Water Filtration Installation
Fit a whole-house or under-sink filter to deal with sediment, taste or chloramine.
Plumbing service
Water Softener Installation and Repair in Westminster
White crust on faucets, spotted glasses and scale in the water heater all point to minerals in the water. A softener removes the hardness before it reaches the pipes.
Call and describe what you see, and a contractor can explain whether a softener fits your house.
Signs you may need a softener
- White crust on fixturesMineral scale builds at faucets and showerheads.
- Spotted dishesHardness leaves film on glass.
- Short-lived appliancesHeaters and dishwashers clog with scale.
What the water report says
Westminster's 2022 water quality report gives hardness at 113 to 128 parts per million, about 7 to 8 grains per gallon. That is moderately hard to hard water, enough to leave scale on heaters, fixtures and glass.
The city adds chloramine to disinfect the water, and the report lists a pH between 7.9 and 9.1. A softener removes hardness, not chloramine, so ask the contractor about filtration if taste matters.
How a softener works
Water passes through a tank of resin beads that trade sodium or potassium for calcium and magnesium. Once the resin beads are saturated, the unit cleans itself with a a strong salt rinse that carries the captured minerals to the drain.
Most units are sized by household size and hardness, and they regenerate by time or by water use. A meter-based control saves salt.
Cost
Why softener quotes differ
The softener itself and the plumbing around it both add to the total. The big factors are below.
Ask for the capacity, the control type and the warranty of the unit you are quoted.
In Westminster
Salt, drains and what to ask about
Brine discharge goes to the sewer, and some communities limit salt use in softeners. Ask the contractor about options such as potassium or high-efficiency units.
If you also have a tankless heater, soften the water before it reaches the heater to protect the heat exchanger.
Repair and common faults
Typical problems include a brine tank that is bridged or empty, a clogged injector, a worn control valve, a stuck bypass and resin that has worn out. A unit that does not regenerate lets hard water through while still looking normal.
If a softener has stopped working, check that it has power, salt, water and a drain. A brief look often finds a simple cause.
Permits, drains and placement
Westminster lists whole-house water softeners among installations that need a permit. The unit also needs a drain connection and an overflow line, and it should be installed with a bypass valve.
Place it near the main water entry and a floor drain, in a space that stays above freezing.
Softener or filter?
A softener treats hardness. A filter treats taste, odor, sediment or chloramine. Many homes benefit from both, in the right order.
If you only want better-tasting drinking water, an under-sink filter costs less than a whole-house softener. If scale is the problem, soften.
Where the softener should go
A softener needs a drain, a power outlet and space for the brine tank. The best spot is near the main line after the outdoor spigots, so lawn water is not softened for no reason. A level floor also keeps the salt tank stable.
Ask the installer to include a bypass valve. It lets you isolate the softener for service without shutting off water to the house.
Treating hard water
Tankless Water Heater Service
Flush scale, repair or put in an on-demand heater.
Water Heater Repair
Track down the cause of cold showers, tank leaks, popping noises, pilot trouble or burned-out elements.
Common questions
Answers about water softener
The city's report puts hardness around 7 to 8 grains per gallon. Many owners soften to protect heaters and fixtures, but it is a preference, not a requirement.
No. It removes calcium and magnesium. A carbon filter handles chloramine and taste.
Peek into the brine tank each month and refill before the salt falls below a quarter. Usage depends on water hardness and household size.
An empty salt tank, a salt bridge, a plugged injector or a bad control valve are the usual reasons.
Yes, phones are staffed all night. Switch the unit to bypass or shut its inlet if it drips, then ring in.
Scale building up at home?
Call and describe what you see. A contractor can talk through softener options and what the install involves.