Salt is added and you hear the unit operate so everything should be fine right? Well if your water is acting hard again maybe it’s not operating correctly. There are some simple fixes that may correct the issue.
Below are a few things to look for if your water seems to be getting harder.
Hard Water Deposits
New mineral buildup and water spots may be signs that your water softener needs attention.
If you see white deposits forming on your faucet and shower heads then most likely your water is getting harder. You may notice that your dishes are spotier or have more residue on them. These are all indications that there may be an issue with your water softener but won’t give you a clear answer to what it is.
Remember if you already have scale build up on your fixtures it won’t clear up immediately when your softener is working. Test your water or wipe down a small area and see if scale is coming back.
Your Salt Never Decreases
Make sure your water softener has salt in it. Once it runs out just add salt back into the brine tank as directed. However if your brine tank is full and you haven’t seen any change in a while something may be off. Sometimes salt will create a hard crust on top of your salt bed and your water softener isn’t pulling salt from the brine tank. This is known as salting bridging.
Refer to your water softener manual for how to check for a bridge. Do not hit your brine tank or jam anything into your brine tank wall.
Check Your Settings/Bypass Valve
Your water softener may have incorrect settings if it lost power at some point or someone changed them. There is also a bypass valve on some water softeners that allow water to go around your softener. If this was left open from a service visit your water may be going through your softener but not being softened.
If you aren’t sure what your settings should be refer to your manual. Or have a plumber come out and inspect your system.
Consider How Much Water Your Household Uses
There may have been changes in your home that require your water softener to soften more water. Maybe there are more people in your home or your doing more laundry than normal. Whatever is causing your water usage to increase your water softener should be able to accommodate for your needs.
Rely on A Professional Plumbing for Water Treatment Services
If you have refilled the salt and checked the basics but still notice hard water, the next step is to test the water and inspect the system. Webfoot Plumbing offers water treatment services for homeowners in Salt Lake City and nearby Utah communities. Call (801) 446-0520 to have your water softener checked.