Sacramento: How Do I Know My Water Softener Is Working?

Do you think about your water softener a lot? The answer is probably only “yes” if you’ve started noticing hard water build up on your dishes, or on fixtures and other areas around the house.  You might also notice a difference in the taste and quality of water coming from your tap, or a gradual change in the water pressure itself — these are all reliable signs that something may be wrong with your water softener.

Here Are Simple Ways to See If Your Home Water Softener Is Working

If you want to be thorough, you can have your water tested to see how hard or soft your water is. If the tests come back with high levels of dissolved minerals even with a water softener in your home, it’s likely time to either service your water softener, or consider replacing it.

Water Softener Maintenance and Upkeep

As a rule, you should have your water softener serviced at least once every year. If you live in an area of the country with especially hard water, you may want to increase your servicing schedule to every six months, as hard minerals wear on softeners and decrease their efficiency over time.

Your service schedule should also vary based on the type of water softener you have. Some softeners require salt as part of the softening process, so replacing the salt in these softeners can (and should) be done on a regular schedule set up according to your household water usage. Your local Culligan can always service your existing softener, or recommend a schedule for you, if you’re the DIY type.

Water Softeners: Service vs. Replacement

Just like all major appliances, water softeners eventually run into the end of their useful lives. If you’ve been asking yourself, ‘how do I know if my water softener is working properly?’ you may already be on the path to considering whether routine maintenance is enough to keep your softener working the way it needs to.

For example, if you’re having it serviced regularly and still noticing build up from hard water, or noticing it fairly quickly after servicing, that’s a sign the issue may run deeper than a standard service appointment. When your water softener is working harder than it needs to, it can also cost you extra money every month in your utility bills. If your softener isn’t working the way it should, not only does the softener itself requires more energy, so do all the rest of your home’s water-using appliances (dishwasher, hot water heater, washing machines, etc.)

Want to find out for sure if your water softener is working? The easiest way is to call your Sacramento Culligan and schedule a complimentary home water test.

Sacramento – Do I Need a Whole-Home Filter?

Many people may be unsure as to whether or not they need a whole home water filter.  It can be a difficult decision that has several factors worth considering.  Read below to decide if a whole-home water filter from your Sacramento Culligan Dealer is right for you.

What’s in Your Water?

Before deciding whether or not a whole-home filter is right for your home, find out if doing so will have any benefit. Work to understand what’s in your water, and where your source is. Some things to consider:

  • Do you have municipal or well water?
  • Are you worried about pesticides?
  • Industrial chemicals?
  • Does your area have lead or particularly hard water?

Will a Whole-Home Filter Work?

After deciding what aspects of your tap water you are worried about, find out if a whole-home filter will remove that contaminant.  Find the total micron rating needed to filter out that specific contaminant.  Once you have that information, see if the filter’s micron size is smaller than what you need.  If it is, then it should work to filter out any contaminant larger than the pore size on the filter.

What Are Your Consumption Needs?

Once you find out how small the pore size on the filter needs to be, consider what your water consumption needs are.  How many people are in your household? Is there anybody else living there?  What about kids and/or pets?

Next, know how much water your family drinks. If you drink a lot of water and use it to cook most days, you may have high water consumption and could use a smaller filtering system. If your family drinks a lot of bottled water, consider how much you could save in costs and refrigerator space by looking into a Culligan Reverse Osmosis System.

Would a Reverse Osmosis System Be Better?

Does a Culligan Water Softener would better suit your water needs? Is water damaging your hair and skin?  Is it discoloring the edges of your faucets and drains?  If your needs extend in and beyond the kitchen, the a whole-home filter would be the better choice for you.  However, if you want a filter for strictly cooking and drinking water, an RO system may be the best choice.

Buying a water filter for your home and family can be a daunting task, but hopefully this information can make the decision a little bit easier.  If these questions still leave you puzzled, the friendly representatives at your Sacramento Culligan dealer can help you make a more educated decision.

 

Sources:

https://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/environmental-safety/install-a-water-treatment-and-purification-system/

https://www.consumerreports.org/water-filters/five-things-you-need-to-know-about-water-filters/

https://www.angieslist.com/articles/whole-house-water-filter-right-me.htm