Why Summer Is the Best Season to Service Your Water Softener
Most homeowners don’t think about their water softener until something goes wrong. But summer is the perfect time to get ahead of potential issues and keep your system ready for the months ahead. Read on for Gunther Salt’s top five reasons to service your water softener — and one way to get the best water softener salt.
Handling Extra Water
Summer changes the way we use water. Homeowners start watering the lawn, filling the pool, and hosting social events at their home. Plus, bug spray, sunscreen and sweat make everyone shower even more than usual. With all things considered, Americans use anywhere from two to four times as much water during the summer months.
The uptick in water usage puts a strain on your salt water softener. As it undergoes more regeneration cycles, your system may eventually deplete its reserves — leading to unfiltered water entering your home.
Adapting to Hardness
Water might not be the same from season to season. During the summer, heat causes rivers and reservoirs to evaporate more rapidly. The water that’s left behind has a higher concentration of dissolved minerals, such as calcium and magnesium.
Even if you’re using the best water softener salt, your system may be set up for a lower hardness level. Because of this, it may not be filtering as intended. To be safe, homeowners should test their water supply in the summer and recalibrate the amount of product their salt water softener uses per cycle.
Protecting Appliances
Hard water is safe for you, but risky for your home. Hard water can cause scaling in the appliances you use most, such as washing machines, dishwashers, ice makers and water heaters. The scaling builds up over time, leading to restricted water flow, valve clogs and an overall shorter lifespan.
Throughout the summer, issues in your water softening systems may allow hard water to slip through. Regular service for your water softener reveals salt bridging, depleted resin beads, faulty valves and low salt supply before they allow minerals to reach your appliances.
Improving Energy Efficiency
Summer utility bills come with some level of sticker shock. Energy usage skyrockets as you try to combat heat waves and keep your home or business cool. Naturally, the costs add up, and property owners start looking for any way to save.
Preventative maintenance can put money back in your pocket. A tuned-up salt water softener runs fewer generation cycles, which ultimately reduces the electricity it requires. Plus, it prevents excess salt from being used with each cycle — which saves you even more in the long run.
What to Expect as You Service a Water Softener
Considering adding a water softening service to your to-do list? After calling a technician to service your water softener, you can expect them to:
Test the water. Technicians will test your water supply to measure its baseline hardness (grains per gallon) and check for insolubles, such as iron or sediment.
Conduct maintenance. Technicians will search for and resolve common issues with your system, such as salt bridges, sludge in the brine tank, and mold or bacterial growth.
Repair or replace components. If needed, technicians will troubleshoot control valves, replace degraded resin beads or upgrade failing hardware.
Your Next Steps
Your water softening system needs occasional service, but it also needs the best water softener salt to stay at the top of its game.
Gunther Salt offers a range of high-quality products designed for different budgets and systems needs. Plus, we offer water softener salt delivery near you — ensuring your order arrives whenever your salt water softener needs it.
Ready to place your order with Gunther Salt? Contact a representative today orders@gunthersalt.com or 314-241-7075 to get started.
