The unfiltered hard water that enters your household contains high levels of calcium and magnesium. These elements cause lime scale buildup and hamper the soap’s ability to clean. The areas that receive hard water regularly must install a water softener system to eradicate harsh elements from water and make it fit for consumption. Your responsibility as a water softener user includes maintaining the water purifying system to ensure longevity and the best results. Modern water softeners ideally last for an extended period with minimal maintenance, regular inspections, and thorough cleaning.
However, if you are facing difficulty in understanding the needs of your water softener, we are here to help. Read the points given below to gain clarity on maintaining your water purification system.
You Must Check for Salt Bridges and Mushing
A salt bridge happens when a hard cover develops in the brine tank. The hard cover creates a vacant space between the salt and the water. This ridge prevents the salt from entering the water to make brine. The smartest way to test if your water softener has developed a salt bridge is to use a broom. Yes, you heard that right. Hold the broom’s handle and gently push on the top of the salt. Use a bit of pressure but do not be too harsh. With the help of the broom handle, you can gently break the solidified salt.
Salt mushing occurs when dissolved salt recrystallizes and sits in the bottom of the brine tank as sludge. The sludge prevents the water softener from properly cycling unfiltered water during the regeneration process. This leaves your water hard and creates a blockage in your tank. If the salt bridge does not break even when you push it, it means salt mushing is the real issue. The best cure is to dig out the old salt carefully and change it with fresh salt. If it feels difficult, you can also contact your installer or an expert to do it for you.
Choose Your Salt Wisely for Your Water Softener System
There are three primary varieties of water softener salts: solar, rock, and evaporated. Rock salt has higher levels of undissolvable minerals or impurities. Over time, this can decrease the softening capability while leaving behind insoluble impurities in water. Solar salt is comparatively more soluble in pellet and crystal form.
However, we advise you to choose evaporated salt as it is the most preferred one due to its characteristics. It is always best to look for higher-purity salts to avoid storage tank residue. It helps lower the chances of salt bridges, thus, reducing maintenance.
Check for Clogged or Damaged Valves
The nozzle in your water purifying system works to move brine from the brine tank to the resin tank through suction. Due to the suction, the valve/nozzle sometimes gets clogged with sand, dirt, or impurities. To ensure a smooth flow of clean drinking water, you must clean the valves or look for damages to repair. To clean the valve, unscrew the valve system and carefully remove its parts. Clean the parts with soap and water and fix them as they were. Repeat this procedure twice a year to avoid clogged valves.
Do Not Forget to Clean Your Resin Bed
With time, a water softener gets polluted with deposits of iron, dirt, heavy metals, and other insoluble compounds that affect the softener’s efficiency. To reenergize the efficiency of your resin bed, we advise you to pour the manufacturer’s recommended amount of resin bed cleaner down the brine well. The cleaner gets washed out during the usual flushing process of the water-softening system. This procedure helps keep the resin bed clean and absorbs surplus calcium and magnesium as much as possible.
Where to Find Reliable Commercial Water Softeners?
If you are looking for low-maintenance superior-quality water softeners for your home or office, Peninsula Water is the perfect choice for you! We not only offer solutions to hard water issues but also give a series of solutions for different water complexities. We assure you of clean sparkling water post-installation as our installers work sincerely to meet your demands. Whether you want to install a commercial or residential water softener, our experts will customize the product as per requirement. You can reach out to us at service@peninsulawater.com or call us at 410-341-6500. It will be our pleasure to be of service to you!
Also Read: Everything You Should Know About Water Softener Installation
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