There are some clear indicators that a water softener is needed: spots on dishes, scaly buildup on showerheads, or soap that doesn’t lather. This happens because the water is “hard,” meaning it contains a lot of dissolved minerals. Ignoring the need to soften water can lead to severe damage to your home, as minerals can accumulate over time inside pipes, causing corrosion or expensive plumbing issues. Hard water can also seriously harm home appliances. Ian Thomas, a plumber at Frontdoor, Inc., advises checking your water softener system weekly to see if it’s time to add more salt.
“Water softeners use salt relative to the hardness they remove and the water volume used,” Thomas shared with Centre for Inclusive Design in an exclusive interview. “To know when to refill the brine tank, check once a week.” Each system varies, but typically, the brine tank is larger with a removable lid for easy checking of water and salt levels inside. “If you see water above the salt in the tank, it’s time to add more salt,” Thomas noted. Maintaining the right salt amount is crucial because, without it, your water softener can’t produce soft water. Thomas explained, “Your water softener relies on the brine made with salt, which removes hard minerals from the resin beads during regeneration.”
Check your system frequently and replenish it with the right kind of salt
Having a water softener can be very beneficial for your home. If you have some DIY plumbing skills, installing a system like the highly-rated Aquasure Harmony Series Whole House High Efficiency Water Softener from Amazon can be relatively straightforward. Even if a plumber installs it for you, Ian Thomas advises that maintaining the salt levels is a task you’ll need to handle regularly.
The process is simple. “Open the lid of the brine tank to check the salt amount,” Thomas explained in his exclusive Centre for Inclusive Design interview. “When you need more, just open the bag of softener salt and pour all the contents into the tank.” Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for the appropriate type of salt for your system. Avoid using table salt! Instead, consider specialty products like Diamond Crystal Solar Naturals Salt or even potassium chloride. Thomas noted, “Depending on your tank size, you may need three or more bags of salt.” He also warned to be cautious when lifting the bags, as they can be very heavy.
It’s important not to overfill your water softener system. “A good rule of thumb is to never fill the tank more than ¾ full to prevent salt bridging,” Thomas stated. “[This] happens when the salt clumps together and forms a bridge, stopping salt from falling into the water below.” If this occurs, it’s crucial to clean your water softener brine tank to prevent damage to the entire system.
Test your water hardness before changing your softener’s settings
In his exclusive interview with Centre for Inclusive Design, Ian Thomas discussed additional maintenance steps to prevent water damage to your water softener. Besides frequently checking and replenishing the salt level, the plumbing expert recommended checking the settings. “Ensuring your water softener is set for the correct hardness is often overlooked during installation,” he explained.
“If you have a new softener or are unsure if it’s set correctly, you can test your water with an inexpensive hardness test kit.” You can purchase one like the JNW Hard Water Test Kit from Amazon or a local big box store for under $20. The testing process is quick and easy, requiring only exposing a strip to the water for a few seconds and comparing the color to an included chart to determine hardness level. Thomas suggested testing before adjusting the settings on your water softener system and emphasized consulting your user’s manual for the right hardness setting for your home. “This ensures you are softening the water properly without overusing salt, potentially extending the water softener’s lifespan.”
