How long do water softeners last? If you want to know the exact answer to this query, you are on the right blog post. Being in the aqua industry for many years, I have tested a lot of water softeners. That’s why I can confidently guide you about their lifespan and the important factors that affect this. So without any delays, let’s head into details!
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How Long Do Water Softeners Last?
To answer quickly, certain factors come into play in deciding the longevity of the softener. These include the quality of the materials, maintenance routine, water usage, etc.
Here’s a quick breakdown of how long water softeners last:
- Minimum Life: The average life of poorly maintained and low-quality softeners using cheap salt is at most 10 years. Some cheap international off-brand may only last for three years too!
- Maximum Life: The optimal lifespan of water softeners when properly cared for generally show peak performance from anywhere from 15 years or more.
But this is not the entire picture. Continue reading to learn about the softener’s life in detail along with the 5 crucial factors that affect it. Also, get insights into the 9 signs that indicate it’s time to replace your device. Let’s dive deeper into the details
Top 5 Factors Killing Your Water Softener
Water softeners are not meant to last forever, but they can last for a long time if they are well taken care of.
Here are some factors that affect the life span of your water softener:
1. The Quality of Water
Largely affects how much your softeners will last is where you live. Over 85% of US states have hard water minerals. But there are significant differences.
- I noticed that moving from New York to Phoenix, Arizona, my hair and skin started to feel drier and my clothes faded due to high chlorine and iron levels.
- This heavy metal build-up started clogging up the softener and impacting its overall efficiency.
That is why I now require more maintenance and cleanup of my softening system to prolong its life capacity.
2. Water Supply Use
Similarly, how much water is being used may also impact the longevity of your softening device. With my family of five, there is significantly higher water consumption. This leads to more water usage and puts more stress on the device.
- The higher usage of water can cause more sediment and mineral buildup in the tank which takes its toll on its efficiency.
- More usage also shortens the lifespan of the resin bed as it acts as a core component that removes minerals from the water.
3. Improper Maintenance
Here are three things people fail to do which ultimately affect the lifespan of the water softener:
- No Routine Maintenance: If you don’t perform periodic tasks such as changing the resin bead and addressing the salt bridges. This could lead to issues that could curtail the operational life of the softener.
- Contaminant Buildup: There are also additional things that adversely affect the performance of your unit. Things like sediment, sand, iron, and chlorine can compromise the efficiency of the softened water system. Similarly, a lack of pre-filter can also impact and lead to problems caused by mineral deposits over time ruining your valves, pipes, and brine tank.
- Lack of Professional Inspections: While as a homeowner maintenance is a good option to go through your system periodically. Many people avoid this to save a few bucks to get it professionally checked which could do wonders and save you a lot of trouble. Novice softener users tend to look over signs that could signal a problem in the system.
4. Faulty Installation:
While DIY installations have become the norm nowadays thanks to YouTube. But it may cause some problems:
- If you install an incorrect size, it may lead to frequent regeneration cycles impacting the efficiency and reducing the warranty.
- Improper plumbing fixtures and connections may lead to backflow of water and leading to contamination and water pressure issues.
- Also, faulty settings can lead to overuse of the machine degrading its life.
5. How Kind of Salt Can Impact Longevity
The kind of salt you use for the system will have a direct impact on how well it performs and for how long. Listed below are the 3 different salts that you should know:
- Evaporated Salt Pellets: These are ideal for high levels of hardness and iron levels. They have high solubility and low impurity content and leave low levels of residue. For example, Morton Clean & Protect Rust Defense. Using these salts will result in greater efficiency and a longer lifespan of your system.
- Solar Crystal Pellets: These are suitable for moderate levels of hardness and low iron levels. They have lower purity and solubility, leaving behind more residue than evaporated salts which can reduce the longevity of your softener. But on the plus side, they are cheaper. Diamond Crystal Solar Natural is something you can look for.
- Potassium Chloride Pellets: These are made by compressing potassium chloride crystals, ideal for high water hardness and mineral deposits. Thus they prolong how long your unit lasts with up to 10-12 years. They have similar properties as the evaporated salts. Have a look at Morton Potassium Chloride Pellets or Nature’s Own Potassium Solution if this is something you are interested in.
For more insights, I would recommend you check out this visual guide.
Why Do Water Softeners Stop Working? 4 Fixes to Extend Water Softener Lifespan
Let’s look at some of the issues that may arise and how to resolve them to prolong your water softener:
1. Breaking Salt Bridges for Smooth Flow
When the salt bridge is formed in the tank, the water can’t reach the salt. This is crucial for recharging the resin bed and ultimately creating the brine for the soft water.
Solution
To tackle salt bridging, you need to take a broom handle and gently break the layer of the salt buildup.
2. How to Safeguard from Salt Mushing
Before the clear and strong salt bridge formation, most salts create a mushy mass at the bottom of the tank. When the salt starts to solidify, it greatly hinders the performance of the softener ultimately limiting its effectiveness.
Solution
You need to invest in high-quality pellets and avoid filling the brine tank over the limited water supply to prevent mushing. This will ensure that there is an optimal supply for the regeneration of the salt.
3. Clearing the Resin Bed
Over time, the resin bed in the water softener tank can get clogged with sediment which affects water flow and pressure.
Solution
To keep the water softener system sparkly clean, use the softener cleaner every four months. An acid-based solution will do wonders when it comes to removing the build-up of scale, iron, contaminants, and other heavy metals. Thus reducing the overall load on the unit and keeping it at peak performance.
4. Finding the Correct Hardness Level
Your unit will work best when it knows its job. Many times the hardness level of the system is not set correctly. This can either result in the unit working overtime and regenerating excessively or slacking off where you will see periodic bouts of high levels of hard water.
Solution
To make sure the setting is set for proper functioning, you need to check your area’s hardness level and make the adjustment accordingly either electronically or through a manual dial. For determining the proper settings, consult your owner’s manual.
I recently updated my article on water softener troubleshooting where you can find even more maintenance tips. I recommend reading it.
How Do You Know When a Water Softener Is Bad? 9 Telltale Signs That Indicate Replacement
If you have properly maintained your softener but still experiencing hard water minerals. Here are some things to look for that indicate your softener requires replacement. Let’s learn more below:
1. Soap Won’t Lather Properly
One of the most direct signs to tell if your unit needs to be replaced then see if your soap lathers properly. If you struggle to keep your soap frothy while washing hands or dishwashing then you know it is time to replace your softener. This happens because the excessive minerals in the water bind with the water molecules and keep them from lathering properly.
2. Clothing Woes
Three things can happen to your washed clothes when the system isn’t working optimally:
- There is visible discoloration of clothes;
- The clothes seem to appear rough and scratchy;
- There is a white powdery residue left after doing a load.
If you are experiencing this then you need to check out your softener for a thorough cleaning or worse; replacement.
3. Changes in Water Pressure
The change in water pressure can also provide you with insight into how your softener’s health is doing. If there has been a significant decline in the pressure then this might suggest a buildup due to hard water mineral deposit. Thus it is advised to swiftly address this matter to avoid any further damage.
4. Dry Skin and Frizzy Hair
Using hard water can also hurt your care. You might notice dry itchy skin and lackluster hair. This decline in your shiny skin and hair is caused by minerals absorbing good and essential barriers needed to maintain essential hydration and forming itchy skin soap scum.
5. Performance Dip
If you feel your system may not be working at maximum efficiency at times. Some days the water seems soft but on others that’s not the case. This inconsistency indicates that the reliability of your unit is wavering and it is time to get it replaced.
6. Lime Scale Spotting
If you see the accumulation of scale build-up around appliances it is surely a strong telltale sign for replacement. The build-up may also compromise the efficiency of your appliances such as washing machines and dryers.
The scaling will build up white and chalk around faucets, valves, and drains. It is thus time to roll up your sleeves and replace that softening system.
7. More Salt Usage Than Normal
An increasing consumption of salt is a big red flag that indicates a potential need for water softener replacement. If you find yourself replenishing the salt pellets more frequently than before then it is time to change/replace the device.
8. More Frequent Repairs and Maintenance
It may be that your softener has been up and running for more than 12 years. I have seen this in many North American manufacturers but you should consider the quality of softening as well.
So it is imperative that even if the system appears to function adequately, you should look for regeneration levels and salt usage.
Uncommon Reasons Why Your System Needs an Upgrade
Here are some other reasons as to why it would be a good time to change your softening system:
- Mechanical Timers: If you have an older system with mechanical timers. The outdated machinery might not be catering to your needs leading to water softener failure. It works based on fixed timing periods that you set for desired regeneration rather than the actual water use. So I recommend purchasing new models with digital timers (see this resource here for digital timer water softeners) to regenerate salt based on how much water is being used.
- Changes in Family: If your family has increased or decreased then you might want to adjust your settings or upgrade to a different system. An inadequate size for your household water consumption may cause problems like inefficiency, waste, or poor quality of water.
- Environmental Consideration: An optimal working softener can also be very good for the environment. It helps save up on detergent, energy, and water. It also helps in reducing scale buildup in pipes and appliances which can significantly improve their lifespan and performance.
FAQs
How do you know when your water softener needs to be replaced?
Your water softener needs to be replaced when it causes stains around pipes, drainage, and appliances. You will also feel your clothes, hair, and skin to be drier and itchy.
What is the life expectancy of a water softener?
The life expectancy of a water softener is around 15 years contingent upon the quality, durability, brand, and water condition.
How often do water softeners need maintenance?
Water softeners need maintenance at least once a year. You need to check their salt level, remove any salt bridge forms, replace the pre-filter, and inspect valves and connections.
Can you replace the resin in a water softener and if so, how often?
Yes, you can. You should replace your resin with a water softener every 10 years. Its lifespan will generally depend on the quality of the resin, crosslink percentage, and the manufacturer you are purchasing from.
Conclusion
The final say on how long do water softeners last is that it depends on factors like water quality, usage, and maintenance routine. Ideally, your softening device should last from 10 – 15 years with utmost care and prevention. The softener will help you get rid of heavy mineral buildup and contaminants from the water.
Your water softening system may need to be replaced if there is a noticeable scale buildup around your faucets, drains, pipes, and appliances. If you see that the soap lather isn’t forming, the water pressure is changed and it requires frequent repair and maintenance.
To keep the device at its peak condition, try to clean the salt bridges, venturi valves, resin bed, and the pre-filter at least once a year. Keep checking your salt levels regularly and replenish them as needed. Use high-quality salts with low solubility and impurity to avoid salt mushing.