Frequently Asked Questions About Water Conditioning

You do not need to clean out a brine tank in a water softener system. The only exceptions to this rule are if you use a salt product high in water-insoluble matter or the system experiences a major malfunction. If there is a buildup of insoluble matter in the resin, the reservoir should be cleaned out to prevent softener malfunction.

If your average water usage is 75 gallons per day per person, you will use an average of 48 to 85 pounds of salt per month, which is very little in comparison to most older systems that regenerate based on days instead of gallons used.

You may need a water softener if your water is hard and you want to reduce the negative effects it has on your home and daily life. Hard water can cause mineral buildup in pipes and appliances, leading to decreased efficiency and shortened lifespan. It can also leave spots and stains on dishes and clothing, make soap and detergents less effective, and leave your skin feeling dry and itchy.

Residential water softeners remove the dissolved minerals that cause hardness, resulting in cleaner and softer water throughout your home. A water softener can help save you money on repairs and replacements of appliances and plumbing fixtures, improve the effectiveness of your cleaning products, and provide softer and more manageable hair and skin.

At Serv-All Water Conditioning, we custom-build all of our water treatment systems based on the home’s water quality and the customer’s needs and wants. Because of this, we have the capability to design a system to remove chlorine, chloramines, and a broad spectrum of other potentially harmful contaminants found in tap water to keep your family happy and healthy.

Yes, soft water can be used for cooking and making coffee. It may even improve the taste by removing excess minerals that can affect flavor.

• Money Stretcher: Hard water leaves nasty stains behind that require harsh chemicals and detergents to remove. With soft water flowing through your faucets, you don’t have to worry about these stains, reducing the cost of your cleaning supplies.
• Dish Sparkler: Tired of streaks and spots on glassware and dishes? Conditioned water eliminates the problem and helps your dishwasher last longer, too!
• Hand Soother: Red, roughened hands are usually the by-product of hard water. Conditioned water caresses and doesn’t irritate.
• Clothes Brightener: Clothes last longer and come out fresher, cleaner, and softer when washed in conditioned water. Colors stay brighter, too.
• Body Refresher: Bring conditioned water to your bath or shower, and you’ll feel a refreshing difference, cleaning faster and without soap buildup on your skin.
• Face Saver: Say goodbye to razor burn as your razor glides smoothly over your soft, water-conditioned face. Both your skin and blades will last longer.
• Hair Pamperer: A shampoo combined with conditioned water revives hair color and makes it more radiant and manageable.
• Faucet Preserver: Hard water scale corrodes and plugs valves in water-using appliances, shortens service life, and costs you money.
• Hot Water Guard: Conditioned water adds longer life to your water by minimizing the scale buildup created by hard water minerals and saves you money! Less energy is required (17% to 21%) to heat water in tanks without a scale buildup.
• Scrubbing Helper: Washing floors, tile, and woodwork goes much easier and faster with conditioned water because it eliminates the film and soap scum that hard water causes.
• Pipe Protector: Over a period of time, scale forms and clogs your plumbing. As the pipes clog, water flow is restricted and water pressure can be reduced dramatically. A water conditioning system minimizes this headache.

The average water softener removes minerals that cause hardness; a water filter removes contaminants like chemicals and bacteria; a descaler prevents minerals from depositing as scale without removing them; a conditioner alters the properties of hardness minerals without removing them.

If you’re using sodium chloride (salt), then the softener will add a small amount of sodium to the water. For most people, this is not a problem. However, if you’re on a sodium-restricted diet, we would recommend a separate faucet in the kitchen that dispenses unsoftened water for drinking. Additionally, some people take a while to get used to the feeling of softened water.

Some people perceive soft water as feeling slimy, which is actually the sensation of your natural skin oils without the presence of hardness minerals.

All softeners, regardless of price, should soften your water (i.e., reduce the hardness to 0 grains). When comparing residential and commercial water softeners, you should consider an array of factors over the price. For example, evaluate softener systems based on the following:

• How long the unit will last
• How often it regenerates
• How large the grain capacity is
• How easy it is to change the settings and service the unit
• What the warranty entails
• How long the company has been in business
• How quickly you can get your questions answered and your problems solved

Serv-All is available when you need us most to answer your most pressing questions about water softeners. Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you’re interested in installing a new water softener.

Water softeners can remove small amounts of iron, which can help reduce red stains, but larger concentrations might require an iron filter.

Yes, professional installation is recommended to ensure that the system is set up correctly and functions efficiently.

You may experience a slight water pressure drop from the water softener. However, our water softeners feature 1” ports for the maximum possible water flow and pressure.

Odd odors are usually not related to softening but may indicate the presence of contaminants like sulfur or bacteria, which a water softener does not remove.

It depends on your water quality needs. A reverse osmosis system can provide additional purification for drinking water, especially for removing contaminants that a softener cannot.

The lifespan of a water softener largely depends on maintenance and usage. On average, you can expect a well-maintained system to last 20 to 25 years. Regularly replenishing salt and scheduling professional servicing can extend its longevity. At Serv-All Water Conditioning, we offer reliable systems designed for tackling Las Vegas water hardness in the long term.