Littleton, Colorado’s water is considered moderately hard and contains minerals that can cause blockages, bad-tasting water, stains on clothes and dishes, and dried-out skin. Many homes in Littleton have installed water softeners to filter out hard minerals, but these systems need routine maintenance to ensure they’re working properly.
Horizon Services offers reliable water softener maintenance in Littleton and the surrounding areas. Learn about our water treatment maintenance services and how to maintain your water softener to extend its lifespan and improve efficiency.
Understanding Hard Water in Littleton Homes
The hard water in Littleton contains dissolved minerals, like magnesium and calcium, that can cause scale in appliances and shorten the lifespan of your plumbing system. Littleton’s hard water level is around 80 ppm (parts per million), which is considered moderately hard. During Colorado winters, water can become slightly harder as reservoirs freeze and minerals build up.
That mineral scale buildup can accumulate within your piping system over the years and combine with soap scum, grease, and hair to create tough blockages. For this reason, water filtration systems in Littleton homes, as well as water softeners, have become a common investment for homeowners.
Water softeners work by removing these minerals through an ion exchange process. As hard water passes through the resin tank, calcium and magnesium ions attach to specially formulated resin beads while sodium ions are released into the water. Over time, the resin becomes saturated with minerals and must be regenerated using salt brine.
Proper water softener system care is important because hard water minerals can accumulate in the water softener over time, reducing its efficiency and service life.
How Regular Water Softener Maintenance Extends System Life
Regular water softener maintenance with Horizon Services extends the water softener’s lifespan by preventing mineral buildup and ensuring all mechanical components are working properly and maintaining a steady water flow rate. Well-maintained water softeners can last 15 to 20 years, while neglected ones may break down in as few as seven to 10 years.
Water softeners that aren’t regularly maintained may fail more quickly or operate inefficiently, allowing hard water to flow back into your home and causing scale buildup in pipes and appliances. Your system can also be damaged if the resin tank isn’t maintained.
The water softener regeneration cycle, which typically occurs every few days depending on water usage, involves multiple steps, including backwashing, brining, rinsing, and refilling. Each cycle creates wear and tear on valves, seals, and moving parts, so regular maintenance is key to keeping your water softener running smoothly.
Signs Your Water Softener Needs Maintenance
Recognizing when your water softener needs maintenance services helps prevent complete system failure and protects your home and plumbing from hard water damage. Common signs your water softener needs maintenance include:
- White or cloudy spots on dishes (from hard water minerals not being properly captured by the water softener).
- Chalky or salty-tasting water.
- Scale buildup on faucets.
- Soap that won’t lather properly on dishes, on your skin in the shower, and on clothes in the washing machine.
- Hard minerals have formed a crust in the water softener tank.
- Frequent changes in water pressure.
For some homeowners, a gradual decline in water softener performance may be tough to notice right away. This is why routine water softener service in Littleton is so important. Regular maintenance helps catch issues early, preventing costly problems later on and extending your water softener’s lifespan.
What’s Included in Professional Water Softener Maintenance
Horizon Services’ professional water softener maintenance service is a great way to extend your system’s service life and performance. During our maintenance services, our experienced technicians will:
- Clean crucial water softener components.
- Inspect the softener for damage and wear.
- Adjust the correct water hardness and regeneration cycle settings.
- Replace parts before they fail completely.
DIY Maintenance vs. Professional Service
DIY Maintenance
Check your water softener salt levels monthly and add salt to the brine tank if levels are low. Another DIY task you can do is safely breaking up the salt bridges (hard, salty clumps that can block water and prevent the regeneration process) by using an object like a broom handle to gently push through the salt mass.
Professional Service
Tasks that require specific tools, such as cleaning a resin bed or fixing a loose valve, should be handled by Horizon Services’ professional plumbers in Littleton. Our trained technicians also diagnose complex issues, such as improper regeneration cycles, and identify failing components before they become bigger problems.
The best water softener maintenance habits come from a bit of DIY monitoring combined with annual home water softener service from the professionals at Horizon Services.
How Maintenance Protects Your Plumbing and Appliances
When your water softener is well-maintained and functioning correctly, it effectively protects all your appliances that use water. Soft water prevents scale buildup in pipes and ensures optimal water flow in your home.
Water softener maintenance helps reduce sediment buildup in the tank and extends the lifespan of your dishwasher, washing machine, and faucets. Even small appliances like your coffee maker, ice maker, and humidifier may benefit from using softer water.
How Often Should Littleton Homeowners Schedule Maintenance?
At Horizon Services, we recommend scheduling water softener maintenance tune-ups annually. However, bigger households with high water usage may benefit from maintenance twice a year.
Homeowners with water softeners should also check the brine tank’s salt level monthly and schedule maintenance sooner if they notice any issues. Newer models need less frequent attention, but water softeners close to 10 years old may benefit from more frequent inspections.
Schedule Water Softener Maintenance in Littleton Today
Taking a proactive maintenance approach with your water softener helps reduce the need for costly repairs or replacement. Littleton homeowners who prioritize water softener care enjoy consistently soft water and protected appliances and plumbing. Contact Horizon Services to schedule water softener maintenance and get the most out of your system.
