If you have a water softener, it’s likely the only time you think about it is when you need to add salt…unless if stops working. Then, it’s a problem.
How long do water softeners last? Typically, you can expect to get 10 to 15 good years out of them. With proper care and maintenance, some last even longer. If your system is starting to get up there in years, you might need a replacement. That’s especially true here in the Phoenix area, where the water is classified as “very hard.”
How do you know if your water softener is working properly? If you’re unsure, you can try the soap test. Add a few drops of liquid soap to a small bottle of water from your tap and shake it. Lots of suds with clear water at the bottom? You’re good to go. If it looks milky or doesn’t produce the suds, it’s time to call for service.
What Do Water Softeners Do?
A traditional water softener is designed to reduce hardness minerals in your water. In Mesa, the water has a higher concentration of dissolved minerals like calcium and magnesium. As water passes through your softener, small resin beads grab hold of these minerals. As the system goes through a regeneration cycle, brine from the salt tank cleans these beads so they can keep softening water.
When a water softener is working properly, you get:
- Reduced scale buildup
- Improved soap lather
- Fewer spots on your dishes and glasses
- Water that feels silky and less harsh
As important, it helps protect your hot water heater and plumbing from scale formed by these minerals in your hard water.
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How To Know If a Water Softener Is Working
You’ll likely notice a difference if your water softener isn’t working properly. Soap and shampoo might not lather as much. Dishes and glasses start to show white spots. Faucets and showerheads might have crusty scale buildup. Laundry might feel stiff or scratchy.
You can also watch how the system itself behaves. A working softener should use salt at a fairly consistent rate based on your household water use. The unit should regenerate on schedule, and the brine tank should not stay completely full or completely empty for long periods. You may also hear it. If your system suddenly starts making loud noises that you haven’t heard before, something’s not quite right.
Check the settings as well, especially if your water usage changes or your family grows. If the water softener’s not set correctly, it may not regenerate enough to keep up.
Maintenance Helps a Water Softener Last Longer
Routine maintenance can help your water softener last longer and work more reliably. The first step is to make sure you keep the tank about two-thirds full of the type of salt recommended by your manufacturer. If your system runs out of salt, it won’t regenerate properly and it won’t soften your water effectively.
It is also important to watch for salt bridges. A salt bridge forms when the salt hardens into a crust above the water in the brine tank. When that happens, the tank may look like it has enough salt, but the system cannot create the brine it needs for regeneration.
Pro Tip: If you notice a salt bridge, turn off the water supply and try tapping gently on it with a broom handle until the crust breaks, then turn the water back on and run a manual regeneration cycle. Be careful here, you don’t want to be aggressive and crack the tank.
Water Softener Problems? Get Professional Water Softener Service
If you’re asking, how long do water softeners last, there’s a good chance you need maintenance, repair, or replacement. Calling for professional service can help identify problems that are not obvious from the outside, including worn resin, valve issues, clogged parts, or regeneration problems. Regular maintenance helps catch these issues before major problems occur, and repairs can often be made that do not require complete replacement.
If your water softener is older, using salt differently, or no longer prevents hard water symptoms, call George Brazil for professional water softener service. With more than 70 years in business and 35+ years serving the Phoenix Valley, we’ve repaired thousands of water softeners in homes just like years. We have highly-trained technicians and can handle most repairs the same-day.
