Will a softener lower my water pressure?

A properly sized softener shouldn't noticeably lower pressure. If pressure drops, the resin or a filter may be clogged.

Should drinking water be softened?

Some households keep an unsoftened tap in the kitchen for drinking. A plumber can set that up when installing the softener.

Water Softeners & Filters · Lethbridge, AB

Water Softeners & Filters in Lethbridge, AB

If your kettle scales up and your taps grow white crust, hard water may be wearing on your plumbing and appliances too.

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Signs of hard water

White scale on taps and showerheads, spots on dishes, soap that won't lather well and a kettle that needs descaling often. Inside the pipes and the hot water tank, the same minerals build up where you can't see them.

Test first

Ask your water provider for its hardness figures, or test the water with a simple kit. Homes on wells or cisterns can have very different water from city supply. Knowing the numbers helps size a softener correctly.

How softeners work

A softener swaps hardness minerals for sodium or potassium as water passes through resin. It regenerates on a schedule using salt from the brine tank. A bypass valve lets you shut it off for service.

Common softener problems

Salt bridging in the brine tank, a stuck control valve, or a timer set wrong after a power outage. If water suddenly feels hard again, check the salt level first.

Filters

Sediment and carbon filters can improve taste and protect fixtures. Change cartridges on schedule; an old filter can restrict flow and lower water pressure.

Get help

Tell the plumber what you're noticing and whether you already have a softener. Send a request and a plumber will get in touch.

Salt and maintenance

Keep the brine tank at least a third full and break up any crust that forms on top. Clean the brine tank every year or two and check the bypass valve still turns. A softener that's looked after can work well for many years.

Frequently asked questions

Will a softener lower my water pressure?: A properly sized softener shouldn't noticeably lower pressure. If pressure drops, the resin or a filter may be clogged.
Should drinking water be softened?: Some households keep an unsoftened tap in the kitchen for drinking. A plumber can set that up when installing the softener.

Other plumbing services

Emergency PlumbingBurst pipes, flooded basements and backups that can't wait.Frozen Pipe RepairThawing frozen lines and repairing pipes split by the cold.Drain CleaningSinks, tubs, floor drains and main lines cleared.Hot Water TanksGas and electric tank repairs, replacements and tankless options.Sewer Lines & Backwater ValvesCamera checks, sewer line repairs and backwater valve installs.Leak DetectionFinding hidden leaks in walls, floors and service lines.Fixtures & RenovationsTaps, toilets, showers and plumbing for renovations.

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Repairs, renovations and new projects. Tell us what you need and we'll pass it straight to a plumber, who will call you to go over the job and give you a quote.

Plumbing repairs, renovations and new projects
Lethbridge and the towns around it
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