Water softener replacement
If your softener came with the house and nobody knows how old it is, replacement may be the better deal. Here's how to approach it.
Plenty of Kingman-area homes change hands with a softener in the garage that nobody has serviced in years. Sometimes it can be brought back. Often, though, the valve is worn, the resin is spent, and the unit was sized for a different household or a different water source than the one the house uses now.
When does replacement make sense?
- Hard water comes through even after repairs and a good regeneration
- The control valve is obsolete and parts are hard to find
- The resin or mineral tank is cracked or leaking
- The household has grown and the unit runs out between regenerations
- The home switched water sources, for example from hauled water to a well
What should change with a new unit?
A replacement is a chance to fix whatever didn't work about the old setup. That might mean a metered valve that regenerates based on actual water use instead of a timer, a properly sized resin tank, a sediment pre-filter for well water, or moving the unit out of direct sun. It's also the time to check that the drain line is plumbed correctly and protected from freezing.
Bought a house with a rental or leased unit?
Some softeners are rented or leased rather than owned. Before removing one, check the closing paperwork or look for a dealer sticker on the control head. If it belongs to a dealer, they may want it back.
What happens to the old softener?
Ask whether removal and disposal are included in the quote. Resin tanks and brine tanks are bulky, and it's easier to have the installer haul the old one away.
Check the license
Arizona's Registrar of Contractors has a residential classification, R-54, for water conditioning equipment. Plumbing contractors licensed under R-37 also work on water piping. Look up the company at azroc.gov before you hire.
The water treatment company prices the job after it knows your water, your plumbing and, for repairs, what's wrong with the unit. We don't quote prices, and a number given over the phone before anyone has tested your water or seen the install spot is only a rough starting point.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
How long do water softeners last?
It varies with the brand, the valve, the water and how well the unit was maintained. A technician can tell you whether yours is worth repairing.
Can I keep my old brine tank?
Sometimes, if it's in good shape and matches the new valve. Many installers replace the whole system so the parts are matched and warrantied together.
Related services
More background: Kingman hard water guide.
White crust on the faucets, or a softener that quit working?
Call now and a local water treatment company will help you sort it out.