Hard water can be difficult to deal with. It can also cause health concerns like skin irritations and it slowly corrodes your plumbing system, leading to toxic metals and chemicals coming into your plumbing system. Do you know that sticky feeling after each shower and the feeling of stiff clothes even after several washes? This is caused by hard water. Luckily, all your home’s hard water issues can be solved at Lone Star Water Services. If you are looking for water softeners, here are the top 3 questions to ask a water softener company before making that purchase.
1. Should I test my home’s water hardness level before purchasing a softener?
Yes. It is very important to identify the level of water hardness before buying a water softener. If your water is being supplied by an independent water provider or municipal water company, you can ask for the results of their regular water test.
Otherwise, if your home’s water is supplied privately, you must test the water hardness level by yourself via home test kits or by hiring a good water testing company. If you own a well, check for nitrates, mineral content, lead, and even bacteria.
Carrying out this very important water hardness test lets you know the level of hardness and will identify the presence of noxious chemicals and other contaminants in the water. This tells you that it’s time to find the right softener for your home.
This test also tells you whether you require water filtration along with your water softener system based on the level of impurities detected.
2. What factors determine the ideal water softener for my household?
The size and type of water softener is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, it varies based on the needs of every household.
The first thing that your water specialist will consider is the level of water hardness and the water quality. This refers to the volume of magnesium and calcium, often reported in grams per gallon or milligrams per liter, dissolved in the water. This information will be available after a water hardness test.
Water consumption in your household is another factor that comes into play. The water consumption rate per household can be calculated based on the monthly water bill.
A water softener that is too small means that you will frequently run out of soft water, require more maintenance and even reduce the service life of the unit. This does not mean that getting a water softener that is too large is safe either.
What is the regeneration frequency of the water softener system? If you purchase an undersized softener, it will regenerate more often, making the chemical components overwork. This, in turn, reduces the lifespan of the system. Get the correct size based on your household consumption and hardness level. A water softener expert from Lone Star Water Services can help.
3. How long will the water softeners last?
Water softeners are worthwhile investments. However, just like any other appliances or device, they can only last so long. Eventually, they may present electrical problems, breakdown of components, or even complete system breakdown.
However, if well maintained, your water softener can last a long time. Most water softeners have a 10-15 years lifespan. After this period, common breakdowns may be an indicator of a needed replacement.
The lifespan of a water softener depends on the use and the quality of water in a household. For example, softening extremely hard water may reduce the lifespan of your water softener. However, this does not mean that regular care and maintenance should be ignored.
You need to be keen on tell-tale signs that the water softener is not performing optimally. For instance, if you notice a reduction in soap lather, skin irritations, or that your water has a different taste, you need to have it checked or replaced.
Luckily, you can prolong the lifespan of your water softener by changing the filter, adding the regenerant when it runs out, and removing the hardened salt bridges when adding salt.
However, regardless of how often you undertake maintenance, you should never let your water softener work too hard. This starts by getting the right water softener based on your needs.
Bottomline
A water softener is a great and vital investment. Funds spent on soap and detergents, not to mention constant repairs on your plumbing system, add up in the long run.
However, you need to ensure that you purchase a water softener that is right for your household’s needs. Let the water softener specialists at Lone Star Water Services help you get started.
