Water Softener Repair

A water softener can normally be found in a garage or basement where the main water supply line enters your home. It consists of a mineral tank, a brine tank, a control valve, and a brine line. Water first enters the mineral tank which is filled with small plastic beads called ion exchange resin. The resin beads are coated with sodium ions which attract and bind to the calcium and magnesium ions in the water. The softened water then flows out of the mineral tank and into your home’s plumbing system for use. The calcium and magnesium ions that were removed from the water in the mineral tank are then flushed out into the sewer line, and the sodium is replenished by the salt in the brine tank.

The process outlined above is fairly frictionless if you maintain your water softener by refilling the brine tank when it gets low and cleaning the mineral tank with a water softener cleaning solution once or twice a year. However, water softeners can still break down from time to time. Here’s what to watch out for:

Poor Water Quality

If the water coming from your taps tastes bad or smells bad and looks cloudy or discolored, this could mean that your water softener needs to be repaired. Hard water can cause a buildup of minerals in pipes and fixtures which will lead to poor water quality. Armor Air’s professional plumbers can check for any leaks or corrosion and determine if your softener can be repaired.

Clogged Pipes

Can you hear your pipes gurgle? Are your sinks draining slower than usual? These could also be signs that your water softener isn’t working properly. Hard water can cause mineral deposits that build up in pipes and lead to clogs. Give Armor Air a call, and we can check your pipes for blockages, leaks, and corrosion, and make sure this isn’t a sign of a bigger plumbing problem.

Leaking Pipes

If there are water stains on your walls and floors and there’s a faint dirty sock aroma in your home, it probably means you have a leaking pipe. This is also a possible symptom of a broken water softener. Give Armor Air a call, and our licensed plumbers can locate the leak and determine what caused it. Hard water can cause pipes to corrode and lead to leaks.

High Water Bills

Rising water bills are another sign of a water softener in distress. Hard water can cause an increase in water usage, which will inevitably lead to higher water bills. Be sure to call a professional plumbing company like Armor Air to take a look at your water softener and see if its essential function can be renewed.