Water softeners are great tools for delivering clean, great-tasting water to your home—but they can require some troubleshooting from time to time. Since your water softener is, in essence, a plumbing fixture, you need to care for it the same way you might care for your pipes and other fixtures. Sometimes, you’ll need to call professional plumbing services for help.
Here are five of the most common water softener problems to watch out for.
- Clogs: Hard water contains a lot of minerals, which can build up inside your water softener and pipes. If you notice mineral buildup occurring on the interior side walls of your water softener, that’s a sign that blockages may be right around the corner. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning out the clog. If that fails, you may need to call in a plumbing contractor for assistance.
- Dirty filters: If you’ve noticed poor performance from your water softener, check the filter first. Most filters need to be changed every three to five months, depending on how high the mineral content is. Water softeners use filters to screen out sediment and larger mineral particles, so the resin beads don’t have to work as hard to soften the water. When you forget to change the filter, the water may not be flowing as easily as it should.
- Spent resin beads: If your water softener uses salt and resin beads, there may be an issue with the beads themselves. Although they can typically last for the entire water softener lifespan, they may fail early. If your beads are spent, you may notice them floating around on the surface of the water. If you notice this, it’s time to replace your water softener beads.
- Salt crust formation: Sometimes your water softener’s brine tank will develop a salt crust or “bridge,” which prevents the water from flowing properly. It may also prevent your water softener from using the salt to soften the water. This often happens in high humidity areas as well as when you add too much salt to the water. Call your plumber to fix this problem—while you can try to break up the salt crust on your own, you don’t want to risk damaging the mechanical components of the water softener. They’ll also help you troubleshoot so you can avoid encountering this problem again in the future.
- Motor failures: Finally, you may experience mechanical or motor failures during your water softener’s lifespan. As with any piece of machinery, water softener motors have a finite lifespan. You can extend that lifespan with regular maintenance and repair, changing the filter on time and emptying the water softener for cleaning.
If you run into these common water softener problems, it’s a good idea to call a professional plumbing service for assistance. Your plumber can help diagnose and solve the problem, offer tips to avoid further issues and make sure your water supply is functioning as it should. Get in touch with PlumbSmart Plumbing Heating and Air today to get started.
There are a lot of myths out there about water purification in Mesa, AZ. That’s why your local plumber is here to sort out the facts and keep you informed. Here are five things people often get wrong about water filtration systems, so you can get them right:
- What happens in the attic stays in the attic: Water softeners help extend the life of appliances and help keep your plumbing pipes clear. What many people don’t realize is that this includes your condensate drain line in the AC unit in your attic. For proper maintenance, this drain line should be checked regularly. A clogged condensate drain line can result in hundreds, even thousands, of dollars in repairs due to ceiling water damage. Your local plumber in Mesa, AZ can perform an AC system check that can catch potentially clogged drain lines before they cause damage.
- Water softeners change my water supply to saltwater: Yes, you add softener salts to a water softener system, but you are not putting salt in your water. The salt products allow the system to remove minerals that make the water hard. You will not taste salt in the water.
- I need those minerals that the water softener is taking away: Calcium and other minerals can benefit bone health and other functions of the body. However, the deposits in hard water that water softeners are removing are inorganic minerals. They don’t provide benefits the way minerals that are consumed from food do.
- My skin won’t feel clean with soft water: People have reported that their skin feels different when they bathe in soft water. The myth is that your skin will feel slimy due to a layer of water softener residue. The truth is the opposite. When you bathe in hard water, the liquid leaves a film of soap on your skin. When you bathe in soft water, your skin feels slicker because you’re able to feel your body’s natural oils. Your body isn’t covered in sticky soap. It’s clean and naturally smooth and silky instead.
- I only need a water softener if I use a private well: Municipal water is far from perfect. Even if your water is supplied by the city, it’s probably still hard water. Since hard water can cause damage to fixtures and appliances, have a poor taste or aroma and affect your bathing experience, you may still want to consider adding a water softener to treat the water you’re getting from the municipal supply. Consult with your local plumber in Mesa, AZ to determine the best solution for your setting.
Get the truth
Voted the #1 Plumber in Mesa two years in a row, PlumbSmart Plumbing Heating and Air is your go-to source for honest, trustworthy service. If you’re looking for a local plumber or AC repair service that is A+ Rated by the Better Business Bureau and stands behind its work with a Lifetime Warranty, please give us a call. We provide our customers with a full line of services for water treatment and water purification in Mesa, AZ. Call us today at 480-654-8865, and ask about our $99 tune-ups to catch issues with your air conditioner’s condensate drain line!
The benefits of whole house treatment systems in Mesa, AZ, including softeners and conditioners, are many. They include cleaner dishes, softer skin and, of course, everyone’s favorite: saving money. While there are many whole house treatment systems to choose from, Ultima’s new environmentally-friendly Green Fusion unit is the most efficient solution, and it’s made right here in the U.S.A.!
Green Systems are the newest innovation from Ultima, and the Green Fusion unit combines the company’s special Uniform Bead resin blend with Coconut Shell Carbon and KDF Sponges for maximum efficiency. The unit combines a water softener and whole house filter into one unit using patented reticulated KDF technology. Here are some of the benefits of these whole house treatment systems:
- Remove or reduce chlorine and heavy metals: Coconut shell carbon, one of the most porous substances on earth, is perfect for water treatment. It helps remove or reduce unwanted and sometimes harmful minerals like chlorine, herbicides, pesticides, cleaning byproducts and trihalomethane to keep your water clean and clear for you and your family.
- Better tasting water: Water is for more than just drinking—we use it in cooking, cleaning and many more facets of everyday life. Better tasting water makes a difference in everything from baking a cake to brushing your teeth.
- Less water to backwash: Backwashing is a standard process that helps clean the water in your home. The enhanced KDF sponge technology requires less water to backwash and will increase the life of your water treatment system’s filters.
- Smart valve technology: The Green Control Valve is a “smart valve,” meaning it only regenerates when needed. It has been pre-programmed to backwash with the minimum amount of water and still handle the hard water we have here in Arizona.
- Compact design: The unit takes up less space in your home, giving flexibility in installation options.
- Cuts salt and water waste by up to 50 percent: Keeping the bead size the same means it needs 50 percent less salt than a conventional softener. The Uniform Bead Resin outperforms all other resins on the market.
Using a whole house treatment system with a softener and conditioner saves money by reducing energy and soap use by up to 50 percent. It also helps keeps fixtures looking shiny and new, and gets your dishes and glassware looking cleaner and shinier. Best of all, it makes your skin and hair feel softer and shinier—and you won’t even have to change your soap or shampoo. You’ll wonder why it took so long to have one installed!
If you’re interested in getting a whole house treatment system in Mesa, AZ, call the team at PlumbSmart Plumbing Heating and Air. We have over 800 five-star Google reviews and counting—our goal is to provide great service at affordable prices, and our customers agree that we deliver. Looking for the perfect whole house water treatment system? Let us show you why the Ultima Green Fusion system is preferred by Mesa residents—contact us today to schedule a consultation!
Clean water is important not just for your health, but also for a wide variety of other things you use water for around the house. Even the chlorine-treated water you drink could still contain harmful chemicals and bacteria.
For this reason, among many others, more and more people are installing their own home water filtration and purification systems. Here’s some information from a plumber in Mesa, AZ about the benefits of doing this:
- You have constant access to safe drinking water:
When you use a home filtration system, you can guarantee you will always have access to safe drinking water. Unfiltered water, even when it comes from your local municipal water treatment plant, will still have some contaminants in it that you would probably rather do without. Your filtration system will remove added chemicals, debris and other toxins from your water, so you can always rely on its purity and safety.
- It’s good for the environment:
Many people rely on water bottles to get pure drinking water. Unfortunately, all the plastic being produced for throw-away applications like water bottles is destroying the planet. Last year, there were 50 billion plastic water bottles purchased throughout the United States, but only about 38 percent of those bottles got recycled—most of the rest ended up in landfills, or worse, in nature. By using a home filtration system, you avoid sending more plastic to landfills.
- It saves you money:
If you’re regularly buying bottled water because you don’t trust your tap water, you’ll get big-time savings almost instantly from installing a water filter. Let’s say you have a four-person family and go through a dozen bottles of water per day. You’ll save at least $700 a year if you purchase a water filtration system—that system will only cost you several hundred dollars, so the savings will appear almost immediately.
- It improves the taste of your water:
If you have been using your tap water but aren’t a fan of its taste, a filtration system in your home will improve it. This is because it will get rid of the added chemicals and other imperfections in the water that create the foul taste or smell you might experience with your tap water.
- It reduces your risk of gastrointestinal problems:
There are several types of parasites and other microscopic organisms that can live in water that has not been properly or fully treated. These parasites could cause some major digestive problems, but filtration will remove them entirely.
- It produces better results for cleaning:
When you’re doing dishes or laundry, you might notice a buildup of deposits on your dishes or clothes. Water filtration removes the sediment and debris that causes this buildup so you can get cleaner-looking clothes and dishes.
These are just a few examples of the benefits of a home water filtration. For more information about why you should make this investment, contact a plumber in Mesa, AZ. At PlumbSmart Plumbing Heating and Air, we offer whole-house water filtration systems in a special package that also comes with a free RO unit!
As a result of media reports on public utilities delivering poor quality water, interest is surging for whole house water filtration. If you’ve been wondering if this might be the right solution for your family, here are 5 of the most frequently asked questions and corresponding answers that might help you make up your mind.
- What, exactly, is it?
A whole house water filtration system is a central filter connected to a home’s main water supply. That means every tap is delivering the highest quality of purified water. It is convenient and creates less waste.
- Are there different types of whole house filter systems?
The 2 most common methods of whole house water filtration are:
- Activated Carbon: Preferred for removing harsh chemicals like disinfectants.
- Reverse Osmosis: Effective at removing harsh chemical contaminants as well as microbial impurities.
- How big is this kind of system?
Size varies, depending on a home’s water demands. There are some systems small enough to fit under the kitchen sink.
- How will this system benefit my family?
One of the most commonly problematic chemicals in the public water supply is chlorine. When running hot water in the shower or dishwasher, chlorine dissipates, becoming a vapor that can be inhaled. This can be hazardous for anyone with respiratory sensitivities, like asthma. Regular drinking of chlorinated water increases a person’s cancer risk by 93%. Chlorinated water can also irritate the skin. If bathing is extremely drying or freshly laundered clothes make you itch, your choice of soap and detergent may not be the problem. It may be the water.
- Will it remove fluoride?
There are some carbon filters that can remove fluoride but results may not be reliable. It may be necessary to install filter media material like activated alumina to address fluoride concerns.
If you are interested in whole house water filtration, call us or leave a question and we’ll get back to you as quickly as possible. Don’t forget to subscribe to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!
