Do you really need a new water softener or is your current on working just fine? Hard water is common in homes, affecting around 90% of all homeowners.
The good news is that you can treat hard water with a water softener. Water softeners offer effective results for hard water, but the bad news is that water softeners don’t last forever.
If you already have a water softener, you might be happy with your water quality, but you might need to replace your softener at some point.
How can you tell if you need a new water softener? Here is a guide explaining seven signs to watch for to help you know when to replace yours.
1. Your Water Smells Bad
This type of system filters all the water that enters your home. When you need water, you turn on a faucet. The pump pulls fresh water into your home and sends it through the water softener.
As this occurs, the water softener removes minerals and contaminants, providing cleaner water to your faucets. As a result, softened water shouldn’t smell bad.
If your water begins to smell bad, it’s likely a sign that your softener isn’t functioning properly.
If your system is relatively new, a plumber might be able to fix it. However, you might be ready for a new one if it’s older.
2. Your Soap Doesn’t Lather
Water that goes through a water softener is soft. Therefore, a water softener turns hard water into soft water. You’ll know if you have soft water by the way it feels.
Soft water actually feels soft, and one sign of soft water is bubbles. When you use soap, soft water makes it lather more easily. If your soap doesn’t lather like it once did, it’s probably due to a faulty systme.
You can test your water’s hardness in several ways. In fact, you should consider testing your water periodically to see where it stands.
Testing it can help you set your water softener to the correct settings to have the best water quality possible.
3. You See Stains and Buildup
Another sign that indicates you need a new water softener is stains and buildup on your fixtures. Hard water leaves stains and mineral buildup in bathtubs, sinks, toilets, and other plumbing fixtures.
When you have a functioning water softener, it softens your water, improving its quality and preventing stains and buildup.
Cleaner fixtures are one of the top benefits of a water softener. When you see stains, you might want to contact a plumber to determine if you’re ready for a new system.
4. Your Have Decreased Water Pressure
One sign you might see is decreased water pressure, yet you might not make this correlation. Water pressure can drop for several reasons. One of these is from a water flow restriction due to debris inside pipes.
When minerals build up inside a plumbing system, less water flows through these pipes. So if your unit isn’t removing the minerals from your water, they might end up inside your plumbing system.
You can learn more about how water softeners work to understand this more. As you learn more about this, you’ll see how decreased water pressure is a common sign of a bad water softener.
5. Your Energy Bills Are Higher
You might also know when it’s time for a replacement by looking at your energy bills. Are you paying significantly more for your energy costs now than before?
Again, when a system doesn’t work well, it leads to mineral buildup in your pipes. Your water pump might work harder to supply your faucets with fresh water when this occurs.
Also, your system might run more often as it tries to do its job. As a result, you’ll see an increase in your energy bills. If this happens, you might want to consider fixing or replacing your current system.
6. Your System Is Old So You May Need a New Water Softener
Some people choose to replace their water softeners after a specific time. Water softeners won’t last forever. They generally last for at least ten years. In some cases, they might even last for 20 years.
You might want to consider the age of your softener. Do you know how old it is? If it’s at least ten years old, you might want to start considering a replacement.
If you encounter a time when you need services to fix your softener, the plumber might suggest replacing it if it’s at least ten years old. However, you can fix it if you’d rather wait longer before replacing it.
7. The System Isn’t Using the Salt
One last sign to look for is the salt in the system. A new system uses salt to clean your water. As it uses the salt, the salt level drops.
If your softener isn’t using enough salt, the system might not be operating properly. As a result, this is a sign that you might want to start considering replacing the device.
You can talk to a plumber to learn more about this problem. After all, you might need to adjust the settings, so it uses the correct amount of salt.
Get a New Water Softener Today
Do you see any of these signs? You might see only one or two, but you could also see all of them. If you do, it might be time to update to a new water softener.
If you live in Arizona and need help with your water softener, contact us at Just Plumbing. We can help you with water softener repairs or replacement services. Call us today or visit our site to learn more.