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Hard water can be a big problem in many households, causing everything from stained dishes and ruined clothing to clogged pipes and damaged appliances. Fortunately, many homeowners have found relief with the installation of a water softener.
Water softeners are great machines that remove hard water minerals from your water supply. If you have a water softener installed in your home, you may start to wonder if it’s working properly. In this post, we’ll go over the signs to look for to know if your water softener is working or not.
Check Your Soap Usage
One of the easiest ways to tell if your water softener is working is to check your soap usage. If your water is soft, you’ll be able to use less soap to create suds. Hard water minerals prevent soap from fully lathering, causing you to use more soap to get your dishes or laundry clean. If you notice you’re using less soap than usual, your water softener is likely working well.
Visual Inspections
Another way to check if your water softener is working is to do a visual inspection. Take a closer look at your faucets, shower heads, and any appliances that use water. If you notice a buildup of white, scaly deposits, it’s likely that your water softener is not removing all the hard water minerals from your water. Contact a professional to check your water softener.
Another sign that your water softener may not be working as it should is if you notice buildup on the pipes in your home. If you see a thick, sticky residue or any discoloration on the pipes, this could signify an issue with your water softener. The buildup can eventually lead to clogs and other plumbing problems, so it’s important to contact a professional as soon as you notice any buildup. They can inspect the water softener and determine whether it needs to be serviced or replaced.
Conduct a Hard Water Test
If you’re not sure if your water softener is working, you can conduct a hard water test to check. You can purchase test strips that detect the amount of hard water minerals in your water. These test strips can be used to test your “before” water and “after” water to see if the water softener is successfully removing the hard water minerals.
If you are looking to conduct a hard water test to check if your water softener is working, you can purchase test strips online or at hardware stores. These test strips detect the amount of hard water minerals in your water and can be used to compare “before” and “after” results for an accurate assessment of your water softener’s effectiveness.
Look for test strips that are specifically designed for hard water testing. It’s a good idea to buy a few extra, in case you need to re-test. With the right test strips, you can get an accurate picture of whether or not your water softener is working.
Test How the Water Feels
One of the most obvious ways to tell if your water softener is working properly is to test how it feels while you shower. Softened water will feel slick and silky against your skin. Hard water, on the other hand, leaves a dull feeling on your skin and can be more difficult to wash off with soap. Test out the “before” and “after” water to see if there is a difference. If you notice that the “after” water feels softer, then your water softener is likely working properly.
Check Your Water Bill
One way to tell if your water softener is not working properly is to check your water bill. If your water softener is not working, you will likely see an increase in your water bill due to the excessive water usage caused by hard water minerals. If you notice a sudden increase in your water bill, contact a professional to check your water softener.
Do a Smell Test
Another way to tell if your water softener is working is to do a smell test. Softened water should have virtually no smell at all, while hard water can often have an unpleasant odor. If you notice an unpleasant odor coming from your tap, it could be caused by too many minerals in the water. This could mean that your water softener is not functioning properly or needs to be serviced. Have a professional take a look at your water softener and make sure it is working as it should.
Listen to Your Water Softener
Water softeners typically produce a low humming sound when they’re working properly. If you notice a change in the sound, or the machine is making a different noise, it may be a sign of a problem. Be sure to contact a professional to inspect your water softener regularly.
When to Call a Professional
If you’ve noticed any of these signs that your water softener is not working no matter what you try, it’s time to call a professional. A certified technician, such as someone at Indy Water Heater and Softener LLC, will be able to inspect and diagnose the problem with your water softener and determine whether it needs to be serviced or replaced.
They may also suggest additional methods for checking if your water softener is functioning properly. With regular maintenance, your water softener can remain in proper working order and provide you with clean, softened water for years to come.
A water softener is an important investment in your home, but it’s only effective if it’s working. There are several ways to know if your water softener is working or not, including checking soap usage, conducting a visual inspection, doing a hard water test, checking your water bill, and listening to your water softener. If you notice any signs that your water softener is not working properly, contact a professional to ensure your water is safe and healthy for your family to use.
