How to Maintain a Water Softener: A Homeowner's Guide

Everything needs some maintenance, and your water softener is no exception. If you’re new to water softeners and unsure where to begin, you’ve come to the right place.

Being proactive about water softener maintenance will help keep your dishes clean and ensure that your skin and hair stay healthy and look great. Plus? Hunter Super Techs can help make sure your cleaning and drinking water is 100% safe.

Table of Contents:

Why Water Softener Maintenance is Important

A water softener functions best only with regular maintenance. Here are a few reasons why you should maintain your water softener on a regular basis.

Healthier Hair & Skin

Hard minerals in your water can lead to dullness and dryness. By maintaining your water softener, you can prevent issues caused by mineral hardness that affect your hair, skin, and scalp.

Longer-Lasting Fixtures

Taking good care of your water softener system can prolong its lifespan and enhance efficiency, especially when cleaning the dishes or using the laundry machine.

Easier To Clean

A properly working water softener won’t leave soap scum and spots on dishes, shower doors, and faucets.

Step-by-Step Water Softener Maintenance Checklist

Whether you’ve just installed a new water softener or want to learn how you can maintain your existing system, follow the checklist below for a step-by-step process.

1. Check Salt Levels Regularly

The salt in your water softener helps remove minerals from the water. As you can imagine, lower salt levels result in higher mineral content.

Checking and refilling the salt in a water softener is a straightforward process that can be done without professional help. Simply locate the brine tank and refill it to approximately halfway if you notice that the salt level is below this mark.

You should not see any visible water in the brine tank after you’ve added the salt pellets.

2. Inspect for and Remove Salt Bridges

Salt bridges are crusty clumps of salt that can accumulate in your tank. Water cannot be softened if a salt bridge forms and is not removed.

Luckily, removing a salt bridge is relatively easy; all you need is a broom handle or a similar tool to break up the salt bridge. However, frequent salt bridges could be a sign of an underlying problem and will need professional assistance.

3. Use a Resin Bead Cleaner

Resin beads are small, plastic spheres that trap hard water minerals and release sodium ions into the water. They play a key role in water softening. Even though resin beads regularly regenerate, they can still lose their effectiveness over time.

Pouring a water softener cleaner into the brine tank can help clean the resin beads of any impurities. Follow your manufacturer’s instructions and let your system run a few cycles to flush the cleaner out.

4. Clean the Venturi Valve

The venturi valve plays a role in transporting brine solution into the resin tank. Since the venturi valve comes into constant contact with brine, it may become clogged with sediment.

If the venturi valve is blocked, your water softener system will not work. Inspect your venturi valve, then clean it by unscrewing the cover. Remove the internal components and clean them with soap and water.

A venturi valve doesn’t need to be cleaned that often. Twice a year is perfectly fine.

5. Use the Right Type of Salt

It pays to be picky about your salt.

The three main types of salts used in water softener systems are rock salt, solar salt, and evaporated salt.

Rock salt: Affordable and easy to find. It’s a popular choice for many homeowners. That being said, rock salt contains high amounts of impurities, which can accumulate in the brine tank.
Solar salt: Formed through the evaporation of seawater. It’s available in both crystal and pellet forms and is more soluble than rock salt.
Evaporated salt: The best kind of salt to use in your water softener system. This type of salt is the purest available, meaning it contains few impurities.

How Often Should You Perform Water Softener Maintenance?

Water softeners don’t require a lot of care, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need any care at all.

The best times to perform water softener maintenance and sanitization are when it has been idle for more than a week, if you have received an alert that your city water is unsafe, and immediately after installation.

Water softener maintenance is also recommended if you’re on a well and notice odd tastes or odors in your water. If you’re experiencing a plumbing emergency, call a professional right away.

When to Call a Professional

While it is possible to maintain a water softener system yourself, there are instances where professional help is needed.

Cleaning, optimizing settings, and testing and monitoring water impurity levels all warrant the assistance of a water softener expert.

FAQs About Water Softener Maintenance

How often should I clean my water softener?

Anywhere between 1 and 5 years is fine. However, clean your system as soon as possible if you notice any odd smells, tastes, or water discoloration.

What is the life expectancy of a water softener?

Your water softener should last up to 15 years. Adding a pre-filter is a great way to extend the life of your water softener, which removes contaminants before they reach your water softener.

What happens if you don’t clean your water softener?

Failing to clean and maintain a water softener can lead to contamination and bacterial growth. Dirt and debris can also accumulate in the water softener system, potentially damaging the resin bed.

Need Help With Your Water Softener? Contact Hunter Super Techs

Why take a chance with your water quality? Hiring a professional is the best way to guarantee your water softener system is clean, sanitized, and damage-free.

If you’re facing issues with laundry, dry skin, or a blockage in your water softener, you can rely on the team at Hunter Super Techs. Our specialists are experienced in repairing, installing, and maintaining water softener systems in your area.

Get the most out of your water with the help of the Hunter Super Techs crew.