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:
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- Set your water softener onto bypass mode.
- Unplug the water softener to avoid any injuries and disconnect the brine tank
- 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.
- Dump the salt into gravel.
- Clean the brine tank by scrubbing it with cold water, dish soap, and a brush.
- 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.