Water Softeners Archives

July 24, 2023 by Bill Bacon

Flushing Resin Beads from Plumbing in Water Softener: How to Resolve the Issue

Discovering resin beads from your water softener in your plumbing system can be a frustrating experience. These beads can enter the plumbing if the membrane that holds them in place within the water softener tank breaks, allowing them to travel freely throughout your pipes. Recognizing signs such as low water pressure, grit in shower heads and faucet screens, or even resin beads coming out of your faucet indicates a possible membrane breakage.

To address this problem, follow these steps to flush out the resin beads from your plumbing system:

Close the water softener valves and open the bypass valve.
Drain and flush your water heater.
Remove all screens from your faucets.
Open all cold water valves in your home.
Flush and clean the water supply from the washer.
Run all water-utilizing appliances, including dishwasher, washing machines, bathroom showers, sinks, and kitchen sinks.
Monitor if resin continues to flow out with the water.
If appliances become clogged or start to overflow, turn them off, detach their water hoses, and check for clogs. Flush the hoses to clear any beads and remove clogs from the connections.

Once clear water flows from all outlets, you can assume that you have successfully flushed out the resin beads from your pipes. However, it’s essential to address the underlying issue of the malfunctioning water softener. Refrain from turning off the bypass mode, as the broken membrane may still allow resins to enter your plumbing system. To prevent a recurring problem, focus on repairing or fixing your water softener effectively.

July 24, 2023 by Bill Bacon

How to clean out your salt tank

How to effectively clean dirt and grime from your Salt Tank

Having some dirt and grime in your salt tank is generally acceptable, as water softeners are designed to filter out impurities before they reach your water supply. The majority of the dirt and grime in your salt tank typically comes from the 1% residue found in a bag of 99% pure extra coarse water softening salt. However, if you still wish to clean it for aesthetic reasons, here’s a step-by-step guide:

Wait until the salt level drops very low in your salt tank.
Disconnect the brine line from the main control valve. You can do this from either the salt tank side or the main control valve side, whichever is more convenient.
If possible, move the salt tank to a location where you can empty the remaining water. Create a cleaning solution by mixing dish soap, water, and a small amount of bleach. Use this solution to scrub the inside of the tank thoroughly, and then rinse it out with a garden hose.

Note: Depending on your circumstances, such as location, HOA rules, physical ability, and the type of system you have, it may only be feasible to wipe the tank’s sides with the same soap and water solution as mentioned above.

Reconnect the brine line to the main control valve. If you emptied the water out during the cleaning process, make sure to refill the tank to its original water level.
Refill the tank with salt, and you’re good to go.

June 19, 2023 by Bill Bacon

What Is in Lake Mead Water

Lake Mead is a large reservoir located on the Colorado River, straddling the border between Nevada and Arizona. The lake is the largest water storage facility in the United States, with a capacity of over 26 million acre-feet of water. It provides water to millions of people in the southwest, including Las Vegas. It is also a popular recreational area for boating, fishing, and camping. But what exactly is in the water of Lake Mead?

The Sorce of Lake Mead Water

To answer that question, we need to understand where the water comes from. In addition to the Colorado River, which flows into the lake, there are several tributaries that also feed into it. These include the Virgin River, the Muddy River, and the Virgin River Basin. The water that enters Lake Mead is primarily snowmelt from the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada, which drains into the Colorado River and its tributaries. Additionally, Las Vegas returns its treated wastewater back into the lake.

Is Lake Mead Water Safe

The drinking water in Lake Mead is generally regarded as safe for consumption and other purposes. Nevertheless, it does possess numerous minerals and substances that can influence its taste and overall quality. Specifically, the lake water has elevated levels of dissolved minerals like calcium, magnesium, and sodium. These minerals have the potential to accumulate scale in pipes and appliances and may impact the water’s flavor. To address these concerns, utilizing a water softener and reverse osmosis system can be beneficial.

In addition, Lake Mead water can also contain trace amounts of pollutants, such as pesticides, herbicides, and industrial chemicals. These pollutants can come from agricultural runoff, urban stormwater, and other sources. To ensure that the water meets safety standards for drinking, the Southern Nevada Water Authority, which manages the water distribution system in the Las Vegas area, treats the water to remove impurities and control the levels of minerals.

In Conclusion

Lake Mead is an important source of water for millions of people and is managed carefully to maintain its quality. While the water does contain minerals and other substances, most of them are not harmful at the levels present in the lake. If you plan to visit Lake Mead for recreational purposes, be sure to follow all posted signs and guidelines for safe swimming and boating.

June 17, 2023 by Bill Bacon

What Is Water

Water is an essential part of life, and it is important to understand its properties. By understanding water, we can better conserve it and use it wisely.

Water is a transparent, tasteless, and odorless chemical substance that is the main constituent of Earth’s hydrosphere. It is essential for all known forms of life, and is the solvent of choice for many chemical reactions. Water is also a good conductor of heat and electricity.

Water is made up of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. The hydrogen atoms are bonded to the oxygen atom in a bent shape, with an angle of about 104.5 degrees. This shape gives water its unique properties, such as its high surface tension and its ability to dissolve many other substances.

Water exists in three states: solid, liquid, and gas. Solid water is known as ice, liquid water is what we typically think of as water, and gaseous water is known as water vapor. The state of water depends on its temperature and pressure. For example, water will melt and turn into liquid water at 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit) at standard atmospheric pressure.

Water is a renewable resource, but it is not evenly distributed around the world. Some areas of the world have an abundance of water, while others are facing water shortages. Water scarcity is a major problem in many parts of the world, and it is expected to become even more of a problem in the future.

Water is a precious resource, and it is important to conserve it. There are many ways to conserve water, such as fixing leaky faucets, taking shorter showers, and watering lawns less often. By conserving water, we can help to ensure that there is enough water for everyone.

Here are some of the important properties of water:

High surface tension: Water molecules are attracted to each other, which gives water a high surface tension. This means that water can form droplets and that it can climb up thin tubes.
High specific heat capacity: Water has a high specific heat capacity, which means that it takes a lot of energy to raise the temperature of water. This is why water is used to cool things down.
Universal solvent: Water is a universal solvent, which means that it can dissolve many different substances. This is important for life, because many of the substances that are necessary for life are dissolved in water.
Cohesion: Water molecules are attracted to each other, which is called cohesion. This is why water forms droplets.
Adhesion: Water molecules are also attracted to other substances, which is called adhesion. This is why water can climb up thin tubes.

By using less water, we allow more water to remain in nature to help let ecosystems thrive.

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