About six months ago I realized that we needed to do something to renovate our kitchen. It was old, outdated, and a little non-functional. I didn't know what to do to improve things, but a friend of mine mentioned that it might be smart to go through and replace the appliances. We started going shopping, and I realized that we needed to figure out where to get a great deal. We started combing through sales, and I actually got pretty good at snagging bargains. This blog is all about learning more about the latest appliance so that you can renovate on a dime.
A water softener is only as reliable as the person taking of it. It's not difficult to find softeners that come with a lifetime warranty. Despite the cost of these systems, most of them have a fairly simply operating mechanism. This reduces the probability of a breakdown.
However, there are certain conditions that can make these systems a little less reliable than you'd want. A proper understanding of these problems can help you to take better care of your softener.
Need for Maintenance
Many water softeners will require maintenance every once in a while. There are systems that are said to be maintenance-free, but you shouldn't assume yours is unless you're sure. The most common maintenance activity you'll have to handle is adding salt to the system.
Many softeners work by ion-exchange which requires salt. The salt must be replenished after a few months depending on how much water you use in your home. Apart from the salt, you'll also need to check your softener's filters. These filters can become clogged by the build-up of impurities from the water and/or salt. This can make the system less effective.
Quantity and Quality of Water
There are different types of hard water depending on the minerals and impurities contained. Some water will only require a small amount of softening while others will require a lot of softening. If your softener was optimized for water with a certain degree of hardness, it may become less effective if it's used with water that is much harder. You should also pay attention to the amount of water used in your house. Some softeners, e.g., those with removable cartridges, are designed to soften a specific amount of water before the cartridge has to be replaced. If you use a lot of water, these systems may not be as reliable as you want.
The Problem with Point-of-Use Softeners
A point-of-use softener may not be as reliable as you'd want. These types of systems are designed to soften the water being used from a particular outlet, e.g., a faucet, shower, tub, etc. Therefore, although the water from that point may be soft, the plumbing in your home is still exposed to hard water. This means you may experience the biggest issues associated with hard water, i.e., damaged plumbing.
Instead of a point-of-use system, go with a whole-house or point-of-entry system. This ensures that any water coming into your house is already conditioned. For more information, contact a company like Hague Quality Water of Kansas City Inc.
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