Water softeners help remove minerals and other unwanted materials from your water supply before the water reaches the rest of the house. The softeners salt, "softens" hard water and reduces mineral buildup on showerheads and other appliances. Since water softeners are installed at the beginning of the plumbing system they can cause low water pressure.
Identify the problem
First, verify that the water softener is actually causing the lost water pressure. Turn the valve on top of the softener that is labeled "bypass," (Which will allow water to flow straight through the pipes without passing through the softener.) Turn on a faucet after turning the bypass valve to see if the performance has improved. If it has, the water softener is the cause of the low water pressure; if not, the problem is likely located somewhere else, eg: water pressure regulating valve, rusty piping, supply, hidden leak, etc.
All water softeners contain a sediment filter that traps dirt and debris from entering the system. If the particle filter accumulates with dirt, it may slow down the flow of water to the rest of the plumbing. Remove the top of the softener, and inspect the filter to see if it has become clogged. If so, replace it with a new one to improve the flow of water and the overall amount of water pressure that's available to your house.
A BLOCKED RESIN BED:
Some of the particles that have been filtered from the water, can sometimes escape the water filter and find itself in the resin bed. In some cases, it can be an iron build-up that causes the accumulation, and regardless of what causes it, the outcome of the accumulation is the same, it blocks the route of water flow and in turn, reduces water pressure.
RESIN PARTICLES IN THE SUPPLY LINE:
When your resin bank gets filled and is not replaced on time, it can cause the tank to break open and the pieces of the tank will flow with the water and into the water supply channels of the house. The particles will eventually collect in a particular location in the supply pipe and cause a blockage, reducing the amount of water flowing into the home; thus creating low water pressure, and in extreme cases, hinder the flow of water altogether.
A computer-controlled system actually records how much water is flowing through the tank. It can anticipate when the resin will be depleted of sodium and initiates regeneration. While this is happening your house will be served with a reserve of soft water. A mechanical water meter measures water usage and triggers regeneration. This system is often equipped with two mineral tanks so when one is being recharged the other tank is serving the house.
THE WATER SOFTENER IS REGENERATING:
The regeneration process of a water softener is the process where the hard water is converted into soft water, using the salts in the softener. The process usually requires a lot of water pressure and while it is ongoing, it can result in low water pressure in the home. The automatic regeneration system is controlled by an electrical timer that sets up a regular schedule for flushing and recharging. While this is happening the water will be unfiltered hard water.
WATER SOFTENER size?:
3 Important Items to Consider When Sizing a Water Softener
Water Quality: It’s really important to have the water tested for hardness. Water hardness is measured in grains per gallon (gpg), soft water is less than 1gpg, 3.5gpg is hard, 7gpg is very hard anything over 10.5gpg is extremely hard.
- Peak Flow Rate: The number of gallons of water that can be used at any given time is determined by the number of bathrooms, kitchens, etc that are in the home. The size of the main water line is also important. If you have a 1” water line and the water softener has 3/4 “ internal plumbing than you may have times when the water softener isn’t able to soften the water as fast as you want to use it and will then notice a reduction in your water flow.
- Gallons of water used per day: For many water softeners this the most important factor in sizing. If you have a large family or use a lot of water, such as regularly using a big garden bathtub, the water softener can’t keep up with your demand; Therefore, the water becomes hard.
So, if you have unusually low water pressure in your home, we at Smartplumber and Rooters highly recommend you give us a call. We will resolve the exact cause of the problem quickly and cost-effectively.
Call Smartplumber & Rooters 408-247-2400 7 days a week, 24 hours.
Comments
Post a Comment