Water Softener Maintenance: 7 Tips to Prolong Softener’s Life

Suppose your water pressure is reducing in all sinks and faucets. In that case, there might be a chance that the mineral deposits are increasing in the pipelines of your plumbing system, and your water softener is also not working properly.

It means you need to perform water softener maintenance. You have to do this cleaning task in the correct way to keep all the gears in good working condition.

Cleaning and maintaining this home appliance is not tricky; you just need to follow certain steps to do this task efficiently. Routine upkeep will increase the lifespan of this gadget and give you high-quality water at a minimum cost.

Cleaning the Water Softener – The Right Way to Go

The hard water contains a high level of magnesium and calcium minerals. They are not harmful to health but can block the plumbing lines. The water softener is the only way to tackle this problem of hard water.

Although very low maintenance is required to clean this gadget, you have to inspect this appliance on regularly basis to preserve it for a longer time. This maintenance is necessary to get neat and fresh water in a routine.

One easy way for water softener maintenance is to schedule this cleaning process. You never need to clean this gadget so frequently, and the situation makes it harder to remind your last cleanings.

You can maintain this gadget and get the optimal performance from this appliance based on the following two techniques:

Cleaning the Brine Tank

To clean the brine tank of this machine, you have to investigate the quantity of salt in the water. It is better to clean this gear when the amount of water softener salt is lesser; it will simplify the cleaning process because of its lower weight.

Regular cleaning of the brine tank will increase the performance and lifespan of this gadget. Now start cleaning the brine tank with the help of the following steps:

Prepare a Space to Discard Brine

Initially, you have to arrange a space to remove this water softener tank. Prepare any space by digging a shallow hole in the land. Position the sand and gravel at the bottom of this hole for a smooth surface.

Turn off the System

Disconnect all electricity switches of this machine and open the bypass valve to turn the working water softener machine off.

Drain the Water

Bring the brine tank and drain all the water in the shallow hole. Make sure all the water has been poured from the brine tank.

Clean the Tank and Components

You have to disassemble all the components to the brine tank to clean it properly. Now arrange any dishwashing or special commercial detergent to make a water softener cleaner.

Apply this cleaning solution to the inside surface of the tank with any stiff bristle brush. Finally, rinse all the components with clean water.

Allow the Tank to Dry

This washed tank should be properly dried up before re-installing it. You can use a softer towel to dry the smaller components like the brine valve of the tank.

Reassemble and Refill

Now reassemble all the parts of the brine tank and connect it to its place. Fill the tank with fresh and pellet salt and connect the electric switch again to start the water softener.

Cleaning the Resin Tank

There are two different techniques to clean the resin tank. You can do this DIY task without taking the cleaning services from any firm. This cleaning process is a bit easier than the previous one, and this water softener repair is straightforward.

Method 1

The resin tank of this machine can be cleaned manually. Disconnect the electricity and unscrew the bolts. Now eliminate the tank by detaching its valve.

Now clean this tank with Morton water softener cleaner or bleach water. Finally, rinse up all the surfaces of the tank with clean water. Always remove all the signs of the bleach before re-installing it back to its original position.

Method 2

You can also use any iron-removing product to clean this tank. There are detailed instructions given in the description section of its packaging.

You have to strictly follow these points and eliminate all the wastewater from the tank after applying this cleaning product.

It is better to make a schedule for cleaning these tanks in a proper routine. This DIY water softener service and routine will increase the lifespan of all types of water softeners.

Pro Tips for Water Softener Maintenance

If you still understand the detailed cleaning process of this home appliance and its tanks, you are not a pro expert. You must follow some important tips to maintain the water softener regeneration cycle.

These tips will clarify all the critical points of how to clean water softener in a better way:

Investigate the salt regularly and avoid its mushing and bridges
Be selective in your salt choice; solar salt for water softeners can be a good choice
Clean the venturi valve regularly for the smooth functioning of this gadget.
Use the resin bead cleaner to keep this helpful unit in the top working condition.
If you are doing DIY water softener cleaning, you should know exactly how to clean the brine and resin tank.
If you get confused at any level, just call a professional to avoid any mishap.

How to Keep the Brine Tank Clean?

Once you have successfully cleaned this machine, preserving and maintaining its brine tank is essential. The most vital component in the brine tank is salt.

It should be chosen wisely for the better performance of this gadget. Keep in following points in your mind for maintaining the brine tank of this appliance and apply them in the right sequence:

You have to check the salt level every month for the best water softening process.
If you use salt pellet or granular salt, you don’t need to thrash it; this form of salt will easily dissolve into any type of water.
If you notice a solid pattern of salt in your brine tank, which is usually known as a bridge, you have to break it by pushing it with a broom handle or any other similar gadget.
You might see salt mushy piles as well in the brine tank. You can put these bigger mounds in hot water and pour them back into the tank in the shape of smaller pieces.

Supplementary Option – Sanitizing

Another alternative for water softener maintenance is to sanitize it with a bleach solution.

If you are regularly cleaning the water softener, then there might be a certain chance that germs or bacteria are building up in the components of the water softener or its tanks.

You have to disinfect them with the help of an effective cleaning process.

You can use bleach to wash the surface of this machine. Must read the instruction manual or ask any specialist of this gadget about bleach.

If the manufacturer and professional of this machine recommend this substance, only then apply it to the inner portion of your softener and its tanks.

Finally, you have to eliminate this harsh substance from a water softener’s inner and outer surface. You can rinse all these areas with hot water and continue this recycling process until removing a complete bleach odor.

The bleach cleaning session is unnecessary, but if you want to sanitize your water, you can apply the water-based bleach solution to this machine’s components.

FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some commonly asked queries about water softener maintenance.

Do Water Softeners Require Maintenance?

The water softener machine requires regular maintenance like all the other appliances. It is not necessary to clean such gadgets; rather, they just need one thorough cleaning session after two to five years.

What Kind of Maintenance Needs to be Done on a Water Softener?

It is better to regularly check all the water softener components, including its tanks, valve, and even its salt levels. One detailed cleaning session is enough to maintain this appliance for the next five years.

How Often Should You Maintain Your Water Softener?

It is not essential to clean this machine on year basis. To keep the healthy water softening process, you can do its cleaning exercise for five to ten years despite its continuous use.

How Do You Clean Out a Water Softener?

To clean this machine, you have to disassemble all its components. The brine tank is a key gear in this machine that needs a healthy cleaning session. You can clean the inside surface of this machine with a bristle brush to remove all stains.

How Do I Know if My Water Softener is Working Properly?

You can experience the taste of water to figure out if it’s working. All the pipes, faucets, and sinks drain the water in proper flow, and you will see a high-quality performance in your laundry work; it means your gadget is working at its best.

Enjoy a Better Taste of Water

That’s it from my side! You can do the cleaning task of this machine on your own after reading this informative guide. Then, you can save your investment by doing this job yourself without calling the specialist of this gadget.

You can improve water quality by maintaining the water softener in the right way. It is necessary to focus on this gear’s brine and resin tanks.

You have to choose the suitable salt and regularly check the salt bridges and mushing. Assemble all the water softener components carefully and re-install them in their correct position.