Choosing a New Water Softener for Your Home

September 14th, 2016 Posted in Water Softener
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Hard water or water with excess minerals can cause problems with your plumbing, appliances and fixtures. Water softeners takes out the calcium and magnesium ions and replaces them with sodium ions, making the water “soft” and easier on your plumbing and leaving less residue on dishes and your skin. There are many different factors to consider when buying a new water softener. Here are a few factors to keep in mind:

  • Water consumption. You need a water softener that will meet your water consumption needs. Average use per person in U.S. homes is under 100 gallons per day. Your home consumption will depend on the size of your family and your typical consumption.
  • Automatic or on demand. Water softeners can be automatic or on demand. Automatic softeners are timed and soften the same amount of water at the same time each day. On demand types will soften as needed, which is good for homes where water consumption fluctuates. Although many people prefer the on demand option for ease and efficiency, they generally will be a larger initial investment than an automatic water softener.
  • Repair and maintenance. It is important to know what your new water softener will need for ongoing maintenance and ensure that your local plumber will be able to handle any repairs needed on the brand and model you choose. Ease in keeping your water softener clean and maintained is important if you want to avoid service calls to your plumber.

Your local plumber can help you determine the best size and type of water softener that will meet your needs. Make sure to discuss the pros and cons of the different types and what will best fit your lifestyle.

Posted on behalf of:
Kiddco Plumbing Inc
Sterling, VA
(703) 435-4441

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The Problem with Hard Water

February 26th, 2013 Posted in Water Softener
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You probably have magnesium and calcium supplements included as part of your daily multivitamin. These two compounds, essential to the healthy function of your body, can be problematic for your appliances and plumbing when they’re found in your water supply.

Hard water is a term used to describe water that contains high levels of mineral salts, and it can cause bigger problems than just a lack of lather from your favorite soap. Limescale build-up within your pipes can restrict the water flow over time, causing slow drainage that commercial drain cleaners usually won’t fix. Shower heads, faucets and valves can also fall victim to limescale build-up that reduces water flow.

Your water heater, one of the more expensive appliances in your home, can also be damaged by mineral deposits that form as a result of hard water. Those spots on your glassware after a cycle through the dishwasher aren’t just a mild irritant; they can be a sign of a problem that could affect the longevity of the dishwasher itself. The washing machine that keeps your clothes clean can also be adversely affected by hard water, with limescale deposits and rust inside the machine, along the hoses and water lines. Fortunately, there is a relatively simple solution to your hard water problems.

Contacting a licensed plumber to discuss the use of water softener can help you extend the life of your appliances, prevent limescale build-up on your faucets and valves and prevent the pesky skin and hair dryness that often accompanies showering and bathing in hard water. Your plumber will also be able to answer any questions that you have regarding water softeners and their effect on a septic system.

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Do Water Softeners Harm Septic Systems?

May 22nd, 2012 Posted in Water Softener
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If your home is one of the 85 percent of American homes with hard water, you may be considering installing a water softener.  There are advantages and disadvantages of water softeners to consider, but if your home is on a septic system an additional consideration should be whether the water softener will cause any problems with the septic system.

There have been several studies done with no consensus reached as to whether a water softener or water conditioner can be used without damaging a septic system.  As an initial matter, there are a few areas where local building codes prohibit the use of water softeners with septic systems so check to be sure that you even have the option to install a water softener in your area.

During normal operation, water softeners periodically discharge large volumes of water with high levels of sodium which raises concerns about the possibility of overloading the septic system with too much water and also about the effect of the sodium on the septic tank and septic field.

Water softeners discharge about 50 to 70 gallons of water during a “regeneration cycle” which occurs two to three times a week.  The concern is that too much water flowing into the septic tank will cause the effluent to flow to the drain field before the solid material has had a chance to settle out.  Also, that much water could stir up the effluent and cause too much solid material to flow into the drain field.

By comparison, a typical washing machine uses about 40 to 55 gallons of water per load so the effect of a water softener is similar to doing one and a half loads of laundry three times a week.  A healthy septic system that is not already nearly overloaded should be able to handle this additional volume of water.

The septic tank and drain field depend on millions of naturally occurring bacteria to treat the waste water. Studies on the effect of the additional sodium from a water softener have not found any reason to conclude that the added sodium is harmful to the bacteria in a septic system.

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