Water softeners then work by distilling the water to remove all traces of the minerals. Choosing one of the best water softener salts can help this type of softener be more effective and potentially last for longer. This adds a minimal, nearly undetectable amount of salt into the water, and as a result, the resin periodically needs to be recharged with salt so that there are sodium ions available to exchange for the minerals. These systems feature a bed of resin that draws the minerals in (or into which the minerals are forced via a brine jet) and causes a reaction resulting in an ion exchange, releasing salt ions in the place of the undesirable minerals. Salt-and-brine systems are mid-priced options that work well in most types of homes and RVs, which is why they’re the most commonly used types. Photo: How do water softeners work? There are four main types of water softeners, and each type works slightly differently. Hard water can cause problems with appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines as well. Some signs that a home needs a water softener include stained plumbing fixtures, dry hair and skin, and unclean laundry. These minerals can also reduce the effectiveness of soaps and cleansers, stain plumbing fixtures, and can damage appliances that use water-along with drying out human skin and hair and potentially causing eye irritation. ![]() ![]() At high levels, these minerals can cause limescale buildup in pipes, which can reduce the water pressure available to the home and damage pipes in the long term. Those who use well water may also see high levels of magnesium and calcium. Water treatment plants usually filter out minerals or chemicals that can be harmful if ingested, but other minerals, notably magnesium and calcium, aren’t filtered out by treatment plants. Most of the time, this is a good thing-everyone can use a few extra minerals in their diet! In some cases, however, the concentration of minerals can be too high. What is hard water, anyway, and why would it need to be softened? All water has some minerals that have leached into it from the soil and rocks around it. Water softeners remove heavy minerals from the water using salt and brine, water distillation, reverse osmosis, or magnets. However, if there’s no documentation of the maintenance performed on the softener, you’ll want to watch closely for signs that the system is starting to fail rather than relying on an average water softener lifespan. If the previous owners lived in the home for several years and aren’t aware of how old the unit is, it wasn’t brand-new when they moved in, so you can probably guess that it’s at least 5 to 8 years old. The average life expectancy of a water softener is 15 to 25 years, but that depends on quite a few things: the quality of the build, the materials used to soften the water, and most importantly, the maintenance. ![]() Even in areas where the water isn’t particularly hard, adding a softener can extend the life of plumbing and machines that use water, and it can also improve the condition of hair and skin. I know we’ll need to replace it immediately when it stops working, but how long does a water softener last?Ī: Congratulations on your new home and on recognizing that assessing the age and condition of major appliances is an important first step in maintaining a home! Water softeners are important in areas with hard water because hard water can affect the efficiency and lifespan of dishwashers and laundry equipment, cause scale problems in pipes and plumbing fixtures, and cause drinking water to taste odd. I’ve never had a water softener before, and I know very little about them except that it’s a necessity because we have such hard water here. The previous owners only lived here for a few years and aren’t sure exactly how old it is, though they indicated that it was working well. Photo: Q: Our new home has a whole-house water softener installed.
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