Water softeners are kind of a blessing and a curse. On one hand, they really improve the quality of the water used for everything in your home, from showers and laundry to cooking and cleaning the dishes. But on the other hand, once you get used to this luxury, it can be hard to live without it!
If your water softener is not working properly, you should call a plumber in the 78217 area to fix it as soon as possible. Here are some signs that the water softener is not working right.
Hard water signs
One of the most prominent signs that the water softener is malfunctioning is that you will start to see signs of hard water. This can be seen on things that the water touches. Some signs include stiff clothes, water spots, soap having more difficulty getting a good lather going and crusty buildup around the faucets and pipes.
These signs indicate that hard water is present. You can confirm this by doing tests on the water supply. You can find water-hardness test kits at most hardware stores and pet stores (check the aquarium supplies section). Don’t use a pool test strip for this, as that will check for pH level and not water hardness.
You can feel it on your skin
Once you get used to having soft water in your home, you can literally feel the difference on your skin when the water softener isn’t working correctly. The extra calcium and magnesium left in the water will leave a filmy residue on your skin, making it feel dry, sticky and itchy.
The water tastes salty
Another sign the water softener isn’t working right is that the water from the tap may taste salty. You may also see a thin, salty film left inside the dishwasher. This is due to there being too much salt in the water softener. This may mean the softener simply needs to be cleaned out and refilled with salt, but it may also mean there is a jammed control valve in the system. It’s best to call a plumber in the 78217 area to fix this issue.
Other potential problems
If the water softener isn’t working properly, there are a couple other reasons that could be to blame. The most common reason is that there is not enough salt in the unit. Be sure to check the salt level once a month, and keep it about two thirds of the way full.
Like every home appliance, a water softener can occasionally stop working. If you’ve ruled out common issues like salt level or needing to clean the unit, then it’s time to let plumbers in 78217 get to work to fix or replace it.
When you have a problem with your water softener and you need a plumber in the 78217 area, contact Big City Plumbing, LLC today. Since 2008, we have been serving the area with all varieties of plumbing services, including repairing and replacing toilets, sinks, faucets, water softeners, garbage disposals, pipes and many other services.