A water softener is a common fixture in many modern homes. This machine can help in removing the magnesium and calcium that are in the water. Although these are good for the body (at the right doses), these can be harmful to homes. Water with those kinds of ions can shorten the lifespan of many home appliances, like washing machines and coffee makers. This can also cause sediments in the pipes, which can clog them in the long run.
Having a water softener system at home makes the water cleaner and purified from all these ions. A common example would be the reverse osmosis system. This water softener filters water through a membrane, which removes ions from the water. This prevents any buildup in the pipes that result in costly damage. There are lots of benefits to having a water softener system at home. However, this doesn’t mean that you are free from some water softener problems.
Here are the most common water softener problems that you may encounter, including some solutions to these issues:
Salinity
Salt is commonly used in water filtration systems in most of the water softeners, especially in the reverse osmosis method. This is used in order to have the needed osmotic pressure to filter the water. However, there are times when salt goes with the soft water that the machine makes. This is not good for those who are restricted with their salt intake, like people who have hypertension and heart problems. Salinity is among the usual water softener problems. To address this issue, it would be best to have a separate faucet at home that has unfiltered or hard water. This faucet can be used by those who cannot take water with sodium content. You can also replace the salt in the water softener with potassium chloride. This is also an effective substance for filtration. However, this replacement can be a bit costly.
Low Brine Flow
Brine flow is another common water softener problem. If you think the brine flow in your system is unusual, you can do a few checks first. You can flush the brine line to see if salt deposits have clogged the line. This can also be caused by the filter screen. Check the screen and the injector system to see if there are any damages and if they have to be replaced. Inspect the pressure gauge for any issues. This gauge needs to be functioning properly in order to have a smooth flow of brine in the system.
Water purification filter with activated charcoal and other filter substrates
Ineffective Filtration
A lot of owners have probably encountered that their water softener unit is not working, as it should. You might want to check your system first, before calling a technician.
You have to take a look at the tank and see if there are any deposits that have to be flushed out. Check the salinity balance of the brine and ensure that it has the right balance. Lastly, the regeneration frequency has to be set properly so water will be filtered effectively.