Water Softener Repair

Ontario is known for its continental climate with hot, muggy summers and freezing, snowy, and windy winters, and with Mississauga being a more southernmost destination, it mostly enjoys a humid climate with no dry season. Despite being blessed with one of the best local weather conditions across Canada, Mississauga residents still hope for the best of everyday modern conveniences and amenities to allow them to live a comfortable lifestyle. Lately, if you’ve noticed your shampoo doesn’t quite froth up enough during your morning lather and rinse, or your dishware always seems to have streaks and spotty marks, or you’ve noticed your water-based appliances such as your blender or food processor have calcified deposits in and around their mouth opening—these are all telltale signs of your home’s freshwater supply being more than lackluster. And it may be the circumstance you require a water softener repair. Mississauga residents must note that some culprits that indicate their water softener system is busted are more obvious than others.

Nobody wants to jeopardize their home's freshwater supply as it not only rudely interrupts your daily eating, drinking, washing, and grooming routine but puts at risk your literal lifeline as, on average, we can only survive on water for three days before our body shuts down. Besides the most obvious, it will eventually become tiresome to take a shower with prickling hard water, constantly replace a kitchen appliance after its warranty expires due to scratch marks, or even wash dishes by hand to avoid unsightly blemishes. After you get fed up, you are best advised to ask a qualified, local, and fully insured Mississauga plumber for a Mississauga water softener repair from Mr. Rooter Plumber of Mississauga.

What Is A Water Softener System & Why Is It Essential?

A water softener aims to thwart calcification by removing its limescale deposits, specifically calcium and magnesium, from your water supply. Generally speaking, calcium and magnesium, both of which are part of a city’s freshwater supply, are measured in kilograms or grains per liter of calcium carbonate. If your water supply’s hardness level clocks in between 80 to 100 mg/L, your water quality is safe to consume. If, however, the hardness level goes past 200 mg/L, your water quality has become futile and unsafe to use. As an ion exchanger, a water softener has a resin bed that captures calcium and magnesium ions and trades them with sodium and potassium ones. As a result, the damage from hard liquid to your pipes and plumbing fixtures is averted, giving you soft water, and you won’t encounter any clogs anytime soon.

The sole purpose of a water softener is to stop the buildup of minerals inside your plumbing pipes and, following suit, your plumbing fixtures, appliances, and dishes. For example, you reduce the likelihood of thick, soapy scum or detergent curds in sinks and washing machines cropping up and the resulting debris buildup, in doing so, you preserve their lifespan. At the end of the day, you will not only bolster your home’s energy efficiency due to reduced water and electricity consumption, but you’ll also find yourself pocketing the rest in terms of saving expenses on extra dishwasher detergent. And so, for a water softener repair, Mississauga homeowners must understand that it offers numerous benefits thanks to silky smooth liquid, from healthier, glowing skin to improving the quality of plumbing in the vicinity of your living quarters.

But there’s another health hazard lurking inside of the tap water of Mississauga home: chlorine. This chemical is added to control bacteria, algae, and other viruses, and though in small amounts it is said to be safe for consumption, drinking chlorinated water may lead to some side effects such as sore throat, cough, skin, and eye irritation, and even difficulty breathing. If you’re interested in eliminating chlorine from your drinking water or upgrading your current system, give us a call. Our top-of-the-line water softeners and water refiners will not only soften your water but will also remove chlorine.

Regardless of whether you purchased a pre-owned or newly built property, it may or may not have come with a well-performing water softener system, in which case you should sign up for a water softener repair. Mississauga homeowners will soon realize that softer liquid is not necessarily a special privilege only reserved for specific situations but a mandatory staple for modern-day living.

What Exactly is the Calcification Of Water?

Water calcification is whereby dissolved minerals, including calcium salts such as calcium carbonate or calcium bicarbonate, accumulate and crystallize in your freshwater supply, resulting in so-called hard water. When left undealt, this calcium buildup continues to grow and eventually suffocates your drains and pipes, resulting in nasty clogs due to blockages that restrict the flow of liquid or discolored rust and corrosion to your pipes. Although hard water is normally safe to consume for yourself, it’s a disaster for your pipes to withstand and, over time, weakens the structural integrity of your plumbing system.

Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Mississauga Is The Best-In-Class Plumbing Service Provider

As a locally owned and operated franchise, we showcase a notable achievement in both residential and commercial plumbing by serving Mississauga and nearby areas of Applewood, Mineola, and Port Credit for 27 years and onwards, offering the triple whammy of exceptional products and services, quality workmanship and outstanding customer satisfaction. Our trustworthy team members are well-adjusted with the knowledge, skills, and techniques for plumbing repairs, installations, and maintenance services. We always actively listen to our client’s points of view and offer longstanding and effective solutions for water softener repair. Mississauga clients who are doubtful about what a professional plumber entails, go ahead and schedule a no-obligation consultation whereby we will custom-make a Mississauga water softener repair based on what type of system you already own and make recommendations if you opt to swap it out for another model. If you are still uncertain, recall we offer transparent, upfront pricing alongside a one-year part and labor guarantee, so if your liquid is not as supple as you’d hoped, we will return and make the proper adjustments. Our expert plumber always shows up suited and booted for your service appointment, and if you immediately require soft liquid for any reason whatsoever, we will accommodate your busy on-the-go schedule for a 24/7 plumbing emergency for Mississauga water softener repair.

Our Demonstrated Mississauga Water Softener Repair Process

Mr. Rooter is a big proponent of preventive maintenance and believes that responsible Mississauga homeowners who are keen on proper upkeep, including routine maintenance through an annual plumbing inspection and professional cleaning services, will slim to none, requiring a water softener repair. Mississauga property owners must note that a water softener will last them between 10 to 20 years before they see the first signs of deterioration to a faulty motor or depleted resin beads. Plus, if you already have a household water filtration system, a Missussauga water softener repair would pair up nicely, offering the highest quality liquid that is fresh, clean, and light. Here are some of the components we offer water softener repair on:

Types Of Components

Three key mechanisms altogether form the crux of a basic water softener system as they combine to remove hard mineral deposits from your freshwater supply, manage the flow of quality liquid, and, at times, self-clean the system via the regeneration process. Our professional plumber will fully examine your water softener to confirm all the components are fully functioning.

• Control Valve: This is the mechanical gateway that controls the flow of water into and out of the resin tank. After the resin beads have been soaked out and used up by ingesting calcium and magnesium, it will trigger, by default, the regeneration cycle.
• Mineral Tank: Your freshwater supply also proceeds through the mineral tank of a water softener in which there is a bed of negatively charged resin beads. This process will counteract the hard mineral deposits, calcium, and magnesium, within the hard liquid, which is both positively charged, therefore neutralizing the water supply.
• Brine Tank: The regeneration process takes place. Inside the system’s tank is a concentrated salt solution, which trickles into the mineral tank through the control valve once the resin beads are depleted. Because sodium has a negative charge, it works to renew the freshness of the resin beads, so both calcium and magnesium, being positively charged, are reattracted once more.

How Can You Perform Maintenance For A Water Softener?

The coarse texture of hard liquid can be irritating for your piping and fixtures, not only resulting in accumulated debris but also stopping the soap from readily fizzing and foaming for cleaning purposes. Those of you who have become complacent about the maintenance of your water softener and, worst yet, have outrightly ignored caring for it over the years will quickly find themselves needing a water softener repair. Mississauga clients should expect to start afresh after we have tweaked their water softener loose nuts and bolts by practicing regular maintenance. Here are some tips and tricks clients can follow to uphold their Mississauga water softener repair:

Brine Tank Inspection

Salty Much: It’s a good idea to double-check the salt levels every month as it's responsible for regenerating the resin beads. If your water softener comes with a manufacturer’s instruction manual, it should list the threshold or mandatory salt level. If not, you can eyeball it and ensure, at the very least, the tank is half full with salt and keep it a few inches above the liquid level.

But Not Too Salty: Typically, your system can have different types and salt grades. It operates on any granular, tablet, or block salt type. Granular is the most common as it dissolves more readily. If possible, purchase salt pellets as this compacted version of salt is specially designed for water softeners, as regular conventional table salt crystals will clog the tank. There are also different grades, for example, rock salt, solar salt, and evaporated salt, and all have their pros and cons:

• Rock Salt: This is cheaper, works wonders for your skin and scalp, and allows for brighter, softer clothes and cleaner dishes. But the only downside is that rock salt tends to have nitty-gritty impurities, which can decrease your system’s efficiency and require frequent cleaning of the tank.
• Solar Salt: Approximately 99.5 percent of its pure form solar salt is kicked up a notch from rock salt and is great for lessening the accumulation of resin in your brine tank. But please note it has a lower solubility level than other salts and can result in crusty salt bridges around your plumbing fixtures, which must be regularly cleaned.
• Evaporated Salt: The highest quality salt for any water softener system, evaporated salt allows for reduced water-insoluble matter from dissolving within the tank, resulting in less debris buildup in the bottom of the tank. But it is the most expensive option and leaves a residue in the brine tank, so it needs to be cleaned regularly.

Just A Break Up: Salt tends to naturally coalesce into solid layers within the softener brine tank, resulting in salt bridges that need to be broken up for the system to run smoothly. A salt bridge is a clump of salt that reduces the effectiveness of your water softener’s regeneration process. It’s basic chemistry–If you leave a salt bridge as is, the salt-water mixture will separate with looser salt particles on top and water on the bottom, rendering your system useless. Use the end of a long broom or stick to break up the solid layers. You can even pour boiling water to loosen up the mixture. If you find salt bridges have become a recurring problem, you are advised to use less salt during refill, or we recommend cleaning the brine tank more often.

Mushing Around: Sometimes, the leftover salt will form a sloshy pile at the bottom of the tank, and liquid will, as a result, rise around the mushy salt pit instead of blending. Again, you can take the end of a broom and break up solid areas. Or get your hands dirty by scooping up the debris, slashing it together in a bucket of boiling water, and reusing the salt by pouring it back into the tank.

Why We Are The Magnetic Choice For Mississauga Water Softener Repair Services

Everybody deserves clean and fresh water that is gentle to the touch to meet their daily lifestyle habits and not have to fret about gritty minerals contaminating their water supply. If you’ve noticed your water’s taste, touch, odor, and appearance have altered in any way, it’s best to be proactive and ask for a water softener repair. Mississauga homeowners can depend on our expert plumbers for a Mississauga water softener repair, so you’re not sacrificing your comfort or tossing our appliances to the landfill badly, not only for your pocketbook but for your eco-footprint.

Frequently Asked Questions About Water Softener Repair in Mississauga

What Are the Warning Signs I Need Water Softener Repair?

Apart from limescale/calcium deposits on your plumbing fixtures, including faucets, toilets, shower heads, and appliances which are crusty white in appearance, there are other telltale signs, such as:

• Yellowish-brown damp patches around drains and faucets
• Skin feels dried out
• Streaks due to mineral deposit buildup on plumbing fixtures, water-based appliances, and dishware
• The clothes look faded, and the texture seems rough to the touch
• Lower water pressure
• Fluctuating temperature levels
• Discolored liquid, including cloudy, murky liquid from your taps
• Discolored rust on plumbing fixtures

Can A Water Softener Be Easily Repaired Or Avoided?

Yes–most problems can be remedied by checking the brine tank of your water softener system for salt problems, including salt bridges, or replenishing the resin beads with fresh beads. So long as you inspect your brine tank once per month and get a professional cleaning for it at least annually, you will readily avoid or at least soften the blow for a water softener repair.

What Causes A Water Softener To Malfunction?

• Clogs due to blockages, such as salt bridges within the brine tank or the injector spout, are dirty
• Motor and or disk failure
• Dank or used-up resin beads
• Dirty filter
• Failure to clean the brine tank of accumulated debris
• Using the wrong type and grade of salt
• Glitchy control valve
• The wrong type of water softener system based on your freshwater supply

Can I Add Salt to my Tank?

Yes. Maintaining your water softener by adding salt is a straightforward process. Begin by locating the brine tank, typically a plastic or fiberglass container connected to the water softener. Lift the lid or cover of the brine tank, revealing the existing salt levels. Choose the appropriate salt type—solar, evaporated, or rock salt—based on your water softener's specifications. Pour the salt into the brine tank, being mindful not to overfill. Check for a visible water level line inside the tank to gauge the appropriate amount. Once the salt is added, securely close the brine tank cover to prevent debris and moisture ingress. Regularly monitor salt levels, aiming to replenish as needed, and consider manually initiating a regeneration cycle if your system allows. This simple maintenance routine ensures the continued effectiveness of your water softener in preventing hard water issues.

What Does the Bypass Valve Do?

The bypass valve in a water softener system serves a crucial function by providing a way to redirect water flow around the water softener unit. When the bypass valve is in the open or "bypass" position, water can flow through the plumbing system without passing through the water softener. This is useful in several scenarios:

• Maintenance and Repairs: During maintenance or repairs on the water softener, putting the bypass valve in the open position allows you to continue using water in your home without sending it through the water softener. This is particularly convenient when you need to temporarily shut down or disconnect the water softener.
• Salt Addition: When adding salt to the water softener's brine tank, some users prefer to put the system in bypass mode to prevent water from unnecessarily flowing through the softener during this process.
• Water Hardness Preferences: In certain situations, you might want to bypass the water softener to allow untreated water to be used for specific tasks. For example, some people prefer to have untreated water for watering plants or gardens.
• Malfunctions or Water Softener Maintenance: If issues with the water softener need to be addressed, putting the bypass valve in the open position allows you to isolate the softener from the water supply until the problem is resolved.
• Conserving Softened Water: Bypassing the water softener for tasks that don't require softened water can help conserve the softened water for more critical uses, such as bathing or washing clothes.

The bypass valve is typically a lever or knob located on or near the water softener unit. Following the manufacturer's instructions for operating the bypass valve correctly is important. When not in use, the valve is usually in the closed or "service" position, directing water through the water softener for the removal of hardness minerals.

Is It Worth Fixing An Old Water Softener?

It depends–if your unit is less than five years old and still has its warranty, and if the cost of the parts altogether doesn’t outweigh the cost of a brand new water softener replacement, then a Mississauga water softener repair is the way to go. However, if your unit is over a decade old with little or no maintenance, replacing your water softener system is better than getting a water softener repair. Mississauga clients can even swap out their old units for a more energy-efficient model during water softener installation services.

You Deserve A Supple Stream Of Water–Mr. Rooter Plumbing Will Restore Your Water Softener To Pristine Condition!

We all want our taps to churn out crisp and clean water for daily drinking or our shower head for our morning cleanse without having to get frustrated by the pins and needles of hard water. If anything, a Mississauga water softener repair is the results-oriented solution for living a healthier lifestyle, as higher-quality water boosts your physical and mental well-being. Our experienced team members can handle all the minor quick fixes or completely overhaul your water softener system. Feel free to reach out to our courteous customer service representatives to schedule an appointment or to learn more about our plumbing specialty areas, from drain cleaning to clogged drains to water heater repair, as we eagerly await your call.