Water Softener
Installation & Repair

Fortunately, they are mostly “set-it-and-forget-it” appliances, but you do have a few regular chores:

• Add Salt: You’ll need to check the brine tank (usually the shorter, wider tank next to the tall resin cylinder) every 4 to 6 weeks and top it off with water softener salt blocks or pellets.
• Break Salt Bridges: Occasionally, a hard crust (called a “salt bridge”) can form over the water in the brine tank, leaving an empty space underneath. If this happens, you just need to gently break it up with a broom handle.
• Annual Clean: It’s good practice to flush the system and clean the brine tank once a year to keep it running efficiently.

Not really! While the system uses sodium to clear out the hard minerals, it doesn’t dump spoonfuls of table salt into your drinking glass. The amount of sodium added depends on how hard your water was to begin with. On average, a glass of softened water contains less sodium than a single slice of commercial bread. However, if you are on a strict low-sodium diet for blood pressure or medical reasons, you can easily use potassium chloride pellets in the tank instead of traditional salt, or install a reverse osmosis filter at your kitchen sink for drinking water.

Generally, no. You should avoid using softened water on your houseplants, garden, or lawn. While the amount of sodium in softened water is perfectly fine for humans, it can be toxic to plants over time.

With basic regular maintenance—like keeping salt in the brine tank and clearing salt bridges—a quality water softener typically lasts 10 to 15 years. If your system is over 10 to 12 years old and requiring frequent service or failing to soften your water, upgrading to a modern, energy- and salt-efficient unit is usually the most cost-effective choice.

Sizing depends on two main factors: the number of people in your household and the hardness of your water supply in Ogden (measured in Grains Per Gallon, or GPG). During our consultation, we test your water hardness and calculate your daily grain capacity so you get a system sized perfectly for your home without wasting salt or energy.

A standard water softener installation typically takes 2 to 4 hours. Our certified plumbers handle everything from setting up the bypass valves and drain lines to programming the digital control head for Ogden’s specific water hardness levels and testing the system before we leave.

A good rule of thumb is the 50% Rule: The 50% Rule is if your system is more than 8 years old and the cost of the repair is more than 50% of the cost of a brand-new unit, go with a replacement. If it’s a minor issue—like a clogged valve, a worn O-ring, or a salt bridge—it is usually worth fixing. If the main control valve body is cracked or the outer tank is leaking, it is time to replace it.