Every home can benefit from a water softener, but they don’t always last forever. Not only does a water softener extend the life of your appliances, but it also makes your skin and hair softer, among other benefits. Luckily, you won’t have to keep guessing if you need a new water softener after reading our guide. We’re going to break down the signs you should replace your water softener; check them out below.

Your Dishes Aren’t Coming Clean

Hard water can keep your glasses, silverware, and dishes from getting clean; you might find your dishes simply aren’t coming clean in the dishwater or clear glasses appear cloudy. Nobody wants to eat or drink from unappealing dishware, but you’re also going to pay more in your water bill because you’ll likely rewash most of those dishes.

Your Clothes Are Itchy

In addition to fading clothes, hard water is notorious for making clothes itchy and stiff despite using fabric softener. If you’ve noticed that your clothes look dull and feel rough even after changing the salt in your water softener, it’s probably time to get a new softener. Nobody wants to feel uncomfortable in their clothes—a faulty water softener won’t make your clothes feel luxurious.

The Tap Water Tastes Bad

Assuming you’ve replaced the salt and had the same result, one of the earliest signs of a faulty water softener is poor tasting tap water. Now, because we care about you and your finances, we’d suggest having a professional servicer come to inspect the water softener before replacing it. The reason is simply that your softener may only need a part replaced as opposed to the entire mechanism.

There’s White Build-Up on Faucets and Showerheads

The most obvious sign that you have hard water is white mineral build-up on faucets and showerheads. If you’ve replaced the salt in your softener and you’re still finding a crusty buildup, your softener is probably on its way out. Although you can clean the mineral buildup off your faucets and showerheads fairly easily, your plumbing is a different story. All that accumulated mineral surplus is wreaking havoc on your home’s plumbing and only leads to some really expensive repairs.

Now that you’re aware of a few signs you should replace your water softener, we’d suggest having a professional inspect your water softener first. To reiterate, your softener may only need a new part or deep cleaning as opposed to an entire replacement.

Houston, Texas, has some of the hardest water in the nation, and Alamo Water Solutions is here to help. Whether you’re looking for water softener service in Houston and the surrounding areas or you actually need a new softener, we’ve got you covered. Give us a call today to set up an appointment or if you have any questions. We look forward to serving you.