When properly cared for, an efficient water softener will rarely have any issues. These units tend to be low-maintenance but there are still a few things to watch for over the years. Simple checks and regular cleanings will help keep your home’s softener in tip-top shape, and your water as worry-free as ever. Many homeowners decide to have their water softener serviced annually. Consulting with a professional will help you make sure that your unit is running as efficiently as possible, and the right service person can tweak your softener’s settings to optimize your year-round savings. More details on standard maintenance plans (and why your system needs them) are as follows:

1. Water Softener Diagnostic Checks

Your softener, like your car, needs tune-ups every now and again. A regular diagnostic check helps catch problems with your softener before they get bigger and keeps your water quality at its best. During these visits your softener’s valves and seals and examined, and your settings are confirmed and updated to your liking. Get this if you’re not sure if you softener is using enough salt. Or if you’re worried that it’s going through too much salt. This service helps ensure your system is working efficiently and helps prevent deep cleanings.

2. Water Softener Clean Out

The salt tank and venturi valve need to be cleaned if they get overloaded with sediment. Some of this maintenance is pretty basic, but other problems can arise if these areas have blockages. Salt and minerals can build up and create hard deposits in your softener system. A good cleaning can remove this issues and sanitize your unit to help prevent additional problems. Get this if your water is starting to become hard again. If you’re losing those soft water perks around your home, your system might need a full clean out. This service helps prevent major repairs and works keep your salt levels and usage in order.

3. Water Softener Resin Bed Cleaning

Resin beads typically last as long as your system’s lifespan, but they might have problems if they’re not cleaned regularly. The amount of iron and other heavy metals in municipal water can clog up your softener’s resin bed over time. When the resin is “dirty” with these contaminants, it becomes more difficult for your unit to soften your water at consistent levels. Get this if your water softener is spending more time in its recharge cycle. (That’s when the salt mixes with the resin layer.) This service helps remove contaminants in your softener. Plus resin cleaning helps get more hard minerals out of your water—which can make your softener more efficient! In addition to your maintenance checks, it’s important that your softener system gets the right kind of salt. Some salts won’t dissolve as easily in your system—and can lead to “salt bridge” blockage issues that require more intensive cleanings. To keep your softener working properly for the long-run, we recommend using evaporated salt.