Water treatment removes contaminants and/or hard minerals in your drinking water. Removing hard minerals, such as magnesium and calcium, keeps your plumbing pipes clear and extends the working life of water-dependent appliances. Taking out pollutants is also good for your plumbing, your health and the well-being of any holiday visitors to your home. Generally, it’s best to let professional plumbers install, maintain and repair your water treatment system. But there are things you can do to make sure it works the way it should. Here are some of them.
Clean or Replace Filters
Just as you should regularly clean or replace filters in your HVAC system, you should also do the same with your water treatment system’s filters. The rule of thumb is twice a year or when you start to notice that your water tastes off.
Take Care of Your Reverse Osmosis System
Make sure to keep the storage tank clean on your reverse osmosis system with a sanitizer that’s specifically made for this task. If the membrane looks dirty or clogged, replace it.
Fix Leaks Right Away
Another way to maintain your water treatment system is to quickly fix leaks in the plumbing pipes. This helps keep the water treatment system free of contaminants and prevents your treated water from being wasted.
Use the Cold Water Tap to Flush the Pipes
If you haven’t used your faucet for a while, run the cold water for two or three minutes before using the water. The cold water helps rinse out contaminants in the pipes. Don’t use very hot water because it can cause PVC pipes to soften, which can cause leaks.
Test Your Water Now and Then
All water has contaminants, but not all of them are bad for your health. If you want to know exactly what’s in your water and whether there are pollutants you need to filter out, have your water tested. This is especially important if you have a private well.
Check and Refill Your Water Softener’s Brine Tank
Regularly check and clean the brine tank of your water softener. Check the levels of salt, refill if it’s necessary, and break up salt bridges. Salt bridges are crusts of salt in the tank. Assess the water for hardness, clean the resin beads, and check the bypass valve every six months or so to make sure it can open and shut easily.
Use Environmentally Friendly Cleansers
When you clean your water treatment system, use environmentally friendly cleansers. Follow the instructions, and dispose of used cleansers properly.
Call Us to Learn More About Water Treatment
Your water treatment removes hard water and contaminants from the fresh water that comes into your home. To learn more about water treatment in time for the holidays, get in touch with our professionals at Jeff’s Custom Care of Waukesha, WI.