This ONE Water Softener Mistake Could Be Costing You THOUSANDS Well Water Owners MUST Read This

Written by Craig "The Water Guy" Phillips

Understanding Water Softeners

Importance of Water Softeners

Having a water softener in your home is like having a little superhero fighting against those annoying hard water troubles.

If you live somewhere with hard water, you know it’s not all sunshine and rainbows.

We're talking about crusty scale building up in your pipes, breaking your appliances, and leaving your skin and hair feeling like sandpaper. 

Water softeners make things better by kicking out heavy hitters like calcium, magnesium, and iron.

It’s kind of like giving your water a spa treatment.

These gadgets are like the unsung heroes every home needs if you're battling anything from slightly scratchy to rock-hard water.

They play with ions to soften things up and banish the usual pains like crusty faucets and clogged showerheads.

Your home’s pipes will thank you, your appliances will be happy, and let’s not forget how much your skin and hair will love you for it! 

Say goodbye to itchy skin and hello to soft-water goodness.

Common Water Softener Issues

But like every superhero saga, water softeners have their Kryptonite, and yes, they sometimes get into trouble.

Issues can pop up if you skip maintenance, if gunk piles up, or if something mechanical throws a tantrum.

Knowing what might go wrong can help you fix things without feeling like you need a Ph.D. in water softeners.

Stumbling Block	What’s Going On	How to Fix It
Mineral Pile-Up	Minerals can gunk up the works, clogging the resin beads or other parts.	Give it a good clean and refresh the resin bed
Mechanical Snafus	Valves, timers, and motors have their off days and might bite the dust.	Peek inside, find the troublemaker, and switch it out
Bad Regeneration	Wrong settings mean your softener’s guzzling salt and not softening much.	Tweak the setup based on how much hard water you’ve got
Pressure Problems	Stuffed-up resin tank or pipes mean wimpy water pressure.	Clean or swap the tank, and have a look at the pipes
Salt Jam	Salt can get chunky in the brine tank and won’t dissolve right	Break it up or get fancier salt
Leak Drama	Leaks might sneak up in joints or around the unit, wasting water and causing a mess	Tighten any loose bits and swap out the tired parts

Keeping these headaches at bay makes sure your water softener continues to be the gift that keeps on giving, turning your hard water woes into soft water smiles.

Simple upkeep, like rinsing out the bits that get clogged and looking for mechanical mischief, will make sure your system sticks around for the long haul without emptying your wallet on repairs.

Understanding what makes water softeners tick and spotting trouble before it starts, means you’ll pick the perfect system for your needs.

Whether it’s keeping limescale gremlins at bay, mission-proofing your appliances, or making bath time soft and dreamy, make sure your water softener’s up to the task, and maintain it with a little TLC.

Factors to Consider

Picking the best water softener for wells isn't rocket science, but there are a few things we wanna keep in mind so it fits what we need.

Wrapping our heads around these factors helps us make a good pick.

Water Hardness Levels

Water hardness is like the number of minerals hanging out in our agua. It's measured in parts per million (ppm) of stuff like calcium carbonate (CaCO3).

Higher numbers mean bigger water softeners to kick those pesky minerals to the curb.

Especially with well water, we gotta check out how tough our water is before snagging a system.

Water Hardness	Hardness (ppm)
Soft	0 - 60
Moderately Hard	61 - 120
Hard	121 - 180
Very Hard	Over 180

Household Water Consumption

How much water we chug through each day kinda tells us what size water softener we need.

Like, how many peeps live in the house? Do they shower a bunch, do lots of laundry, or love a lush lawn?

All these things add up to our daily water smackdown.

Item	Daily Water Consumption (Gallons)
One Person	80 - 100
Average Family (4 folks)	320 - 400
Washing Machine Load	30 - 40
Shower (per person)	20 - 30

Peak Water Demand Periods

Beyond the daily splash fest, we need to think about those peak water moments.

That way, our system doesn't crash and burn during a water rush hour.

Ponder those big water times when you:

• Have multiple people showering at once.
• Run the dishwasher, washing machine, and showers all at the same moment.
• Use several water-hogging gizmos together.

By getting a handle on water hardness, how much water we guzzle, and when we really go nuts with water usage, we can pick a solid water softener for wells.

That way, our house drinks soft, sweet water that’s just what we're after!

Types of Water Softeners

When we're on the hunt for a water softener for our wells, knowing the ropes about different options is key.

These come with their own perks, tailored to different household vibes.

So, let's dive into three main types of water softeners: ones with salt, the two-tank wonders, and those free of salt.

Salt-Based Water Softeners

First up, salt-based softeners, the trusty workhorse in the water-softening world.

They pull in pesky minerals like calcium and magnesium from your water, using a special resin to swap them out for sodium.

This swap deals the final blow to hard water issues.

Key Perks:

• Kicks Hard Water's Butt: Super effective at saying goodbye to those hard minerals.
• Upkeep: Gotta top up the salt weekly, not the best buddy for the forgetful.
• Space Eater: Needs some elbow room, not great for snug spots.

Feature	Detail
Effectiveness	High
Maintenance	Weekly salt fill-up needed
Space Required	Needs more room

Dual-Tank Water Softeners

Cranking it up is the dual-tank softener, perfect for homes guzzling loads of water.

Think of it as tag-team softening—while one tank takes a break, the other keeps the soft water flowing.

Key Perks:

• Non-Stop Soft Water: Never run dry on soft water.
• Water Hog’s Dream: Made for those high-usage homes.
• Space Hog: Big and a bit of a puzzle to set up.

Feature	Detail
Continuous Use	Always flowing soft water
Ideal For	Water-hungry homes
Space Required	Big and tricky to fit in

Salt-Free Water Softeners

And then there's the chill crew—the salt-free bunch. Rather than hardcore softening, they tweak the mineral structure to pat down scaling.

They fit pretty much any home size, except if water hardness is through the roof.

Key Perks:

• Low Fuss: No salt to hassle with.
• Gentle Touch: Puts a stop to scaling, doesn’t evict minerals.
• Flexible Fit: Fits right in across house sizes with average water thirst.

Feature	Detail
Maintenance	Minimal—no salt fuss
Effectiveness	Prevents scaling, minerals stay
Suitability	All sizes, av. water guzzlers

Getting these choices straight helps us zero in on what checks all the boxes for our needs.

Each option comes with strengths—so let’s weigh water use and hardness to find our perfect match.

Maintenance and Care

Hey, we know life is busy enough.

But giving your water softener a little love now and then can keep it humming for years. Making sure this gizmo is in tip-top shape will make your household happier and your money go further.

So let's talk about how to take good care of your system and solve those annoying issues that might pop up.

Regular Maintenance Tips

A water softener that's well looked after can stick around for 10 to 15 years, giving your family soft water and keeping your appliances in good health.

Here’s how to keep it in the game:

1. Keep an Eye on Salt Levels: Think of salt like your softener’s spinach—it needs enough to do its job right. Check the salt in the tank every month or so. Your soft water’s relying on it, after all.

2. Pick the Best Salt: The kind of salt you toss in matters. Go for high-quality stuff that's meant for water softeners. It’ll keep the clogs away and help your system last longer. Pretty neat, right? 

3. Brine Tank Deep-Clean: An annual tank scrub keeps things running smooth. Knock out that gunky salt clumping up in there. High iron or sediment tap? You might need to clean more often.

4. Bust the Salt Bridges: Got a crusty salt bridge? It’s like a roadblock for water softening. Break it up with a broom handle to keep things smooth. Humidity or bad salt can create these, so stay alert. 

Maintenance Task	How Often
Check Salt Levels	Monthly is good
Use Good Salt	Every refill
Clean Brine Tank	Once a year
Bust Salt Bridges	As needed

Troubleshooting Water Softener Issues

When your softener throws a tantrum, don’t chuck it out just yet.

Many troubles have quick fixes.

1. Not Enough Salt: Spotting chalky water spots or flaky skin? Check if that brine tank is running low on salt. Top it up ASAP to keep your soft water flowing.

2. Bridging Drama: If a salt bridge is giving you grief, break it down gently. You want to smash the salt, not the tank.

3. Iron and Sediment Sneak Attack: Too much metal or dirt in your water clogging things up? Grab a cleaner for that resin bed to keep everything running smooth.

4. Messed Up Settings: Unplugged your softener by accident? Make sure those settings are still right, ‘specially the hardness and regeneration stuff.

5. The Brine Tank Tsunami: A tank spilling over? Yikes. Check for a block in the drain line or float valve, and clear it out.

Problem	What’s Causing It?	How to Fix It
Hard Water	Low Salt Levels	Top up salt and keep the right level
Softening Going Off-Track	Salt Bridge	Bust up the salt barrier
Clogged Resin Bed	Iron/Sediment Knockout	Use resin bed cleaner
Settings Mix-Up	Power Cuts	Reset your system’s settings
Overflowing Brine Tank	Blocked Drain/Float Valve Mess	Clean the drain line and float valve

 

Keeping an eye on maintenance and handling problems quickly means your water softener won’t let you down.

Plenty of soft water for everyone, and your stuff stays nice and clean!