Thinking About Installing A Water Softener? Here's What You Need To Know!

Posted on: 7 July 2015

If you live in an area that has a hard water supply, then you might be thinking about having a water softener installed in your home. With a water softener, you can have your home's hard water supply filtered through salt as a means of removing unwanted contaminants, such as minerals. Before you decide to invest in a water softener, however, there are a few things you should be aware of in order to make a well-informed decision.

Water Softeners Can Protect Your Plumbing

First and foremost, a water softener does require a bit of an upfront investment (especially if you'll be paying a professional to install it for you), but in many cases, that cost is more than worth it in the long run. That's because soft water is a lot easier on your home's plumbing appliances; since there is less scale buildup and fewer mineral deposits, your home's pipes and plumbing appliances (such as dishwashers and clothes washers) tend to last a lot longer.

Water Softeners Require Very Little Maintenance

Another nice thing about water softeners is that they are almost maintenance-free; really, all you need to do is keep the salt levels stable by adding salt to the tank every so often. There's no need to clean out your water softener tank or follow any other maintenance regimens. In most cases, there is also no need to have your water tested before you have one installed.

Be Careful Not to Overfill Your Softener

When it comes time to fill your water softener tank, the one thing you will want to be careful of is making sure not to overfill it. A lot of times, homeowners think that if they fill the tank past its capacity, it just means that they can go longer without having to fill it again. However, in reality, overfilling a water softener tank can lead to what's called "bridging," where the tank is so full that the water supply isn't able to properly filter through. The end result is water that doesn't get adequately softened.

Soft Water Might Take Getting Used To

Finally, understand that soft water feels different on the skin, so if you're taking a shower or bathing in a soft water supply, it's going to take some getting used to initially. However, once you do get used to it, you'll likely find that your skin feels smoother and healthier!

For further assistance, contact professionals, such as those from Dupage Water Conditioning.

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