For many people with water softeners, it’s not often we think about what goes into the system and how it works. However, there are several essential parts of a water softener that need to work together to provide soft, high-quality water to your home.
Our water conditioning experts in Las Vegas explain water softener parts and what you need to know to keep everything working optimally.
What’s In a Water Softener?
Although water softeners can differ depending on the brand and the water volume they can handle, a standard water softening system will generally have three parts: a mineral tank, a brine tank, and a control valve.
1. Mineral Tank With Resin Beads
The mineral tank in your water softener is where all the action happens. This is where the process of water softening takes place. As your water supply feeds hard water into your softening system, it enters the mineral tank, where it passes over resin beads that capture calcium and magnesium ions through the process of ion exchange.
Water softener mineral tanks are filled with a bed of resin beads that have a positive charge. As hard water flows through the beads, the negatively charged ions of the minerals catch onto the beads like magnets and are removed from the water.
2. Brine Tank With Salt
The second part of a water softener is just as crucial to the process: the brine tank. A softener’s brine tank is separate from the mineral tank and contains a concentrated solution of salt, which has a strong positive charge. The salt creates a brine solution at the bottom of the tank that allows the resin beads to regenerate by flushing out the captured minerals.
As more and more water passes through the resin beads, there comes the point when they can no longer hold any more minerals. When this happens, the brine solution enters the mineral tank and washes the hard minerals off the resin beads. Because this process requires salt, it’s vital to replace the salt in your water softener whenever recommended to keep it working at its best.
3. Control Valve
A water softener’s control valve is an important component of the system. It measures the amount of water that flows into the tank and ensures the system regenerates at the right times. Without a control valve, the water softener may not work as effectively because the resin beads may reach capacity and not be able to remove any more minerals.
When you install your water softener, you’ll be able to program your control valve based on several factors, including:
- The size of your house
- How many occupants are in your house
- Your water volume needs
- The hardness of your water
After entering these numbers in the control valve, your water softening unit will automatically regenerate before the resin beads hit capacity.
Where Do I Get Water Softener Salt?
To simplify the process, you can set up salt delivery services to bring your salt right to your door. At Rain of Las Vegas, we know it can be challenging to stay on top of it with everything you have going on in your busy life. That’s why we offer salt delivery that includes refilling your water softener and checking the system while we’re there. It’s important to get the right kind of salt for your water softening system. Please contact us if you have any questions.
Need salt for your water softener? Contact Rain of Las Vegas to schedule salt delivery and never worry about it again.
How Do I Know If Parts of a Water Softener Aren’t Working?
If you start to notice some of the common effects of hard water in your home, you may have an issue with some of your water softener parts. Keep an eye out for:
- A chalky, white crust on your faucets, drains, and other water fixtures
- Spotty dishes and glassware
- Dingy or stiff laundry
- Mineral buildup on your water appliances
When you see some of the signs of hard water, even though you have a water softener, it’s time to look into water softener repair services.
Las Vegas Water Softener Repair and Replacement Services
Because Las Vegas water is so hard, it’s essential to keep your home water softening system serviced. Rain of Las Vegas can help you keep your water softener working at its best. Call us for a free estimate and to learn more about our services and other water conditioning options!
Tags: water softener maintenance, water softener repair