Regular Maintenance Goes a Long Way for Your Water Softener: Insights from a Pentair Water Softening Company in Oswego, Illinois

A water softener is an extremely useful appliance for homes with hard water, but it needs regular maintenance to keep doing its job efficiently. If you take good care of it, it will last longer and continue providing you with clean and soft water. Below, this Pentair water softening company in Oswego, Illinois is going to highlight some of the most important maintenance steps you should remember to keep your water softener in its best condition.

Don’t let your softener run out of salt.

You should check the salt level in your water softener at least once a month. If the softener runs out of salt, it will not be able to remove hard minerals from your water. How frequently you need to refill the salt really depends on your household’s water usage and the hardness of your water, but most people need to refill it every two to four months.

You should also try to always keep the brine tank at least half full. But be careful of overfilling the tank because too much salt will create a hard crust (called a “salt bridge”) that could prevent the salt from dissolving properly and ultimately impact your softener’s efficiency.

Choosing the right type of salt is also important to get the best performance out of your softener and keep its maintenance demands low. Between evaporated salt, rock salt, solar salt, and potassium chloride, a professional Pentair water softening company in Oswego, Illinois should be able to help you choose the best type of salt for your softener.

Clean the brine tank to prevent salt buildup.

Cleaning the brine tank regularly is necessary because salt can form a salt bridge over time, which also keeps the softener from running efficiently. Check the tank from time to time and break up any hardened salt layers to avoid this problem. You should also clean the tank at least once a year to remove any dirt or leftover salt. A Pentair water softening company in Oswego, Illinois, can explain how to properly clean your system and help it last longer.

Clean the resin bed to maintain water quality.

The resin bed in your softener is what removes hard minerals like calcium and magnesium from your water. But over time, it can also collect other contaminants like iron and manganese that make the softener less efficient.

You should clean the resin tank periodically to avoid this problem, and the frequency of that will depend on your water mineral content. For example, if your water has a lot of iron, you may need to clean it more frequently. Your local Pentair water softening company in Oswego, Illinois can test your water hardness and recommend a cleaning schedule that is best for your home.

Check the Venturi valve to prevent blockages.

The venturi valve is what pulls saltwater into the softener during the regeneration process. If this valve is clogged with debris or dirt, the softener will not work as it should. Most manufacturers recommend cleaning the venturi valve at least once a year to prevent blockages and maintain the softener’s efficiency.

Sanitize your water softener to prevent bacteria.

Your water softener deals with a constant flow of moisture, which makes it a hotspot for bacteria and mold. With regular sanitization, you can prevent any unwanted microbial growth inside the system and keep your water safe and clean. Ideally, you should sanitize your softener once a year or any time it has been sitting unused for a long period.

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

Are you tired of dealing with the problems caused by hard water? Ready to have a new water softener installed by the best Pentair water softening company in Oswego, Illinois? if so, Johnson Water Conditioning is here to help. Contact us today to begin the process.