Water softeners help make the water in your home run smoothly while providing you with the softest clothes, skin and hair. To keep your water softener running its best, be sure to follow these maintenance tips or call the professional for a service. 

Owning a water softener does add extra worry to your list, but provides results that are worth the maintenance. Luckily, our North Star water softeners make maintenance easy with their focus on innovation. They offer many advancements to help keep your water softener running at peak performance with little work involved. If for any reason you’re in need of help to keep your water softener running its best, contact us today! 

Here are some tips to prolong your water softener’s life. 

Check The Salt Level

Be sure to check the salt level in your brine tank to ensure it is topped up. The salt should be added or topped up every two months to ensure the best results. To check or add salt, open the brine tank lid and ensure the salt is covered with water and wet. If the salt is dry or the water levels are low, it is definitely time to top it up. This will help prevent a chalky residue on your appliance and fixtures and will help to keep your skin feeling soft. 

Pro Tip: When topping up your water softener, never add more than one bag at a time as it can become overfilled which causes salt bridges. 

If you’re in need of water softener salt, be sure to check your local store for a quality softener such as evaporated salt pellets. Be sure to avoid salt blocks, unless otherwise instructed by a technician or manufacturer. Keep in mind that the more expensive the salt the better the product and results. 

Clean The Brine Tank 

Yes, unfortunately like everything else, the brine tank should be cleaned to help avoid any bacteria or mould build-up. We recommended cleaning the tank every few months when the salt levels are running low. To clean the tank, follow the steps below:

1. 1. Set your water softener onto bypass mode. 
   2. Unplug the water softener to avoid any injuries and disconnect the brine tank 
   3. Scoop out the remaining salt rocks. If you see sludge (hardened salt) at the bottom of the tank, gently use a broomstick to set it free. 
   4. Dump the salt into gravel. 
   5. Clean the brine tank by scrubbing it with cold water, dish soap, and a brush. 
   6. Once clean, rinse the tank with water, reattach it, fill with salt, plug it in and let the salt regenerate overnight. 

Be Cautious Of Salt Bridges  

A salt bridge is a layer of hardened salt between the salt rocks and the water and will cause the water softener not to function to its full potential. If you see this, try to remove it or call a professional for help. Salt bridges can be avoided by using high-quality salt rocks.  

Contact Us 

Taking care of all of your home’s moving pieces can be a big task, but to keep everything running properly it is important to have it serviced. Use these tips to keep it clean before calling in the professionals, but if you’re ever in need of help or have questions contact us immediately. We are here to help! If you’re looking to get a water softener, rent a North Star water softener from us today.

Learn how to check for hard water in your home using different methods and explore the greatness that water softener has to offer. 

Hard water is as painful as it sounds…not only is it hard on your skin, hair, and clothing, but it’s also hard on your home. Over time, hard water can result in deposits of calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate and magnesium hydroxide building up inside your home’s pipes and boilers. This build-up ultimately results in slower water flow and reduced heating efficiency. 

Before going out and getting a water softener, I’m sure you’re wondering: How bad is the hard water in my home? Is it worth adding another expense? 

Here are three efficient and cost-friendly ways to check the hard water in your home. 

Check The City’s Website

First things first, be sure to check your city’s website to better understand the quality and health of the water. A new report is released each year to provide you with an update on the drinking quality, hard water number, and where the water comes from. The information in Regina’s Water Quality Report, is regulated and reported to the Saskatchewan Water Security Agency. 

In-Home Water Test 

After checking the water quality report, try this simple at-home water test. Take a clear, clean bottle and fill one-third of it with tap water. Then, add a few drops of pure liquid dish soap to the bottle, and shake.

Once you have shaken the bottle, check the reaction. If your bottle is cloudy with a thin layer of bubble, you have hard water. If the bottle is still filled one-third of the way with water and had two-thirds of soap, you have soft water. 

Testing Kit 

If you’re looking for another testing method, give a testing kit a try! Most hard water testing kits are relatively inexpensive and easy to use. You can find one at your local store, or online and they should range in price from $12 – $24. 

Most kits have a different number range setting, but they will always use a colour gauge. To test the strip, be sure to follow the instructions and watch for the results. When comparing your results, the lighter the colour (towards the zero scale) the softer your water, and the darker the colour (most cases are red) the harder your water is. If you fall in the red or dark red zone, we recommend considering getting a water softener to avoid further buildup and deposits in your home. 

Need Help? 

Once you have explored all of your testing options, it may be time to consider getting a water softener. We know how expensive it can be to buy one up front, so we provide an easy and affordable solution: renting. Reliance Heath is here to help you reduce hard water and leave you with softer clothes, skin, hair, and home. Contact us today for more information!

If you’re experiencing a lack of hot water, inconsistent pressure, or it’s not working at all, it’s important to ensure that your water heater is inspected by professionals (like us!) on a regular basis. 

Water heaters are such an important part of your home, why not protect your investment and make sure it’s running at peak efficiency and performing the way it should? When you rent your water heater, that’s all taken care of. It’s just like an oil change for your car – regular inspections and fluid changes help your car run its best.

Recommended Water Heater Maintenance

When an expert technician inspects your water heater, it extends the life of the machinery. Water heaters can last approximately 8-12 years depending on the unit and the maintenance. Annual maintenance includes an inspection of the unit and its functioning parts as well as a deep cleaning of the critical parts, as needed. 

Each water heater has a recommended maintenance schedule. It’s easy to check yours. If you have a Bradford White Water Heater, check the model number or serial number and plug it into the Bradford White website to find the right unit. Generally speaking, recommended water heater maintenance should be completed every year.

Have a Professional Service or Repair Your Water Heater

DIYer at heart? While we love a good DIY, it’s best to have a professional look at your water heater if something is not right. All service and maintenance is included in your annual fee so it’s a win-win when you rent with Reliance Heath Water Heater Rentals. 

If you happen to tinker with your water heater without the right tools or expertise, you could make the problem worse and ultimately it could end up costing more to fix, or void your warranty, and we definitely don’t want that. 

If you experience leakage, inconsistent hot water, or suspect the unit is not working properly, call us right away. Reliance Heath will diagnose the problem and make the necessary repairs. If the unit is under warranty, all warranty claims will be made for you. We’ll handle getting any replacement parts for you and do all the work. The best part? It’s included in your annual maintenance fee! So you don’t pay anything out of pocket.

Get Low

Hot water heaters have an adjustable temperature gauge. By default, many water heaters are set at about 130 degrees Fahrenheit. To get the most out of your water heater, reduce the heat to about 115-120 degrees Fahrenheit. Not only will you reduce your water heater’s chances of overheating, you can save up to 5% on your energy bill! We’ll take that!

Although there are things you can do to maintain your water heater on your own, but we’re here to help – maintenance and service are included in your annual rental. Our professional technicians will keep you in hot and soft water!