How to Drain Your Water Softener

One great thing about water softeners is their relatively simple upkeep. For the most part, maintaining a water softening system involves adding salt pellets every now and then. To really maximize your water softener's performance and extend its lifespan, though, there are a few routine maintenance tasks you should complete. This may include draining your water softener's brine tank once every year or so.

Not every type of water softener requires manual draining, but some do. Thankfully, draining a brine tank isn't complicated. You should always refer to the system's owner's manual for specific instructions, but generally speaking, there are multiple ways to remove water from the tank:

● Scoop it out. Using a bucket small enough to fit in the brine tank, scoop out the water by hand.

● Remove the brine tank. If you're able, detach the brine tank (following the directions in the owner's manual) and carefully tip it over to dump the water into a drain.

● Use a wet-dry vacuum. If you have access to a wet-dry vacuum (such as a Shop-Vac), you can use it to suck the water out of the brine tank. Make sure the vacuum is designed for use with water.

If your water softener features manual regeneration, you can also activate that cycle to replace the water in the brine tank. No matter how you drain your water softener, it's important to dump the water down a drain, not on your grass or plants. Nothing kills a lush, green lawn faster than several gallons of salty water.

Once the water has been drained from the brine tank, the next step is to clean it. Cleaning the tank about once a year will help your water softener perform at its best. Here's how:

● Remove any salt or sludge by carefully loosening it with a small shovel or similar tool.

● Clean the tank with a mix of water and gentle dishwashing detergent, then rinse thoroughly.

● Add new salt or water according to the owner's manual.

● Schedule a regeneration cycle for the next night.

Your Water Softener Experts

If your home's water softener is starting to fail, or if hard water is wreaking havoc on your home, skin, hair, or laundry, the contractor to call is Pure Energy Water & Air. An authorized RainSoft dealer, our family-owned and operated company has served homeowners since 1989, and we'd be happy to add you to our long list of satisfied customers.

Schedule a Free, In-Home Consultation

Let's get started. Contact Pure Energy Water & Air today to schedule a free, in-home consultation, during which our professionals can recommend a RainSoft water softening system that fits your budget and your home's water usage. When you call, don't forget to ask about our easy-term financing options.