Is Topping off the Salt Enough to Keep Your Water Softener in Good Condition? Insights from a Pentair Water Softening Contractor in Libertyville, Illinois

If you have a water softener at home, you already know that adding salt is a necessary part of the process. But is that all it needs? Not quite.

Keeping your softener running smoothly requires more than just topping off the salt bucket. Below, this Pentair water softening contractor in Libertyville, Illinois is going to explain the type of maintenance your softener requires to last for years.

Your softener needs more than a salt refill.

Inside your Pentair softener are thousands of tiny resin beads. They catch the minerals that make your water “hard”, mainly calcium and magnesium.

During the regeneration cycle, those beads get rinsed with salty water so they can start fresh. That process depends on the salt you add, but salt alone may not be enough all the time.

As water flows through your system month after month, it can leave behind iron or sediment residue. Pentair systems can resist clogging and corrosion, but even the best setups appreciate a good cleaning now and then.

If you skip this step, the softener can start regenerating more frequently. It can even stop softening your water effectively.

So, what’s the salt for?

When salt mixes with water in the brine tank, it creates a brine solution. That brine is what flushes the resin bed during regeneration and washes away all the minerals it has trapped. This is what gets the softener ready for another cycle.

If the salt level drops too low, your water might start feeling “hard” again.

But adding too much salt is not good either.

Overfilling can cause a salt bridge. This is when the salt hardens and forms a crust at the top, blocking the water underneath. The softener thinks it has plenty of salt, but it can’t use it.

The trick is to keep an eye on the salt level to make sure it is not clumped.

Do you ever need to clean the salt tank?

Even if you are using top-quality salt, some residue eventually settles at the bottom of your brine tank. So, you must clean the tank once or twice a year. Turn off the water, empty any leftover salt, and wipe away the sludge at the bottom. 

What about the resin bed? Does it also need cleaning?

Over time, minerals and some iron can cling to those resin beads inside your softener. You don’t need to replace the resin every time this happens.

Most of the time, it just needs a good cleaning. A resin cleaner or a quick service visit can usually bring everything back to normal.

The resin in Pentair systems can last for years, but like any filter, it performs best when it is not clogged with buildup. An experienced Pentair water softening contractor in Libertyville, Illinois can flush out the system and clean the resin. They can also make sure that the valves and flow rate are still calibrated correctly.

Pentair systems don’t need much attention.

One of the benefits of owning a Pentair softener is that it practically looks after itself. The system’s advanced control valves and Easy-iQ controller monitor your water use, salt levels, and regeneration schedule to make automatic adjustments. That means less wasted water and longer breaks between cleanings.

Still, it’s best to have your local Pentair water softening contractor in Libertyville, Illinois inspect the softener periodically. You should especially do this if your household water use changes or you notice the softener running more frequently than usual. 

Looking for a Pentair water softening contractor in Libertyville, Illinois?

If you’re ready to reach out to a trusted Pentair water softening contractor in Libertyville, Illinois that can make sure your system is running like it should, Johnson Water Conditioning is here to help. Our team can service or upgrade your Pentair system so it delivers perfectly soft water year-round. Contact us today to get in touch with our team.