Like any other home appliance, water softeners will eventually need replacing. However, if you invest in the right water softener for your home and maintain it well, it should last a long time. So, how long does a Culligan water softener last?
A Culligan water softener will usually last for 10 to 15 years. To ensure it lasts a long time, you must properly maintain it, repair damaged components, maintain the salt level, fix any leaks, and test it routinely. If you keep up with all the maintenance and take care of your water softener, it can last as long as 15 to as many as 20 years.
Culligan water softeners eliminate the mineral deposits in your water that make it hard. Using this softener in your home will give you softer skin and hair, cleaner dishes, brighter colors in your laundry, and many other benefits. Keep on reading to find out more about Culligan water softeners and how long they last!
Other articles about water softeners:
Ultimate Guide to Water Softeners: Everything You Need to Know
10 Tips for Maintaining Your Water Softener
Table of Contents
How to Make Your Culligan Water Softener Last Long?
The Culligan water softener has a lot to offer once installed in your home. To keep it working properly and ensure it has a long service life, you have to keep up with all of the maintenance requirements. There are several ways to take care of your water softener.
1. Avoid salt bridges
When hard materials gather in the brine tank, salt bridges can form in your Culligan water softener. They create a space between the water and the salt, making it harder for the salt to dissolve in the water to form brine. As brine formation is prevented, the resin beads that soften the water will be unable to do their job.
Among the many causes for bridging are high humidity, temperature variation around the water, and using the wrong salt in your softener. To find out if your Culligan water softener has a salt bridge, use a broom handle to put a little pressure on top of the salt. This will break up the salt if it has become solid, making it easier to dissolve.
2. Prevent salt mushing
Preventing salt mushing can also prolong the life of your Culligan water softener. Salt mushing occurs when the dissolved salt forms salt crystals again. This forms sludge at the bottom of the brine tank and prevents the water softener from working correctly.
As the Culligan water softener cannot regenerate, your water will not soften. This will create a blockage in the tank. Draining the softener and replacing the old salt can help fix this problem.
3. Clean the resin bed
Although resin beds are regularly recharged by salt, you should still clean them every few months as an extra precaution. You can use a water softener cleaner to do so.
With frequent usage, iron, silt, and heavy metals can collect in your Culligan water softener. These reduce its efficiency in softening water. To prevent this, pour a water softener cleaner down the brine and regenerate the softener manually.
The cleaner gets discharged during the flushing process. This helps the resin and the resin bed stay clean and work efficiently to soften the water.
Even if you take all the necessary measures to maintain your Culligan water softener, it may still need to be replaced. There are several indicators of a replacement, so keep on reading to find out more!
Signs that your Culligan Water Softener Needs Replacement
Having installed a water softener in your house, you will get used to softer and cleaner water. Thus, it is essential to know when your Culligan water softener is wearing out, so you can fix it in time. If you fail to do so, you might have to fully replace it, which will be less cost-effective.
1. Performance issues
If the water in your tap feels softer on some days but harder on others, this is a sign that your Culligan water softener is not working correctly. If your water softener works properly, your skin will feel silky and smooth after being in the water because there are no hard materials in it.
Soap and shampoo should create a thick lather when you wash your hands or hair with soft water. If the lather consistency from soap and shampoo changes over time to produce a lesser and thinner lather, there is something wrong with your Kinetico water softener.
2. Changes in the water pressure
A gradual change in the water pressure in your home is a sign that your Culligan water softener is not working correctly. This happens when calcium and other hard minerals build up in the pipes.
As these minerals get deposited, water flow in the pipes will decrease. This will lower the water pressure in taps and showerheads.
3. Hard water spots appear
Soft water on surfaces should dry out after you wash them. Your Culligan water softener may need replacing if you notice spots left behind on the surface of taps, mirrors, dishes, and tables.
Hard water spots look like a white and cloudy layer on top of the surfaces. These show that hard water is flowing through your home pipes, including minerals like calcium and magnesium.
4. It starts using more salt
For water to be softened, your Culligan water softener must use the required amount of salt. However, if the salt waters in your water softener are always full, it means that your Culligan water softener is functioning correctly.
The Culligan water softener uses the saltwater in its brine tank to regenerate the water softener resin. The resin removes hard minerals from your water. So, the water will remain hard without the salt being dissolved.
5. More frequent repairs and maintenance
If your Culligan water softener requires frequent repairs, it is a sign that it needs replacing. Some parts of the system are more expensive than others. Costs of constant maintenance work will start to pile up even more if your Culligan water softener is out of warranty.
You may also find it challenging to look for the needed parts for your softener whenever it needs a replacement. Some necessary parts might not be readily available in your local area.
Conclusion
A Culligan water softener has a long lifespan of approximately 10 to 15 years, given that it is well-kept. Care must be taken to avoid salt bridges and salt mushes, and the resin bed should be cleaned often. However, you should always look for performance issues and changes in water pressure to repair the softener in time.