How to Maintain Water Softeners?

If you own a water softener, then you should know how to maintain it to ensure the best performance and longest lifespan. Water softeners are an important way to protect your home and your appliances from the effects of hard water. They also keep your laundry and hair soft and bright, and they help to prevent scale buildup on plumbing fixtures. Keeping your water softener in top shape is easy, and will give you the best results for years to come. 

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One of the most common problems that affect water softeners is salt mushing. Salt mushing occurs when the dissolved salt recrystallizes around the base of the tank. This creates a solid layer, which makes the water softener’s regeneration cycle ineffective. The salt deposits can form a salt bridge, which clogs the resin beads and reduces their ability to soften your water. 

The only real way to resolve salt mushing is to remove the old salt, which is usually the cause of the problem. To do this, drain the softener and clean the tank. 

You should check your water softener every few months. If you find that the salt level has become too low, it is a good idea to refill it. Do not fill it too high, as this may make your water too soft. Also, try to avoid filling it too close to the fill line. It can leave sediment at the bottom of the tank, which can damage the venturi valve. 

The next time your water softener is in need of a cleaning, consider a specialized water softener cleaner, like EcoPureHome’s water softener cleaner. This product works by dissolving salt and other debris in the tank and sanitizing the system. A cleaning solution is poured into the tank and allowed to sit for 15 minutes before rinsing with clean water. 

If you use a mineral tank, it’s a good idea to have a professional inspect the system. There are some signs that your mineral tank is in need of repair, such as heavy iron and manganese buildup. These deposits can interfere with the flow of your water and require multiple regeneration cycles to get the tank clean. 

Checking your salt level regularly will help to prevent hard water problems. Ideally, your salt level should be half full, and you should monitor it each month. However, if you have a lot of minerals in your water, you may need to increase the salt dose. 

Another important water softener maintenance tip is to always keep one quarter of the salt tank in the system. This will prevent you from overfilling it and wasting lots of salt. When it’s almost empty, you can pour a portion of the remaining salt into the tank, to be refilled when you’re ready. 

For a thorough cleaning, you can drain the water softener tank and rinse it with hot soapy water. Then, scrub the inside of the tank with a long-handled brush, and then flush it with clear water.