Becoming a homeowner requires a great deal of effort, the work doesn’t end once you close on your house; maintaining all of the new systems, appliances, and fixtures is a neverending task.
Water quality is an important characteristic of your new home. By investing in a water softener system, you made a responsible investment in the longevity of your appliances, pipes, and air conditioning.
Considering that your water softener system plays such a valuable role in your new home, taking proper care of it is important.
Here are five ways to take care of your water softener system:
1. Only Use Pure Salt With An Ion Remover
Some people try to cut costs on maintaining their water softener system by using standard rock salt; however, this can be detrimental to the system.
Standard rock salt is the least pure salt that you can buy. It receives no type of processing whatsoever.
This type of salt can result in an intense build up on sediment over time and requires more frequent cleanings. The build up that can result from rock salt can clog valves in the water softener system and cause it to malfunction. These types of repairs can cost hundreds of dollars — something no one wants to deal with.
Thankfully, these damages are preventable. Using only pure salt with an ion remover prevents any nasty buildup from occurring — and keeps your water softener system running smoothly.
2. Remove And Prevent Salt Bridges
If you’re noticing that your tank is full but your water is still hard, there may be a salt bridge if you water softening system.
A salt bridge is the result of a hard layer of buildup between the water and salt in your water softening system. This prevents the salt from dissolving in the water and creating brine. Brine is the catalyst that helps make your water soft.
To check for salt bridges, it is recommended to take a broomstick and insert it into your system. If you apply pressure and feel some sort of breakage, this is an obvious indication of a salt bridge being present.
Multiple factors can increase the possibility of a salt bridge forming. Such factors include humidity, using the wrong kind of salt, or temperature changes in your water softening system.
To remove a salt bridge, continue applying pressure with the broomstick. This should remove the buildup. Be sure to drain the water softening system afterward and refilling it with water and fresh salt.
Preventing a salt bridge can be done on your own. To prevent buildup, be sure you are using the recommended type of salt for your system and maintain the correct humidity percentage. Increased humidity can result in the salt “sticking” together and creating the buildup. It is also recommended you don’t overfill your system with salt.
3. Clean The Venturi Valve Twice A Year
You don’t need a professional to clean your water softener system throughout the year. While it is recommended you have an annual servicing, it is possible for you to do some standard cleaning on your own.
By unscrewing the venturi valve and cleaning it twice a year, you’re preventing any nasty sediment buildup that can prevent your water softener system from functioning properly.
To clean the valve, simply scrub it with soap and water. Be sure to remove all of the parts inside the valve and clean them, too.
4. Flush Your Water Softener System With Softener Cleaner
Cleaning your water softener valves in the first step in preventative measures you can take to maintain your water softener system. However, those measures don’t stop there!
To clean the areas of your water softener system that you can’t reach by hand, it’s recommended to flush your system with a water softener cleaner every other month.
These softener cleaners are inexpensive and require little effort on your part. Simply just follow the instructions on the cleaner and let your water softener system do the rest.
By creating a schedule for flushing your system, it will assist your resin in being functional. Small cleanings every so often are key to keeping your water softener system performing at the highest level.
5. Maintain Scheduled Cleanings
Scheduled cleanings are key to keeping your water softening system healthy. Newer water softener systems require annual servicing. During these service appointments, a professional will properly clean your system so it can function to its full potential.
The technician responsible for servicing your water softener system will also inspect it for any parts that may need to be replaced. By catching potential problems early, you will have the ability to fix those problems before they create bigger, more costly problems — and it will save you plenty of headaches in the meantime.
By keeping up with these scheduled cleanings, you can also save money in the process. If you have had any changes in your water usage over the past year, be sure to tell the technician; these usage changes can result in adjusting your settings for your water softener system to regenerate less frequently. Small adjustments like these can save you hundreds on your energy bill.
Who doesn’t want to save money? We know you do!
Conclusion
Water softener systems have amazing benefits, but only if your system is functioning properly.
There are plenty of ways you can prevent any detrimental malfunctions of your water softener system, including the maintaining of scheduled cleanings, flushing it with a cleaner, being sure to clean valves, preventing salt bridges and using the proper type of salt.
If you don’t currently have a water softener system but are wanting its full benefits, we can help. We want the health of you and your home to be the best that it can be.
Feel free to contact us about installing a water softener system in your Chicago home today!