The water softener in your home works hard every day of the year to ensure that your water does not have high mineral content that can lead to damage to plumbing fixtures, staining on clothes and clogged appliances. Just like your water heater and your filtration system, the water softener in your home will not last forever without regular maintenance, repairs and eventually a replacement. Once your water softener is past its prime, it will not be as efficient and effective when treating your water. Here are some of the signs that you need to look for that it’s time to replace your water softener.
A Strange Taste in Your Water
Any time that your water develops a strange or off-putting taste, it’s a sign that something is wrong with your water. In some cases it could mean that chemicals or contaminants are present, and in other cases it might mean that it’s time for you to replace your water softener. Hard water has higher mineral content, so it actually tastes different from softened water. Any taste changes that you detect mean that you should have your water re-tested by a water treatment expert like Hague Quality Water of Maryland. Through careful and thorough testing, we’ll be able to pinpoint if your water softener should be replaced or if the problem is something else, like a compound or contaminant that was not there before entering your drinking water supply.
Changes in Water Pressure
There are a few things that can change your water pressure, but if you notice a gradual change over time it can be an indicator that you need to replace your water softener. This can happen as calcium and the other minerals present in hard water start to build up in your pipes. As these substances accumulate, the water flow in your pipes will decrease and potentially lower your water pressure. Because this buildup can be pricey to remove or fix, it’s critical to make sure that your water softener is in good condition. You don’t want to risk poor water flow in your pipes for the indefinite future just because there were too many minerals in your water!
The Water Feels Different
It might sound strange, but one of the other ways that you can determine whether or not you need to replace your water softener is the water feeling different. If you’ve used both hard water and soft water, you can tell the difference. Soft water gives soap a rich lather, whether you are washing your body in the shower or washing dishes in the sink. Soft water generally feels more pleasant and less drying than hard water. If you have hard water, soap will have a more difficult time lathering and you might feel a film on your skin when you step out of the shower. This film forms when the soap you use reacts with the calcium present in hard water and creates soap scum. You might notice soap scum on your body, feel it in your hair or have it on your hands when you try to use normal soaps in hard water instead of soft water. You also might notice slight staining on your clothes or more damage than usual when your water softener has stopped working.
Hard Water Spots Around Your Home
When you wash dishes and glasses at your home, do you notice spots left behind on the surface? After you get out of the shower and the water dries, are there noticeable spots on the shower door? Scale and hard water spots that are visible around your home are a big sign that you need to replace your water softener or have it adjusted. If you are unsure of what scale buildup looks like, check on your water fixtures and sink. If there is a white, hard, chalky-looking substance on or around them, it’s a sign that there is hard water present in your home. Scale buildup comes from calcium and magnesium, and several other metals, inside of hard water, so it should not be present if you have a correctly-working water softener.
Extra Salt
If you have an older water softener unit, there’s a good chance that it uses a lot of salt to get the job done compared to newer models. Salt will do an effective job at softening your water, but it also means that you will need to check the salt levels regularly and routinely purchase more salt to refill it. The Hague WaterMax® is a customizable water softener that not only monitors your water consumption, but it also, uses only the necessary water and salt in the backwash/regeneration phase, thus saving on your salt and water consumption.
If you are interested in exploring water softeners, like the Hague WaterMax®, Hague Quality Water of Maryland is here to help. We can analyze your home’s water and find the right, cost-effective solution to keep you supplied with water that is clean, clear and healthy to drink. Whether you have a new construction home with hard water or an older home with an outdated water softener that can’t get the job done without plenty of salt, we have a solution that will meet your needs, your maintenance preferences, and your budget.
Replace Your Water Softener and Enjoy Delicious Water with Hague Quality Water of Maryland
If your family lives in Anne Arundel, Queen Anne’s, Montgomery, or Prince George’s County and you are concerned about the quality and contents of your water, we are here to help with your water improvement projects. Whether you need the Hague WaterMax® System to replace your water softener system, or you need to explore additional filtration systems and devices beyond that, our team will help you find a water treatment solution that protects the health and safety of your family. For your convenience, we now offer a water testing kit that can be mailed directly to your home. To purchase your in-home water testing kit today, click here. For additional assistance, call Hague Quality Water of Maryland at (410) 757-2992.