When Should a Water Softener Be Replaced? – [Detailed Guide]

If you are a beginner then you must be wondering when should a water softener be replaced? If yes then check out the following answer.

It is recommended to change the water softener after every 10 years. A water softener can easily work for 10 to 15 years without any issue provided that it is well-maintained. However, without maintenance, it can barely survive more than 7 years.

With that said, there are a few things that you must know when it comes to knowing when a water softener should be replaced. Luckily you have come to the right place because, in this article, we’ve explained everything that you need to know.

So without any further ado! Let’s get started.

When Should a Water Softener Be Replaced?

As we mentioned earlier, the average lifespan of a water softener is around 10 to 15 years. However, it depends upon the usage and quality of your home’s tap water. In other words, as long as the water is clean, pure, and free of impurities then it could last up to 15 years without any issues.

However, if your tap water contains excessive amounts of salt or minerals then this will shorten its lifespan significantly. Thus, if your tap water is really hard then most likely you need to replace the unit.

You will find at least one point where your water gets hard depending on how much tap water you use. For example, if you use 20 gallons per day you will notice that the pipe gets hardened as time goes by.

Thus, if you live in a cold climate that doesn’t allow you to run a dehumidifier inside and has a lot of precipitation then you might also experience similar issues. Thus, regardless of how you decide to replace your water softener, do not hesitate to contact us once you realize that something needs to be done.

The Best Time to Replace a Water Softener

As was mentioned above, the lifespan of a water softener varies based on the amount of water used in your household. Hence, you can expect to see some changes regarding this matter when you start using a water softener as opposed to before.

For instance, if you were living with an older model water softener prior to switching over to a new one then you may want to keep the old one as a backup just in case anything happens. This way you won’t lose any essential parts like the control box.

In addition to that, if you have children who spend their days playing outside under hot weather conditions then you are going to need a powerful heater. Thus, you can opt to purchase a dehumidifier instead. Or you can install a second heater which is powered by electricity.

Of course, these solutions won’t cost you a thing but they definitely would help you save money. On top of that, you don’t necessarily have to buy from a store since you can always order online.

Also, if you plan to move to a different state then you can simply take your water softener along with you. As long as it satisfies the inspection requirements then nothing bad will happen to it.

In the end, whenever you feel like replacing your water softener, make sure to call our technicians so that we can provide assistance.

The Cost of Replacement

A water softener replacement costs roughly $1,000 for every square foot. Of course, this price varies depending on the size of the unit and what type of installation is required. If you are purchasing a new one then you will only need to pay a fraction of that cost.

Most people usually hire a professional plumber to perform the installation process. In other words, if you are planning on installing your own water softener then you should know that it takes about four hours to complete the task.

With regards to your electrician’s fees, you are basically looking at around $100 to hook everything up properly.

Effect of Water Hardness on the Water Softener

Although water softeners are used for treating water, there is a link to both. You might be thinking why is that? Why should hard water even affect the water softener as it is treating the water itself?

Well, there is a linkage between the two as the hardness level of the water affects the quality of the output water. In other words, the harder water tends to make the water less desirable.

The harder the water the more work it needs for treatment. Thus the water softener will consume more resources and as a result, it will run out soon. This can reduce the lifespan of the water softener too sometimes.

However, some people simply don’t agree with this. They think that the hardness level of water doesn’t affect the water softening device at all. According to them, it is only a one-way process where water softens down and not the other way up. So, when a person wants to increase the lifespan of his or her water softening machine, he must use chemicals.

For example, water softeners typically use calcium chloride and sodium bicarbonate to treat water. The reason behind adding chemicals to the water is that it allows the ions in the water to remain stable. However, if someone decides to avoid using chemicals then he must wait until the water becomes softer before adding the salt into it.

Therefore, although water softening is treated by many experts as a single-directional process some still believe otherwise. Therefore, when it comes to choosing a home improvement project, you really need to do some research first before making any decisions.

Last Minute Thoughts

So When Should a Water Softener Be Replaced? well, it depends on several factors. The first and the most important thing is how actively the device is being used. Besides that, the content of the softener also plays a vital role.

Last but not least, the maintenance part is extremely important. If you can’t keep your water softener properly maintained then it will have a very negative impact on its durability.

We hope you’ve enjoyed reading our article. For more interesting info or buyer’s guides related to water softeners please check out our home page.

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