Determine Whether You Need a Water Softener

If you've been wondering whether or not you need a domestic water softener in your home, it is a matter of personal preference. Hard water does not pose a risk to your health, but can cause the undesirable buildup of calcium scale on dishes and plumbing fixtures. If you're considering a softener, you can contact the Public Works Water Division to see what the water hardness is in your area. With several different treatment facilities supplying the Lake in the Hills' water system, you may find that you already have soft water in your area.

There are a few things to consider before purchasing a home softener. If your primary concern is the calcium scale on your dishes, that can usually be handled in a more cost effective manner by using specialized dish washing detergents. If your concern is the feel of the hard water on your skin or the amount of soap lather, then a home softener would be appropriate. Water softeners add sodium to the water in the softening process, produce a “slimy” texture to the water, and cause a “medicinal” taste. If you are on a sodium-restricted diet, you should consult your physician before installing a home softener. There are both desirable and undesirable aspects to hard water versus soft water. It is the decision of each homeowner to gauge which type they prefer.

Domestic Water Softeners and their Effect on Water Quality

Given the fact that domestic softening is merely a preference of each individual homeowner, some people choose to install these units while others decide to take them out of service following a new home purchase or a change in the water system. In both situations, there are a couple of things to consider. A domestic water softener is the leading cause for a partial or complete loss of water pressure in the home which can be caused by one of two unique problems.

The first problem happens as the result of an equipment malfunction in the softener itself. Due to age or faulty manufacturing, the physical resin that performs the softening can break free from its housing. When this happens, the resin either creates a clog inside the softener or travels through the plumbing of your home, creating several clogs at faucets and shower heads. In either case, a significant or total loss of water pressure is the result. In order to rectify this condition, the water softener must be physically bypassed; not simply turned off or unplugged. Although most models have a lateral push lever labeled as the main bypass, you should consult your operation manual for the proper bypass procedure. In addition to bypassing the softener, each faucet in the home that has a screen aerator should be inspected for loose resin. The polystyrene resin abundantly used in home softening units has the appearance and texture of “fish eggs”; very small and relatively slimy. Faucet aerators should be removed to inspect and discard any resin that has collected there.

The second problem that can contribute to pressure loss is the improper abandonment of a home softening unit. It is not absolutely necessary to physically remove a softener from the plumbing schematic in your home to stop using it. However, it is necessary to bypass the unit as described previously. If the unit is merely turned off or unplugged, the softening operation will cease but water will continue to pass through it. Softening resin is an excellent breeding ground for bacteria, which is only prevented by the backwashing and salt injection procedures of an active softener. When a softener is unplugged or turned off while water is still allowed to flow through it, the unit will stop cleaning itself and bacteria will begin to grow exponentially. Not only do the bacteria pose a potential health risk, it will eventually build to a point where it may restrict water flow and pressure in your home.