What You Need to Know About Water Softeners

Thinking of investing in some softer water for your Edmonton home? This might be a great idea. But before you forge ahead, we want to make sure you’re making well-informed decisions about your water softener system including the equipment, installation, and maintenance.

You might be wondering, what exactly is hard water? Water naturally has minerals in it (things like calcium and iron). The more minerals it has, the harder it is considered to be. These minerals aren’t necessarily bad (we often try to include these things in our diets after all). However, they do leave a deposit buildup on household items that come into contact with water often such as a laundry machine, your clothes, or your wine glasses. More importantly, hard water has an effect on our bodies. A shower with hard water can actually result in skin irritation in sensitive skin types. Although this may not occur in those who are less sensitive, hard water can still often leave your skin feeling dried out and itchy. Even our hair is damaged by the build-up of minerals - it can result in duller hair that becomes oily faster.

So what’s a water softener’s role in all of this? Well, it removes the hardness from your water that causes these problems. During the water softening process, the minerals are removed from the water and replaced by sodium (usually). In this ion exchange process, your water becomes softer and brings with it countless benefits for you and your family.

Why is Softening the Water in Your Edmonton Home Important?

Water softener installation isn’t always absolutely essential if your Edmonton home is located in an area with low hardness in public tap water (which is the case for some Canadian cities). Homes in some areas with water overly rich in minerals may be particularly interested in a water softener to prevent the plumbing system in their home from mineral buildup and corrosion. However, it isn’t only the homes in such areas that are subject to damaged plumbing at the hands of hard water - it can happen anywhere. Edmonton’s water hardness is quite average in comparison to the other cities of Alberta and is considered safe without softening. Our municipal water here in Edmonton is usually 10-20 grains of hardness, whereas some Canadian cities can have hardness in the hundreds of grains! So really, most Edmonton area homeowners consider a water softener installation as more of a type of comfort and peace of mind that allows for more enjoyable water use. The benefits of softening your water include:

• Softer skin (hard water can irritate the skin)
• Healthier, shinier hair
• Cleaner dishes (you’ll reduce the number of spots on your glasses and cutlery especially)
• Softer, brighter clothes (dull, graying clothes may actually be an indication of hard water)
• Less soap is required for dishes and personal care (the minerals in hard water combine with soap thereby causing it to lose its effectiveness)
• Can remove bad tastes and odors in your water
• Reduction of calcium (and other minerals) buildup in household appliances that use water (such as the laundry machine, dishwasher, and even your kettle if you use tap water for boiling)
• Less frequent replacement of appliances and plumbing fixtures. They won’t break down as quickly due to the build-up of the minerals in hard water (also called mineral scale). This means more money in your pocket over the long term.

Risks of Having Hard Water in Your Edmonton Home

Many studies exist in the world on the effects of hard water on our health. Generally, we believe it has no adverse effects but the matter is still disputed from time to time. Minerals tend to be good for us, so long as they aren’t consumed in higher than recommended amounts. Because there are different mineral levels in different geographical areas, it’s best to simply test your water with a testing kit to know what’s in it (and in what amounts your family is consuming it). That way you can decide for yourself whether you’d like to take any additional precautions in terms of your health.

The clear and indisputable effects of hard water are the ones in your home. Did you know that minerals can cause some serious build-up in your plumbing? You may have even noticed it on your fixtures. It’s usually white and flaky and tends to build upon the heads of your faucets (even at the bottom of your kettle - yuck!) Well, this exact same buildup occurs within your pipes too. The first sign that hard water is affecting your plumbing is decreasing in pressure and flow and some fixtures in your home. Hardness usually starts being noticed in showerheads and faucets but the deposits are also happening everywhere your water goes.

The costs of living with hard water in your home might actually outweigh the simple expense of having a water softener. Think about it. You use more detergent and soap to clean things because hard water combines with cleaning agents. The life span of your showerheads and faucets is short so you need to replace them or you’ve invested in large amounts of CLR to decalcify them. The faucet and valve cartridges in your faucets and shower wear out much faster because of the mineral deposits. You’re constantly buying moisturizers for your family because they all complain of itchy or dry skin. Even your large home appliances might be breaking down and require repairs or replacement. Toilet internals wear faster and even water heater lifespan is greatly reduced with hard water! All these costs add up and sometimes we don’t even realize that we’re spending more money on these items because we use hard water. Take a look at your spending - you may just determine that a water softener installation is the right decision to save you money.

Different Types of Water Softeners

If you’re contemplating a water softener installation for your home, you’ll want to be aware of the fact that different types of water softeners exist. First of all, they operate on various scales. Commercial and industrial water softeners exist for mass water consumption but you’ll want to focus on the residential units for your home.

The main factors that differ between water softeners are the following:

• Grain Capacity: Your water softener will have to regenerate every so often. This means that if you have a constant flow of water, it may eventually become hard if the water softener doesn’t get a chance to regenerate. The grain capacity is a calculation of the softener’s regeneration frequency; how much water your softener is able to soften before having to regenerate. A family of 6 will need a higher grain capacity than a family of 2 in order to keep the water soft at all times.
• Size: This goes closely hand in hand with grain capacity. The larger the size of your water softener, the larger the brine tank will be. This translates into longer periods between regeneration as well. The size of the water softener should also increase with the number of family members using water in the home.
• There is also a salt-free softener option for anyone particularly concerned with sodium intake (our skin absorbs certain amounts of whatever comes into contact with it). This might be a good option for you, however, softeners that don’t use sodium are often slightly less effective. The difference is made by choosing potassium chloride in your softener instead of normal softening salt.
• Efficiency: Water softeners waste some water when they do their regeneration cycles. Some softeners don’t keep track of actual water usage and regenerate on a timer. This is not optimal as if you aren’t using any water it will still regenerate according to the programmed frequency, or if you are using lots you may completely exhaust the resin bed and end up getting hard water until the next regeneration. What you should look for is a high-efficiency softener that won’t waste any more salt or water than is required to operate. These units keep track of how much water has been used and will only regenerate when it needs to.

During your water softener search, you’ll find numerous brands with slightly differing functions and prices. All of this information can be quite difficult to navigate. Different options work for different families but more importantly, requirements change from area to area. A professional plumber will have the knowledge and experience to know which types of softeners have been most efficient in which places. One of our licensed plumbers would be happy to let you know what options might work best for you.

What You Need to Know About Water Softener Installation

Having your water softener installed by an expert will ensure that the installation is safe for you and your family, as well as guarantee your warranty and the workmanship of the work performed.

Several things need to be considered when installing a water softener including most importantly the placement of the water softener and your home’s plumbing system.

The type and size of water softener you decided to go with is going to dictate in large part where you end up putting it. If you are not 100% sure about what water softener equipment you need, we suggest you give us a call to ask your questions, rather than trying to accomplish the task on your own. Remember, it’s better to be safe than sorry especially when it comes to your home and its plumbing system.

Where Does a Water Softener Get Installed?

A water softener should be installed as close to your home’s water entry point. As a rule of thumb, it’s recommended to place and install a water softener after your water meter, but before your water heater.

The system you choose will make a difference. Different softeners have different space requirements, but they all need to be situated somewhere near a drain for when it regenerates.

A water softener should be placed downstream from your equipment. For example, placing your water softener somewhere it can feed into your water heater easily. This will not only prevent hot water from damaging your softener but also extend the life of your water heater by feeding it softer water.

Most water softeners also come with a bypass valve. This allows you to go down to the softener and switch the bypass on. With the bypass, you will have hard water coming into your home until you turn it off. You can do this when watering your lawn for the evening. Your grass won’t appreciate the soft water as much as you do. If you plan on using this feature, it’s important to consider the placement of your water softener during the installation. You can also install dedicated “hard lines” that will permanently bypass the water softener. This is common for hose bib lines and kitchen sinks cold water lines.

A water softener will also need a drain such as a floor drain or utility sink. The placement and location should also consider this including what hoses and connectors are required. Our team can help with your water softener installation and ensure your home has reliably-soft water for years to come.

How Much is Water Softener Installation?

Your biggest cost in installing a new water softener is going to come from the water softener itself. Water softener installation varies by household depending on your pipes and current plumbing. Installing a water softener includes routing your home’s main water supply through the water softener to protect your entire home from hard water. Determining the approach and performing the work necessary to feed your water outlet from the water softener requires the expertise of a trained technician. The best way to determine the cost to install a water softener is to request an online estimate or to give us a call.

Is There Maintenance Involved?

Sure, just like any mechanical device in your home, your water softener is subject to some maintenance. In fact, it’s quite important that you don’t overlook the regular maintenance schedule of your water softener. Because a water softener is a significant investment for your home, you want to take care of it to get maximum longevity (and avoid larger headaches due to a part breaking down).

Your water softener is a machine and has many parts - valves, lines, and smaller pieces that may need occasional replacement. But more importantly, there is regular required maintenance that is essential to the proper function of a water softener. This mandatory maintenance involves:

• Cleaning out the brine tank. You’ll have to scrub the inside of the tank with some soap and a brush with a long handle. This is, however, a type of deep clean and does not have to happen often. You can even go a year or two between cleans.
• Refilling the salt - this usually needs to happen every few months using a large bag of salt (around 40 lbs to give you an idea). Of course, this is dependent on the size of your home and how much water you use.
• Regularly checking the hardness with a test kit. Besides the evident symptoms you might start noticing in your skin and hair, you’ll want to track any changes in your water hardness with an actual kit that shows you your water hardness in detail. Standard testing will help you sniff out any problems before they happen.

Why is Water Softener Maintenance Important?

Water softeners are excellent additions to our homes but they aren’t a one-time installation effort. You’ll have to regularly ensure that your water softener is working properly. If you neglect it, you may run into some serious issues with it down the road and possibly may even have to replace your water softener altogether. We want to help you avoid this scenario! So let’s take a look at some red flags you may want to look out for when you’re checking up on your water softener.

Preventative Maintenance Tips

• Keep an eye out for salt bridging. This will look like a layer of salt covering your view of the bottom of the tank. If you see this starting to form, you’ll have to crush it with something that will reach into the tank (typically the end of a broom) and then remove it. If you don’t do this, the salt won’t dissolve into the water in the tank thus disrupting the entire softening process.
• Salt mushing is even more important to avoid. It forms at the bottom of your tank in the form of sludge. This issue is a larger headache because the only way to fix the problem is to completely empty out and scrub the entire tank.
• Use good quality salts. Ask your licensed plumber about the best products available to you to ensure that the sodium is dissolving and creating the brine as it should be.

Should I Install the Water Softener Myself?

Probably not, but if you are a licensed and trained plumber that knows what to do then, absolutely! Many plumbing problems start because of incorrect installations and the use of the wrong kind of fittings. So, if you’re not 100% sure, the best thing you can do is hire someone to perform the water softener installation for you. When deciding who to work with, don’t forget to ask for the plumber’s insurance, WCB, trade ticket, and business license, and check out online reviews.

Have a specific question about installation? Reach out to Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Edmonton to speak with a water softener install specialist. Call today, we’d love to answer all of your water softener questions.

The Benefits of Hiring a Professional

You’ve got a can-do attitude and feel ready to take on any challenge. Great! But as far as water softener installation and maintenance go, it really is in your best interest to hire someone with the proper knowledge and training.

A licensed Edmonton plumber has been at this for years. With time comes experience and with experience, of course, comes an aptitude to scope out issues very quickly. A licensed professional is able to detect a problem with the plumbing in your home much quicker. Although there is some maintenance that you can do alone (it’s even recommended that you take some care!) you should still have a professional come by and take a look at your water softener every once in a while to ensure that there aren’t any problems around the corner.

If you ever do encounter an issue with your water softener installation, a Mr. Rooter Edmonton licensed plumber will ensure that any parts that need replacement are guaranteed. We attach our name to the work we do and are committed to leaving you with a perfectly functioning water softener unit. This attitude also goes for our installation process. Licensed professionals will do it right the first time. What does this mean for you? Total peace of mind.

A trained and licensed plumber knows the next steps. After servicing your unit, we’ll be able to tell you exactly what you need to do to maintain your water softener in great condition. We’re here to help and want to ensure that you’re well-informed too.

Any More Water Softener Questions? Reach Out to Us!

A water softener is a great addition to your Edmonton home and comes with numerous benefits. When shopping around, keep in mind the various types of water softeners that exist on the market and consult a professional that will be able to tell you exactly the size and efficiency you’ll need in order to get the most out of your water softener. Although a water softener can save you money, you want to avoid any unnecessary expenses due to a miscalculation in the type of softener you need.

Now that you know everything you need to about water softeners it’s time for you to decide whether you’ll be investing in one. If this is a comfort you choose to add to your Edmonton home, Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Edmonton will be happy to install and maintain your new unit! Request an online estimate or reach out to us by calling, we’d love to answer all of your water softener installation and maintenance questions.