In many areas, a water softener is essential for protecting your home’s plumbing. Hard water, filled with minerals like magnesium and calcium, can clog pipes, damage water heaters, and reduce the effectiveness of soaps and detergents.
A water softener solves this problem by using ion exchange to remove these minerals, resulting in soft water that’s easier on your plumbing. As water flows through the softener, resin beads swap calcium and magnesium for sodium, leaving your water free of harmful minerals.
To keep your water softener running smoothly, regular maintenance is crucial. While an annual professional inspection is recommended to catch issues early, you can handle simple tasks like checking salt levels and cleaning parts yourself. This is especially important in areas like Texas, where water hardness can reach up to 17 grains per gallon (GpG).
Whether you’re maintaining a new water softener or keeping your current one in good shape, regular upkeep ensures it continues to work efficiently and extends its lifespan.
To keep your water softener in peak condition, regular maintenance is essential. With just a few simple steps, you can extend the life of your system and enjoy soft, safe water for years to come.
1. Check Your System’s Salt Levels:
In most water softeners, salt in the brine tank generates the sodium ions needed for ion exchange, replacing magnesium and calcium ions. If the salt level is too low, your softener can’t work properly, resulting in hard water that leaves residue on fixtures and makes skin and hair feel sticky. Luckily, checking the salt level is a quick and easy task you can do yourself.
2. Keep Your Brine Tank Clean
Most water softener experts suggest cleaning your brine tank once a year. If not, salt can clump or form sludge, reducing your softener’s efficiency. If your water has high iron or sediment levels, more frequent cleaning may be necessary.
You can clean the brine tank yourself, but a professional can also do it during your annual water softener service.
3. Identify Salt Bridges
A salt bridge is a hard crust that forms in the brine tank, preventing salt from dissolving and reducing your softener’s effectiveness. It usually occurs due to high humidity or low-quality salt.
You can break up a salt bridge, but frequent issues may need a pro’s help. Salt mushing, where salt turns into sludge, also disrupts the regeneration process and can cause blockages.
4. Refresh Your Water Softener Resin
Resin is vital for your water softener because it facilitates ion exchange. Though resin is usually designed to last a water softener’s lifetime (around 10 to 15 years), high levels of iron and chlorine can speed up its deterioration.
If your softener is using salt but not producing enough soft water, or if you notice small particles (called “fines”) in your water, it may be time to replace the resin bed.
5. Choose the Correct Type of Salt
Always use high-quality salt specifically designed for water softeners. Other salts may contain insoluble impurities that can accumulate and clog your system. While high-purity salt is more expensive, it’s a worthwhile investment to ensure the longevity and efficient performance of your water softener.
6. Install a Prefilter
If your water contains sediment, iron, sand, clay, or other impurities—common in well water or certain tap water sources—these contaminants can clog or damage your water softener.
A pre-filter can remove these particles before the water reaches your softener, effectively protecting your system and lasting about six to nine months before needing replacement.
Ideally, your water softener company will install a prefilter along with your system. If you need to add one later, it’s best to leave the installation to a professional. Contact our team if you need help installing a prefilter for your water softener.
How to Select a Water Softener?
If you’ve decided to soften your water the next step is to determine the extent of softening needed. Start by having your water tested by an independent lab to determine its hardness level, as outlined in Table.
Keep in mind that, unless your water is extremely hard, you may not need to soften all the water entering your home. It’s often sufficient to soften water for showers, sinks, and laundry, while bypassing toilets, outdoor faucets, and basement sinks. In some cases, you may only want to soften the hot water. To determine how much water needs softening, measure usage at the selected locations for each household member, or refer to the guide in the table.
| Use of Water | Usage |
| Drinking and Cooking at Home | 1 gal (per person/day |
| Bathing | 25-60 gal/use |
| Washing Dishes | 6-19 gal/use |
| Laundry | 20-33 gal/use |
What are water softener issues and how to treat them?
If you have hard water, a water softener can help by removing minerals and preventing scale buildup in your pipes. This improves plumbing efficiency, enhances appliance performance, and benefits your health and quality of life.
Over time, even the best water softeners can show signs of wear. Look out for changes in tap water taste, spots on dishes, or needing extra soap for washing. These signs indicate that your water softener may need attention.
- Clogging in Your Water Softener
Hard water’s calcium and magnesium can build up on your pipes and fixtures, and the same residue can clog your water softener over time. If you notice a significant change in water softness or see chalky deposits on your dishes and fixtures, your water softener may be clogged and need attention.
How to fix it:
To fix a clogged water softener, first turn off the system and water supply. Clean the brine tank by removing salt and sediment, then rinse it thoroughly. Check the resin bed for buildup and clean it if needed. Clear any blockages in the water line using a pipe cleaner. Inspect and replace any damaged parts like the valve or injector. Refill the brine tank with the correct salt, restart the system, and run a regeneration cycle. Finally, monitor your water quality to ensure the issue is resolved.
- Salt Mushing
A salt bridge occurs when a hard crust forms in the brine tank, separating the salt from the water and preventing the salt from dissolving properly.
Salt bridges can form due to high humidity, seasonal weather changes, or low-quality salt with impurities. Additionally, salt mushing can create problems by causing the salt to recrystallize at the bottom of the tank, forming a sludge that disrupts the softener’s performance.
How to fix it:
Both salt bridges and salt mushing can be fixed with simple DIY steps. Here’s how to clear them from your water softener:
- To break up a salt bridge, use a broom handle to break up the hardened salt gently.
- For salt mushing, drain and clean the tank, then refill it with fresh salt.
- Softening Beads
Resin beads/Softening Beads in a water softener usually last as long as the system itself, but sometimes they may fail early.
Signs that your resin beads might be failing include frequent recharges of the water softener or noticing floating particles in the softened water. These issues could mean the resin beads are not working properly.
If you suspect your resin beads are faulty, they might need a cleaning or replacement. Reach out to a trusted plumber for a professional assessment.
How to fix it:
To fix issues with your resin beads, start by cleaning the beads with a water-softener resin cleaner. If this doesn’t resolve the problem, the beads may need to be replaced. To do this, turn off the system, remove the old resin, and add new beads according to the manufacturer’s instructions. If you’re unsure or need help, contact a reliable plumber to ensure the replacement is done correctly.
- Motor Problems
Just like any appliance with a motor, your water softener’s motor can fail, leading to major problems with the system’s performance. The motor controls the valve that switches between softening and regeneration modes. If the motor fails, it won’t be able to move the valve, causing the system to malfunction.
If the motor completely fails, your water softener may stop working altogether. However, other issues could also cause the system to fail, so it’s essential to check if the motor is truly the problem.
How to fix it:
If your water softener stops working, start by checking all the cables and settings to rule out any issues unrelated to the motor. If you think the motor might be the problem, it’s best to call a plumbing professional. They can diagnose the issue and replace the motor if needed. Also, be sure to check the motor’s warranty—you might be eligible for a free replacement if it’s still covered.
The Final Words
Keeping your water softener in top shape is essential for ensuring your home enjoys the benefits of soft, mineral-free water. Regular maintenance, such as monitoring salt levels, cleaning the brine tank, and addressing common issues like salt bridges or clogs, helps prevent costly repairs and extends your system’s lifespan.
For complex issues or persistent problems, consulting with PlumbSmart’s experts ensures that your system receives professional care and remains in optimal condition. By investing time in regular upkeep and seeking expert help when needed, you can enjoy the full benefits of a well-maintained water softener, contributing to a more efficient and comfortable home.
Sources:
Water Softener Maintenance Tips
Everything You Need to Know about Water Softener Maintenance
Keeping Your Water Softener in Top Shape: Essential Maintenance
