Water softeners improve the quality of your water by removing minerals suspended in the water. They can help improve your water’s taste, keep minerals from building up in your pipes, and make it easier to dissolve soap for bathing and washing dishes. Water softeners require regularly maintenance to keep them doing their job. If you’re having trouble with yours, here are a few things you can try:
- Check the electrical connections. Sometimes water softener problems are a simple problem of a plug being pulled out or a fuse being blown. If you find that the power is on, you’ll want to disconnect it before proceeding further.
- Clean the brine tank. When salt or potassium is used to treat water, it can build up over time in your brine tank. Clean it once a year for salt and every three months for potassium.
- Cycle the valve. Your water softener’s valve can become clogged with minerals. When you clean the brine tank, manually cycle the valve to knock loose any sediment.
- Check the salt or potassium levels. Your brine tank should be at least one third full. If it isn’t, be sure to top it off.
- Check the drain hose. This is another place where sediment can build up and degrade your water softener’s ability to drain. Take it apart and flush it with clean water before replacing it.
- If your water softener is still having problems, it may be a motor issue. Let your water softener run and see if you can hear the motor and if it sounds like it’s running properly. If not, it may be time to replace it or to call in a professional.
By getting your water softener in tip-top shape, you may be able to reduce the amount of water you use and lower your water bills. While you’re working on your water systems, assess your tank water heater and consider replacing it with a tankless water heater.
If you’re still having trouble with your water softener, contact Ernst Heating & Cooling. We provide superior service throughout Southwest Illinois, including in Maryville, Troy and Alton.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Hamel, Alton, Glen Carbon, Highland, Greenville, and Troy, Illinois and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).