed to.

Calibration of the Settings

Water softeners can be quite complex, and it can be difficult to get the settings right. The problem is that if a setting is a little off, your unit may not function properly and your water won’t be softened. Our experts know exactly how to adjust your settings for maximum performance.

Water Quality Assessment

In addition to all the items listed above aimed at maintaining your water softener, we’ll also test your water. We’ll carefully monitor the levels of minerals and impurities over time, so we can predict changes that will occur and head off potential problems.

Salt-Free Water Softener Maintenance

Salt-free water softeners don’t require as much maintenance as their salt-based counterparts. They provide consistent, fairly trouble-free service for years to come.

Salt-free water softeners rarely need servicing at all. However, things may not always work right. Power issues and other problems can cause your salt-free unit to malfunction or stop working. If you’re experiencing any issues with your water softener, we can certainly take a look at it to see what’s happening.

How Long Does Water Softener Service Take?

You have a busy life, and you don’t have time to waste. We understand. When you schedule a water softener service appointment with us, you can rest assured it won’t take all day.

Most of the time, we can complete an inspection, make the necessary repairs, adjust the settings, and test the system in less than an hour.

Schedule an Appointment for Water Softener Service Today

Has it been a while since you’ve had your water softener serviced by a professional? Are you concerned that your home’s water isn’t as soft as it once was? Does your water softener seem to be less efficient as it ages?

If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, contact us at Aquarius Water Conditioning today to schedule an appointment. We’ll send a technician over to inspect and service your water softener right away.