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The statistics are shocking! According to USGS, 80% of homeowners in the United States deal with hard water. The problem is, hard water reduces the lifespan of your plumbing fixtures, can affect your health, and tastes awful.

Therefore, homeowners hire plumbers to install water softeners in their homes. The groundwater has a lot of impurities. Having a water softener installed at your home ensures you can readily use the water for showering, drinking, washing clothes, among other uses.

The state of Texas ranks sixth in water hardness. Therefore, most homes have water softeners installed if they use groundwater. It could annoy and disappoint a person to find the water softener in your Arlington, TX, home breaking down, malfunctioning, misbehaving, or making funny noises. Do not panic or worry, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth has got your plumbing issues covered. You only need to call us, and we will be there at the earliest. Below are some of the common water softener issues.

Salt Bridges

The primary role of a water softener is preventing the minerals from entering your pipes. However, the softeners are also prone to scaling problems. The minerals accumulate at the bottom of the tank, forming a salt bridge. This causes the effectiveness of the water softener to be reduced.

A salt bridge is a hard crust that forms at the brine of your tank. If left for long, salt bridges may break the water softening system. Detecting a salt bridge can be difficult. While many people prefer to remove the salt bridge themselves, there are many reasons it is not a good idea. Using metal rods and bloom handles to break the salt bridge may cause an even larger problem.

For this reason, we recommend you hire the services of a professional plumber. They have specialized tools and experience to handle these plumbing tasks. Breaking the salt bridge yourself without cleaning the tank may cause the problem to be frequent.

When you use excess or wrong salt, the formation of salt bridges is inevitable. The plumber will advise you on the best salt to use for your water. They will also clean the edges of your tank, avoiding a repetition of the same issue. Let a plumbing service take care of your plumbing system. Avoid DIY plumbing works.

Brown Water

Is the water coming from your faucet or tap brown? Brown water from a tap is unsightly. Most times, this happens in case your plumbing system is old, has substantial mineral sedimentation, dirty water feeds, and if your well water has tannins. Therefore, most people do not think of the water softener.

However, water softeners may also be a cause for your brownish water. The buildup of iron and manganese in your home’s mineral tank makes the water brown. Therefore, cleaning the mineral tank is vital in clearing any sediments or rust accumulated at the bottom. Bacterial buildup can also cause the brown water to come from your softener. It makes the water undrinkable.

As you can see, there are many causes of brown water, including your water softening system. Therefore, call an Arlington, TX plumber to help diagnose the cause and resolve it before it escalates. Do not drink brown water because it may cause some health complications.

Salt Tank Containing Water

If your home has a water softener, you might have sometimes observed its salt tank full of water. Though there are many causes, the primary culprits are the lack of airflow and clogging.

Instead of guessing what the issue is, contacting a plumber is to inspect and resolve the issue may be a wiser option. Below are other reasons water may seep into the salt tank.

Using an old water softener

Though water softeners may last for over ten years, their lifespan varies depending on several factors like equality, maintenance, and daily use.

After the water softeners reach their lifespan, they degrade swiftly. Therefore, you may need the services of a plumber, as they need frequent repairs. When the lifespan of your water softener elapses, we recommend you replace it.

The float valve may be set at a high level

Sometimes, the problem may arise from how the float valve is set. The float valve controls the water levels in the compartment. If you place it too high, there could be excess water buildup. Hence, the softener will not release the water effectively. Call a plumbing service and have them fix the issue.

The water entry valve might be broken

The valve prevents water from flowing into the salt tank. However, if damaged or broken, the water flows into the salt tank. To fix the issue, call a plumber for the valve replacement.

Operational Errors

Water softener relies on manual settings and inputs. It is prone to operational errors. Regardless of the size of the error, it may interfere with the functioning of the water softener. Such a problem o