Water Softeners in Michigan

Signs You Need a Water Softening System Installed

If the quality of the water in your home or business is noticeably low, it may be time to consider a water-softening system. 

You can also determine how necessary a softening system is based on how often you experience the following:

• Stains on dishes and glassware: A consistent film or spots on your dishes and glassware after washing is a strong indicator of hard water. Softened water can significantly reduce these blemishes, leaving your dishes looking cleaner.
• Dry skin and hair: Hard water can strip moisture from your skin and hair, leading to dryness and irritation. A water softening system can help alleviate these symptoms by removing the harsh minerals from your water.
• Faded clothing: If your clothes and linens are losing their color and becoming duller faster than expected, hard water may be the culprit. Soft water is gentler on fabrics, helping to preserve their color and longevity.
• Increased soap use: Hard water can make it difficult for soap to lather, leading to increased usage of detergent and soap. A water softener can reduce the amount of soap needed for cleaning, saving you money over time.
• Scale buildup on appliances: An accumulation of white, chalky deposits on faucets, showerheads, and appliances like your kettle or coffee maker is a sign of hard water. This scale buildup can damage appliances over time, reducing their efficiency and lifespan.

Should you notice any of these signs, it's critical to act quickly to protect your home and your health. Beauchamp Water Treatment Solutions is your local expert offering professional advice, installation, and repair services for water softening systems.

Water Softener Systems & Salt: What's the Connection?

Hard water contains elevated levels of calcium and magnesium ions, which can cause problems such as dry skin and hair and damage to your delicate plumbing system.

Water softeners use a process called ion exchange to remove these minerals from water. Salt is used in water softeners to help remove minerals from hard water and transform it into soft water. Water softener salt is usually made of sodium chloride (NaCl) or potassium chloride (KCl) alternatives. It is available in different forms, such as pellets, crystals, or blocks. 

First, the salt is added to a tank filled with water called the brine tank, where it dissolves to form a brine solution. The brine solution is then pumped into another tank called the resin tank, where it flows through a bed of resin beads that are coated with the salt's sodium or potassium ions. As the brine solution passes through the resin bed, the sodium or potassium ions swap places with the calcium and magnesium ions, effectively removing them from the water. The softened water then exits the resin tank and flows to the faucets and appliances in your home.

Maintenance & Upkeep of Water Softener Salt Systems

Water softener salt must be periodically replenished to maintain effectiveness and prevent water hardness issues from returning. 

How often you will need to refill your salt-based system will depend on the following factors:

• The hardness level of the water
• The size and capacity of the water softener
• The amount of water your household uses

Some water softeners have indicators or alarms to alert you when the salt level is too low. We recommended checking the salt level in the brine tank at least once a month and adding more salt if it is below half full. In addition, you can use a water softener cleaner to flush out the system and remove iron and other heavy metals from the beads for optimal performance.

As leaders in Michigan water softener sales and installation, Beauchamp Water Treatment Solutions supplies ultra-high purity water softener salt as well as potassium chloride salt alternatives. Contact us now for delicious drinking water—and a water supply that's gentler on your hair and skin!

Salt-Free Softener vs. Salt-Based Softener: Understanding the Difference

As mentioned above, salt-based water softener systems use a process called ion exchange to remove excessive hardness minerals (like calcium and magnesium) and soften water. Salt-free water softener systems, on the other hand, do not totally remove the hard minerals from your water but may prevent them from forming stubborn scale buildup and deposits.

A salt-free system has a simple filter or tank that alters the structure or charge of the hard minerals in the water, causing them to lose their ability to stick to surfaces. The sediment filters in salt-free water conditioners need to be replaced once a year. Be aware that salt-free water softeners may not be effective for very cold or hot water.

What Size Water Softener Do I Need?

If you want to set your water softener up for success, you are first going to need to make sure you get the right size unit for your space. Size, in this case, doesn't refer to the physical dimensions of the unit but rather its capacity to remove minerals and contaminants from your water before it needs to be regenerated.

To determine the most suitable size for your home, consider two main factors: the hardness level of your water and your household's daily water consumption. Typically, water hardness is measured in grains per gallon (GPG). Multiply your home's daily water usage by the GPG to find your required grain capacity per day. 

For instance, a family of 4 using 75 gallons per person per day with a water hardness of 10 GPG would require a softener with a minimum capacity of 3,000 GPG. However, to accommodate regeneration cycles and ensure a consistent soft water supply, we often recommend a system with a larger capacity. 

We offer water softeners with capacities as high as 80,000 GPG for single-tank and twin-tank systems. 

Learn More About Salt-Based Water Softener Treatment & Enjoy Better Water Quality Today!

Make Beauchamp Water Treatment Solutions your water softener installer of choice. We proudly provide clean water to homes in Brighton, Waterford Township, Howell, Fenton, and across Southern Michigan. Learn more about our salt-based water softeners, how they work, what they fix, and whether a water softener is the right solution for your water problem. 

Start with a FREE water test! Contact us online or call (810) 476-2907 to schedule service for water softeners in Michigan today.