Maintaining your home’s water softener is an important step in keeping your plumbing and appliances running smoothly. Regularly checking and changing the system’s settings and cleaning the resin bed can help you extend the life of your water softener and keep it in working order.
Inspecting and cleaning your water softener on a regular basis can help extend the performance and life of your system. Additionally, paying attention to any warning signs can help you detect any minor issues before they turn into bigger problems.
Installing and properly maintaining a water softener in your home is essential for a long-term solution for hard water issues. By understanding the basics of water softener maintenance, you can get the most out of your system and keep its performance at its peak.
Check and Change Settings on a Regular Basis
It’s important to check and adjust the settings on your water softener periodically. The frequency of this task depends on the size of your unit, the type of resin used, and the amount of water usage in your home. If the settings aren’t adjusted correctly, your unit could be wasting salt and water, or worse, not removing enough hardness from your water.
Depending on your water softener, you may be able to adjust the system settings yourself: the settings screened on the control panel should tell you which adjustments to make. However, it’s also a good idea to call a professional if you are unsure of how to proceed. They can come out and inspect the system and make sure everything is working correctly.
Cleaning the Resin Bed
Secondly, you should regularly clean the softener resin bed. This is a process that should not be rushed, as inaccurate or sloppy cleaning can cause permanent damage to your unit. To do this correctly, you should start by switching off power to the softener, then draining and disassembling the cabinet.
Next, the resin should be removed and rinsed with a mild detergent solution, then put back in the cabinet. Make sure to reassemble all components properly. Once reassembled, the softener should be restarted. Depending on the type of resin and the hardness of the water in your area, the unit should be tested every six months to a year – sooner if you notice any decrease in the water quality.
Note that if you are unable to do this by yourself, it is recommended to contact a professional who can correctly inspect and clean your unit.
Regular Maintenance for the Best Performance
- Keep the unit free of dirt and debris
- Check for any water leakage
- Scrub the pipes and reset valve once a year
- Test and adjust system settings on a regular basis
- Clean the resin bed as needed
- Contact a professional when in doubt
Conclusion
Maintaining a water softener is not difficult if you understand the basics. Properly cleaning the resin bed, checking and adjusting settings, and taking steps to ensure the unit is free from dirt and debris will help to ensure that the system is functioning properly and your water remains soft.