Water softeners are just as important as refrigerators and other appliances in homes where hard water is the norm. Well, when you have something and it breaks down, you either have to repair or replace it. So, what’s the case with your water softener system? Here is everything you need to know.

Repair When Your Water Softener When:

Salt Is Depleting

There can be a lot of reasons why your water softener is malfunctioning. There are a lot of parts in a water softener and one of the most common things that can lead to a water softener misbehaving is salt depletion. Even though you really don’t need to replenish the salt every now and then, it will be important if there is a leak in the salt and brine tank, and you have to fix it before it ruins the water softener further. This doesn’t mean that you have to change it or replace it altogether.

You just need to troubleshoot a few things and then you’ll be able to get to the core of the problem. If you see that the water softener is barely softening the water or there isn’t enough salt in the tank even though you just topped it up not too long ago, then you need to repair the problem.

You Haven’t Tried Routine Maintenance

If you are someone who has not maintained the water softener since you got it, then you will surely run into a lot of problems. Sometimes, simple routine maintenance is enough to keep the water softener running smoothly and you might not even have to change it for a very long time. But if you’re not maintaining it, then what is the point?

You have to look after an appliance, because if you don’t, then it is going to pile up small problems and then there will come a time when you are just unable to fix anything and you’ll have to get a new water softener. So, don’t let it get to that point.

Water Is Partially Soft

Sometimes, you will feel like the water softener is not softening the water as it should. It will sometimes still taste bitter, it won’t form a lot of lather with soap or detergent, and it just won’t be a good time. This can also indicate a minor problem in the water softener and this is why you want to fix it right away.

You definitely don’t want to keep this going, because if your water softener isn’t softening water the way it’s supposed to, then you have to get to the bottom of it.

Pre-Filter Needs Replacement

In order to increase the longevity of a water softener, a pre-filter is used. This filter basically strains out all of the impurities and larger sediments and iron from the water. Many pre-filters can also remove chlorine from the water. This ensures that the water softener or the assembly inside doesn’t get damaged or clogged. However, the pre-filter can also get old and it is not something you can install just once and forget about forever.

This is why if the water softener pressure is getting low all of a sudden or if water is taking too much time getting soft, then you need to check the pre-filter. Nine times out of ten, it will solve the problem.

Resin Bed Needs Regeneration

The resin bed is where the ion exchange process takes place. It is literally the heart of a water softener and if you’re not regenerating the resin bed, then you won’t be able to get softened water. You should manually regenerate your water softener to get rid of the hardness-causing ions.

This will make the process a lot smoother and there won’t be any problems ahead. This is a really simple process, so you should be done in no time at all.

Replace Your Water Softener When:

Water Taste Is Altered

This is something that is really alarming and you don’t see it happening all that often. When you taste water from a normally functional water softener, the taste should literally be the same, or it should be a tad salty at most, but that is it.

If the water coming from the water softener is bitter and still hard, then that means that there is something wrong with the softener. If you’re maintaining it right and there is no such external issue like clogs or some operational problem, then you might just have to kiss your water softener goodbye and get a new one. However, if the altered water is due to impurities, you should install a water filtration system Meadville.

Water Softener Is Too Old

The reason why the first thing can happen is because of the water softener is too old. If you have had your water softener for more than a decade, then there are going to be more times when you run into a problem as compared to it operating smoothly.

This is why you want to change the water softener once it hits the decade mark, because it will literally become a permanent problem for you if you keep lugging the old thing around. Repair expenses will cost you more than getting a new one altogether. So, the choice is yours.

Electricity Bills Are Too High

If you see that the electricity bills are too high and you’re not using anything else out of the ordinary, then this is alarming. Old and outdated water softeners that are in need of replacement will do that to you.

They will waste a lot of water, lead to astronomically high electricity bills and they won’t give you what you want either. So, this is literally the worst type of situation to be in. This is why you want to replace your old water softener with a new one. It will definitely put a lot of things in line.

Water Is Being Wasted

Tying in with the last one, if your water softener is suddenly using a lot of water and is not softening the same amount of water that is going through the inlet, then that is something to worry about. This is not normal. Yes, a leak can be explained, but this is a couple of gallons of water you’re talking about and that is not something that a small leak can cause.

This is why you want to check the volume of water precisely. A functioning water softener will only soften the amount of water it lets into the chamber. So, if that is out of proportion, then you need to change the softener because something might be wrong.

There’s Water Softener Damage

One of the reasons why your water softener might be wasting water or just not working properly in general can be because of damage to the softener itself. As mentioned previously, there are a lot of parts in a water softener and damage due to short circuits, malfunctions, and even severe impact damage can lead to really big problems. So, you want to replace your damaged water softener, because it’s as good as nothing.

Conclusion

Water softeners can either be repaired or replaced, depending on their condition. So, now you know exactly what you need to do when your water softener decides to give you trouble. Consider repair first but if the repair cost is more than half of the cost of a new water softener installation Erie, replace it.