Keeping your water softener in top condition is essential for ensuring a steady supply of clean, softened water for your business. Regular maintenance not only extends the life of your system but also helps you avoid costly repairs and disruptions. At Step Saver, we understand that managing your water softener might feel overwhelming, so we’ve created an easy-to-follow, downloadable maintenance checklist to guide you.
Whether you’re a seasoned pro or new to water softener care, our checklist has everything you need to keep your system running smoothly. Let’s dive in and simplify your water softener maintenance!
Do Water Softeners Need Maintenance?
Yes, it’s imperative to maintain your water softener system, especially for businesses that use the equipment to streamline their operations. For these systems to consistently perform at max capacity, maintaining them year-round is essential. Without the proper care, commercial water softeners will stop working effectively, resulting in hard water that leads to white residue on appliances, reduced water pressure, and low-quality drinking water for your customers and employees. Regular maintenance helps extend the lifespan of your water softener system, just as it does with any other equipment. While maintenance checkups can be costly and time-consuming upfront, they save you significant money in the long run by preventing expensive breakdowns or the need for a complete water softener replacement.
Although it’s crucial to hire a water softener professional to service your system regularly, there are things you can do yourself to maintain your equipment. Whether you just had a water softener installed or want to maintain the one you currently have, here’s a checklist to properly care for your equipment, ensuring it lasts for years to come:
How to Maintain a Water Softener: A Step-By-Step Downloadable Checklist
Follow these simple steps below to maintain your commercial water softener system all year. For an easier reference, here’s a downloadable printable version of the checklist. We’d recommend following this maintenance checklist at least once a month or less, depending on the task:
Check Salt Levels
Checking your salt levels should be done once a month to maintain the efficiency of your water softener system. Look into your brine tank and make sure the salt is a few inches above the water level. If not, add salt to your softener’s specifications (usually about halfway).
Clean Your Brine Tank Often
Clean your brine tank about once a year or more often if the manufacturer recommends it. To clean your water softener’s brine tank, prepare a pit outside to dump the brine and set the system to bypass mode. Disconnect and empty the brine tank, then clean it thoroughly with detergent and water, followed by a bleach solution. After rinsing and drying, reassemble the tank, reconnect it to the system, and add the appropriate amount of water and salt. Let the salt dissolve for two hours before starting a regeneration cycle, following the system’s manual for proper measurements.
Inspect for Salt Bridges
Salt bridges are intricate crusty structures that form above the brine tank water, preventing salt from dissolving properly. Use a long-handled tool, like a broom handle, to check for salt bridges and break up the structures, allowing contact between the salt and water.
Replace Your Water Softener Resin
Resin is essential to your water softener’s operation since it allows the ion exchange process. Resin often lasts for the duration of your system, about 10–15 years, but heightened levels of iron and chlorine can break down resin faster. If your water softener is consuming salt regularly but not producing enough soft water, it’s a sign that your resin needs to be replaced.
To replace the resin in your water softener, consult the owner’s manual for the required amount of resin and place the system in bypass mode. Disconnect the plumbing, remove the control head, and rinse out the old resin, saving any gravel if used. Refill the tank with gravel and new resin, reassemble the system, and start a manual regeneration. Finally, test the water to ensure the desired softness level.
Clean the Resin Tank
Cleaning the resin tank is also essential for maintaining its effectiveness by removing debris, sediment, and contaminants. To clean it, use a water softener cleaner approved for your equipment. Pour the cleaner into the brine tank according to the manufacturer’s instructions and start a manual regeneration cycle. Allow the system to complete the whole cycle to clean the tank and refresh the resin beads thoroughly.
Analyze the Valves & Settings
An important step of maintenance is regularly inspecting your water softener’s main components to ensure everything is functioning correctly. Check for leaks around connections, ensure the valves turn smoothly, and verify that your water supply’s timer and hardness settings are correct. During regeneration, listen for any unusual sounds that might indicate an issue.
Flush the System
To finish maintenance, flush the entire water softener system with purified water, remove any leftover cleaner, and ensure everything is running properly.
When to Hire the Professionals
While regular water softener maintenance can often be done on your own, certain situations call for the expertise of a professional. If you notice persistent issues such as low water pressure, unexplained leaks, or an ongoing salty taste in your water, it’s time to bring in an expert. Professionals can diagnose complex problems, perform repairs, and ensure your system runs efficiently. Additionally, tasks like replacing resin beads, servicing the control head, or addressing electrical malfunctions are best left to trained technicians with the tools and experience to handle them safely. Hiring a professional saves you time and can prevent costly mistakes in the long run.
Partner with Step Saver For Your Water Softener Maintenance Needs
If you’re having trouble with your water softener system and don’t know who to call, reach out to Step Saver. Our team is the top-rated water softener service provider in Utah, Nevada, and California. We specialize in water softener maintenance, replacement, and installation. Whether your water softener equipment is constantly leaking or your customers are complaining about a salty taste in their water, we’re here to determine the issue and find the solution. Step Saver’s salt delivery services are eco-friendly and time-saving, ensuring your water softener systems are running at maximum efficiency 100% of the time.
Whatever your water softener needs may be, Step Saver is here to help. Contact our team today and experience the difference we can make in providing purified water for your business operations.
