You’ve installed a water softener to make sure that your water is healthy. Now, use ClearWater’s water softener maintenance tips to ensure that your water softener remains healthy and in good working order throughout its lifetime.
Monitor Your Salt
If your water softener requires the addition of salt, be sure to purchase the right kind of salt (refer to manufacturer instructions). Basically, there are three types of salt for your water softener: rock salt, solar salt, and evaporated salt, available in cubes and crystals. There are also salts containing additives for high iron concentration, rust stains and alternatives to sodium.
- Rock salt is the least expensive, however, it contains higher impurity levels that can muddy your tank over time.
- Solar salt, a natural, high-purity salt, is created from the evaporation of sea water and offered in both crystal and pellet form. It can help minimize brine tank residue from accumulating.
- Evaporated salt is created by combining mining and evaporation processes and is the purest form of salt, at 99.99% sodium chloride. It is often the best option for your water softener. Higher-quality salt will leave less residue in the tank and reduce the likelihood of salt mushing or salt bridges.
When using salt, check it every 4-6 weeks to make sure you have enough salt in your brine tank. If your water is especially hard, you may need to check it more often. If you start seeing cloudy film on your glassware, or soap that won’t get bubbly when washing, it may mean your salt level has fallen too low.
Clean the Resin Bed
Periodically, flush out the resin bed with a designated water softener cleaner. Done every couple of months, this will help clear out impurities that build up, like silt, heavy metals, and other organic compounds that can lead to inefficiency.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how much water softener cleaner to use. Simply pour the cleaner into the brine well and start the water softener manually. This will flush the cleaner through the normal cycle.
Check the Brine Tank
Check the brine tank every 6-12 months to see if needs to be cleaned. Most likely it does not, but it is good to check.
Clean the Venturi Valve
Both the venturi valve and the nozzle work to provide the suction that moves brine into the resin tank. Because impurities pass through the venturi valve, it can become clogged. Remove the cap cover and remove that parts within the venturi valve. Wash them with soap and water and replace them. Perform this cleaning two times a year.
Inspect your Water Softener
Several times a year, perform a water softener maintenance checkup to ensure that the system is working properly and that no bridges or problems have occurred.
Preventative Care
You may want to consider adding a pre-filter to your water softener system. This will add an extra layer of water filtration prior to it reaching your water softener to help pre-filter out sediment and sludge that can gum up the working parts, filters, seals and gaskets.
Need More Water Softener Maintenance Tips?
For more water softener maintenance tips, contact Clear Water Well & Pump. We’ll be glad to help recommend the right water softener system for your needs, and provide maintenance or replacement services.
Contact Clear Water Well & Pump for advice on how water well pumps work and for assistance with installation of a system for your well. Our team has more than twenty-five years of professional experience and specializes in well pump installation, replacement and repair.
Recent Comments