How to Keep Your Water Softener in the Best Possible Shape: Insights from a Pentair Water Softening Company in Algonquin, Illinois

Water softeners are the type of appliances that many homeowners tend to set and forget about. As long as you keep the salt tank filled and set your water hardness level and regeneration timing, your water softener will keep doing its thing quietly in the background, providing you with soft water day in and day out.

But just like any other home appliance, a little maintenance goes a long way in keeping your water softener running smoothly and lasting a long time. Below, this Pentair water softening company in Algonquin, Illinois is going to share some tips on how to maintain your water softener to save you time, money, and headaches.

Regular Maintenance is Very Important

Keeping up with regular maintenance for your water softener not only helps it run smoothly but also ensures it is working efficiently to give you better water quality at home. Hard water can cause many problems, like scaling in pipes and appliances, as well as dry skin and dull laundry. When you keep up with your water softener maintenance, you can make sure it continues to remove the minerals that cause these problems.

Other Ways to Keep Your Water Softener in Good Shape

One common problem with water softeners is when salt bridges and salt mushing form in the brine tank. A salt bridge is a hard crust that forms and creates a gap between the salt and water, which can keep salt from dissolving properly and prevent the regeneration process. If you want to check for a salt bridge, gently push on the salt with a broom handle — if it breaks easily, it is a bridge.

Salt mushing is a more serious issue. It happens when salt in your water softener tank turns into thick sludge and causes problems with the system. If you notice a salt bridge forming, you are probably dealing with mushing.

The solution to salt mushing is to drain the tank, remove the sludge, and add fresh salt. Ideally, you should use high-quality salt pellets, avoid overfilling the tank, and keep the area around your water softener dry to prevent these problems in the first place. 

Choose the Best Salt Options for Your Water Softener

The type of salt you use in your water softener can affect its efficiency and maintenance needs. The three main types of water softener salt are rock salt, solar salt, and evaporated salt.

Rock salt is the cheapest, but it also has more impurities that can make your tank dirty and less efficient. Solar salt is a cleaner option that dissolves easily, while evaporated salt is the purest and best for preventing buildup and reducing maintenance. Using higher-quality salts and pellets can prevent issues like bridging and mushing, ensuring your system operates as smoothly as possible.

Clean Your Water Softener

Over time, the resin beads in your water softener can be coated with iron, silt, heavy metals, and other impurities. To keep your water softener running efficiently, you should flush the resin bed every few months with a water softener cleaner — pour the cleaner into the brine well, manually regenerate the system, and let the cleaner work during the normal regeneration cycle. This will help keep the resin beads clean and working properly.

Don’t forget about the venturi valve — it can get blocked with sand, sediment, and dirt. Cleaning this valve twice a year is an easy way to keep your water softener in the best condition. All you’ll have to do is unscrew the valve cover and clean the parts in soapy water before reassembling. This will help maintain the suction needed to move brine from the brine tank to the resin tank during regeneration.

When Maintenance is Not Enough

If you notice that your water softener is not working at its best capacity despite your best efforts, it might be time to get a new one from a professional Pentair water softening company in Algonquin, Illinois. Signs that it is time for a replacement include consistently hard water, constant breakdowns, or an old system that has been in use for over a decade. Upgrading to a newer model can bring better efficiency and potential savings in the long term by protecting your home and appliances from hard water damage.

When it is time to get a new water softener, you should really think about the company you buy it from. You’ll want to find a professional Pentair water softening company in Algonquin, Illinois with a good reputation and years of experience. A trusted company will give you a water test, suggest the best system for you, and they can also offer professional installation services.

Looking for a Pentair Water Softening Company in Algonquin, Illinois?

Are you tired of dealing with constant maintenance issues and not getting the soft water you need? If so, and if you’re looking to have a new water softener installed by the best Pentair water softening company in Algonquin, Illinois, Johnson Water Conditioning is the top choice. Contact us today to learn how we can help.