How Do You Know If Your Water Softener Is Not Working?

Your water softener is an important piece of home equipment, particularly if you live in an area of the country where hard water can cause problems with everyday water use and the longevity of your plumbing system. A number of problems can occur within water softener systems, including the buildup of salt deposits, breakup of resin beads or motor failures. 

Homeowners can suspect a problem with the water softener when a number of problems begin to occur:

Is your water softener still removing sufficient hardness, but you see water spots or scale on your cookware, utensils, water taps and surfaces?  

When your water softener stops functioning, you may notice the hard mineral deposits forming around drains or inside your pipes. These deposits can harden and catch hair and other materials that are flushed down the drain, making clogs in your pipes more likely.

Do you feel like you run out of soft water in between cycles?

Is the water pressure in your home still adequate, or does it seem lower than it used to be?

If you answered yes to any of these problems, your water softener resin may be worn out.

Are you using more soap than before?

One obvious sign that your water softener is not operating correctly also is when you need more soap to suds up for dishwashing or bathing. The minerals in hard water cause soap molecules to be unable to dissolve, which is why soap will fail to suds up properly and will leave a sticky residue on your tub, dishes and other items. Softened water removes these minerals, allowing your soap to be more effective in removing dirt and oils.

Are you noticing changes in your laundry?

The minerals in hard water may also leave your clothing dull and stiff with residue. Mineral residues can be severe enough to cause damage to clothing, fraying the fibers and leaving holes. You may find that you must use more detergent to get clothing items looking and feeling clean. This problem often occurs when your water softener has failed to function properly.

Hard Water Effects on Skin and Hair

Hard water can affect your skin and hair as well, leaving behind a film on skin, or leaving it dry and itchy. You may require more shampoo to get a good lather for washing your hair. Even after thorough rinsing, the minerals can leave your hair feeling dry and sticky. Softened water prevents these problems, so if you notice these signs, inspect your water softener to see that it is operating correctly.

If you suspect a problem, call your local water treatment company to investigate the issue. Pure Choice Quality Water is an independent water treatment company who you can contact for a fast repair or service appointment to get your water quality back to normal, when your water softener shows signs of poor operation. Please feel free to contact us at any time at [email protected] or by calling us on 0800 068 1857