4 Signs You Need a Water Softener

In Utah, our water is considered hard, especially compared to other areas of the country. Hard water is water that contains a high concentration of minerals, chiefly calcium and magnesium. But not everyone is aware of the effects of hard water. They may believe their skin problems and other issues are due to another cause. The team at Kinetico wants you to know the warning signs of hard water. If you have these bothersome issues in your home, a water softener can help.

1. Dry Skin & Hair

Hard water is drying, and showering with hard water can dry out your skin and hair, leaving you flaky and itchy. Moisturizing and conditioning can help, but it’s an issue many people in the Salt Lake City area fight constantly.

It has not been scientifically proven that hard water causes eczema, but most dermatologists agree that it can exacerbate the condition. Additionally, hard water can cause or worsen acne. Soft water is kinder to the skin and hair.

2. Appliances Break Down

Any appliances in your home that use water — the hot water tank, clothes washer, icemaker, dishwater — can break down more frequently if your home has hard water. That’s because of limescale, a chalky substance that builds up in these machines, as well as other parts such as sprayers, nozzles and drain hoses.

Soft water helps appliances last longer.

3. Plumbing Problems

Especially in older homes, scale and minerals can build up so thickly in pipes that the space for water to flow is reduced to the size of a pencil. This affects water pressure and makes it easier for pipes to become clogged.

With hard water, clogs can also form in the showerhead and faucets in your home. If you’re frequently calling the plumber for help with clogs, hard water may be to blame.

4. Dingy Laundry

Minerals make soap less effective, making it harder to clean your skin, your clothes and anything else in your home. After a while, your laundry will look dingy and stains will remain stubbornly behind. Minerals will also stay behind in your clothes, making them feel stiff. Additionally, your clothes will not last as long because the minerals break down the fabrics faster.

Have you noticed any of these signs in your home? Contact Kinetico today to schedule water softener installation. We serve Salt Lake City, Herriman, Bountiful, Ogden, Park City, Toole and the surrounding areas.

March 8, 2022March 27, 2022

How Do You Maintain a Water Softener?

If you’re considering buying a water softener, you may wonder how much maintenance it requires and if it’s difficult to do. The answer is, thankfully, that although water softeners do require some maintenance, it’s minimal and usually easily accomplished by the homeowner. When Kinetico installs water softeners in Utah, we ensure that homeowners know everything they need to know about water softener maintenance.

How Do Water Softeners Work?

Water softeners essentially filter water, removing the calcium and magnesium that makes water hard. Homeowners don’t like hard water because it makes cleaning more difficult, whether it is your clothes, your body or your home. It can also cause buildup in pipes and appliances, resulting in breakdowns sooner than expected and leaving stains in sinks, tubs and toilets.

Water softeners work by using negatively charged resin balls to attract positively charged calcium and magnesium molecules. Periodically, the resin beads in your water softener tank need to be purged of their calcium and magnesium molecules — but you don’t have to do it! Water softening systems include a second tank containing salt, and the salt molecules detach the calcium and magnesium ions from the resins, then wash them away as waste.

However, homeowners who live in an area with iron-rich water may want to periodically clean their water softener tanks with a product that removes iron deposits.

What Homeowners Need to Do for Water Softeners

The most important — and easiest — part of water softener maintenance is adding salt to the brine tank. How much salt to add and how often is dependent upon your water usage. Generally speaking, Kinetico recommends a bag per month. If you forget to add salt and your brine tank runs out, your water softener will stop working and your water will be hard again.

Sometimes salt can build up in the brine tank, forming a crusty barrier that prevents the salt water from getting into the water softener tank. You can usually fix this problem fairly easily by breaking up the “salt bridge” and removing the chunks of salt from the tank. After you clean out the tank, just add more salt and water and the problem should be resolved.

How Long Do Water Softeners Last?

With proper maintenance, water softeners can last for decades. And as you can see, water softeners are not particularly onerous to maintain, which makes them a particularly useful and popular device in your home. They save homeowners a lot of money over the years by preventing damage to appliances and clothing in your home.

For tips on making your water softener last as long as possible, contact the team at Kinetico. We’re here to help Utah homeowners throughout northern Utah reverse the negative effects of hard water in their homes.

January 11, 2022April 27, 2023

Is Water Softener Necessary?

Wondering if a water softener is necessary in your Utah home? Hard water dries skin and hair, shortens the life span and effectiveness of appliances and plumbing fixtures, and leaves a build up on shower stalls and dishes. So while there are no state regulations mandating water softeners, many Utah residents choose to get them on their own from Kinetico Water Systems.

How Hard Is Hard?

According to the Water Systems Council, a nonprofit established in 1932 to make well water safer to drink, water hardness is determined by how many parts per million of minerals there are in a sample of water. According to the council, 0-17.1 ppm is soft water, 17.2-60 is slightly hard, 61-120 is moderately hard and 121-180 is very hard.

In northern Utah, many cities and towns have extremely hard water. These include:

American Fork: 256
Bountiful: 513
Brigham City: 324
Draper: 657
Herriman: 359
Layton: 352
Lehi: 200
Logan: 272
Ogden: 170
Orem: 239
Park City: 444
Provo: 164
Salt Lake City: 158
Sandy: 307
South Jordan: 145
Spanish Fork: 427
Tooele: 310
West Jordan: 148
West Valley City: 170

What Is Hard Water?

Water is considered “hard” if it contains high levels of calcium and magnesium. Groundwater passes over rocks underground before it is pumped into your home, and during the process, water picks up minerals from the rocks. Northern Utah has some of the hardest water in the country.

What’s So Bad About Hard Water?

Hard water is not hazardous to your health, but it could do in your good looks. Hard water is bad for your skin because the minerals in the water react with soap, making it hard to rinse off. The residue builds up causing dry skin and may lead to acne, dermatitis and eczema. Hard water is also bad for your hair and scalp, causing them to dry out and become dull and itchy.

If you have hard water in your home, you may notice that your soap doesn’t lather in your hands as easily. For this reason, hard water doesn’t clean as well. Your laundry is dingier and not as clean, and your clothes and linens may feel scratchy.

The minerals in hard water can also stain bathroom fixtures and appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers.

What to Do About Hard Water

When customers in Salt Lake City, Provo and Ogden learn about how hard the water is in their homes, they often opt to buy a water softener. Water softeners are extremely common in homes in Bountiful, Herriman, Park City and Toole, where the water is much harder.

A water softener works by removing the calcium, magnesium and other minerals from your water supply and adding salt. When you opt to get soft water in your Salt Lake City home or any other location in northern Utah, you will notice the difference right away.

To learn more about getting a water softener in your Utah home, contact Kinetico today.

September 14, 2021October 11, 2021

Reverse Osmosis Systems vs. Pitcher Water Filters

When you first consider your options for fresh, clean-tasting water at your Utah home, you may lean toward getting a pitcher water filter rather than a reverse osmosis system.

This is understandable, as pitcher filters are easy to use and cheap to buy.

However, relying on a pitcher to filter your drinking water may not be the best move. Here, the expert team at Kinetico Utah explains the reasons why investing in an RO water filtration system is a wise decision.

Pitchers Filter Only a Small Amount of Water

Pitcher water filters aren’t all that productive because the pitchers have a limited capacity. The amount that can be filtered at a time might not be enough to satisfy your household needs – and filling up the pitcher every time you empty it may soon become a nuisance. If you invest in a reverse osmosis filtration system, everyone will have plenty to drink every time they turn on the faucet.

Pitchers Require More Frequent Filter Changes

Most manufacturers recommend replacing pitcher filters every two months or once 40 gallons has been filtered, whichever comes first. The cost of replacement water filters could add up to nearly $100 per year, and swapping out the filters is a chore that’s easy to forget. With a reverse osmosis water filtration system, filter changes are a breeze, and they’re typically only necessary every 12 months.

Pitcher Filters Remove Fewer Contaminants

Some water filter pitchers remove only chlorine, while others also remove certain bacteria, organic compounds and heavy metals. But regardless of which brand you choose, a pitcher water filter won’t eliminate as many contaminants as a reverse osmosis system can. RO technology works to trap up to 99 percent of the contaminants commonly found in Utah, which makes for safer, cleaner and better-tasting water.

Choosing a Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System

If you opt for a reverse osmosis water filtration system instead of a water filter pitcher, you’ll have a virtually endless supply of delicious filtered water for drinking, cooking and making beverages like iced tea and lemonade. To make the most of your investment, however, you’ll want to contact Kinetico Utah.

Kinetico, an industry leader, has been manufacturing innovative RO systems that outperform other brands and operate for decades. What’s more, Kinetico’s reverse osmosis filtration systems are certified by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) to remove more contaminants than other systems out on the market – and for your peace of mind, our systems come with an outstanding warranty.

After serving homeowners in Ogden, Park City, Provo, Salt Lake City and surrounding northern Utah area for 30 years, the Kinetico Utah team knows that providing information is essential – we’re ready to answer your questions and explain everything you need to know about water filters and RO technology. For a free, no-obligation consultation, contact Kinetico Utah today.

August 10, 2021August 31, 2021

Do You Need a Water Filtration System or a Water Softener?

Water filtration Salt Lake City, water softener Salt Lake City

Many Salt Lake City homeowners assume that they should get a water softener, but, at least in some cases, a water filtration system would better meet their needs – and in some cases, the opposite is true. So how do you know what’s right for your Utah home?

The decision on whether to invest in a water filtration system or a water softener depends mainly upon your goals and objectives, as well as the quality of your household water supply. Different types of equipment perform different functions

Here’s what you need to know to make a decision on the best water treatment approach for you.

Why Might You Need a Water Softener?

Softeners are designed to filter out calcium and magnesium ions, which are the primary minerals that make water hard. Hardness isn’t a health hazard, but it can bring about several unpleasant issues, including:

Limescale or soap scum deposits on faucets and showerheads
Rust-colored staining in and around sinks and toilets
Residue on clothing after it goes through the washing machine
Dry, itchy and irritated skin and dingy, dull-looking hair
Appliances becoming less efficient, leading to higher energy bills and shorter lifespans

If you suspect that your Salt Lake City home has hard water, a softener may be what you need to resolve these problems. However, keep in mind that installing a softening system won’t ensure that what’s flowing from your taps is necessarily pleasant or safe to drink.

Why Might You Need a Whole-Home Water Filtration System?

Filtration systems, particularly whole-home water filtration systems, are effective for removing sediment and particles. Even more important, a filtration system can remove chlorine from your water. In Salt Lake City, whole home filtration for chlorine removal is a very popular option, due to the unpleasant nature of our municipal water supply.

So, while a softener system will help with spotty glassware and scale buildup on plumbing fixtures, filtration systems will provide you with water that looks cleaner and tastes (and smells) much better.

Filtration systems can also help neutralize high acidity levels. In some cases, highly acidic water can cause excess corrosion in the home’s plumbing system, including pipes, faucets and fixtures.

What About Water Purification Systems?

Purification systems are designed to remove the majority of harmful particulates and impurities. These systems typically use reverse osmosis (RO) technology, which is capable of trapping many different types of pollutants. Some of the contaminants that a reverse osmosis system can eliminate from your household supply include:

Viruses
Bacteria
Protozoa
Lead
Arsenic
Nitrate
Metal ions
Sulfate

If you’re concerned about the safety of your household drinking water, you might also want to want to invest in a reverse osmosis filtration system. These systems are typically installed at the kitchen sink, so you have it conveniently available for cooking and drinking. However, the nature of RO systems don’t facilitate the filtration of large volumes.

Get the Right Water Treatment System for You

If you want to have the best possible drinking water, you could install our exclusive reverse osmosis K5 drinking water station. To improve the quality and safety of the water throughout your home, talk to us about installing Kinetico’s whole home water filtration system.

To reach the right decision, you’ll need to get a clear picture of your household water quality – and the expert team at Kinetico Utah can perform a test at no cost to you. Once we see the results, we can recommend a treatment option. We offer a range of effective and efficient filtration systems and top-of-the-line water softeners, all of which come with our industry-leading warranty.

Call on Kinetico Utah, and we’ll find a solution that meets your needs and fits your budget. We’d be happy to come to your Salt Lake City are home to provide you with a free, no-obligation consultation and discuss our highly efficient and cost-effective water filtration and water softening systems.

July 13, 2021July 11, 2021

Is It Time to Replace Your Water Softener in Utah?

Is it time for water softener replacement? Utah homeowners usually need to replace their softening systems about every ten years – but if you have extremely hard water or your household usage is high, you may need to get a new softener sooner.

No one can tell you exactly how long a water softener will last, so you’ll benefit from learning how to tell if yours is on its last leg. You’ll find that information below, along with tips on how to select the right water softening system for your Utah home.

Signs You Need to Replace Your Water Softener

When your softener is reaching the end of its life, you may experience a range of issues. Warning signs that it may be time to replace your water softener include:

Scale buildup around your faucets and fixtures
Mineral spots on your dishes and glassware
Needing to use more soap to create enough lather
Laundry comes out stiff and isn’t fully clean
Skin feels itchier and dryer than normal

Be aware that the above-mentioned red flags may indicate a need for softener repair, not that a replacement unit is necessary. But in any case, you shouldn’t hesitate to have a professional inspect your water softening system.

How to Choose a New Water Softener for Your Utah Home

If you do end up needing to replace your softener, you’ll want to make a smart choice. That may prove to be a challenge, as modern water softening systems may be quite different than the one you have.

For that reason, the process of shopping for a replacement softener should involve the same steps you took when you first bought a water softening system. By that we mean doing your homework, choosing a few reputable local water treatment professionals and scheduling consultations. Ask plenty of questions and get help comparing your options, then decide which company can best meet your needs.

Turn to Kinetico for Water Softener Replacement in Utah

If you think that you may need to replace your softener, give Kinetico a call. We serve homeowners throughout northern Utah, and our friendly team is known for providing expert service.

Kinetico is a trusted industry leader, and we design on-demand water softening systems that require minimal maintenance. Our softeners are engineered to operate for decades – without electricity and with much less salt than systems designed by other manufacturers. With us, you’ll have peace of mind, too, as we back our products with a comprehensive warranty.

To learn more about what Kinetico has to offer, or to schedule a complimentary consultation to discuss water softener replacement in Utah, complete our online contact form or call our office today.

June 8, 2021June 25, 2021

Water Softener Regeneration – What You Need to Know

Why do water softeners need to regenerate? What happens during the regeneration process? And how often should it take place?

When you have questions about softening systems, Kinetico is your source for answers. Below, we explain the basics on regeneration, the two different types – scheduled and on-demand regeneration – and the benefits of investing in a Kinetico water softener.

Why Water Softeners Regenerate

Softening systems work by passing water through a bed of resin beads, removing calcium and magnesium ions and replacing them with sodium ions. With the mineral contaminants no longer present you have soft water.

Over time, the resin beads become saturated with minerals – and to continue softening, the system must regenerate. During the regeneration process, mineral ions are flushed out, refreshing the resin beads and restoring their ability to function.

Scheduled Softener Regeneration

Most softening systems regenerate at specific times. A microprocessor controls the process, but a treatment professional determines how frequently regeneration occurs. This is based upon household usage and water quality.

While scheduled regeneration can be effective, it has drawbacks. A softener may regenerate too early, when the resin beads aren’t fully saturated – and that’s wasteful. Or, the timed intervals may be too far apart to ensure a continual supply of soft water.

On-Demand Softener Regeneration

Kinetico water softening systems regenerate on demand. A meter tracks household usage, measuring the volume of water that flows through the softener. The resin beads are refreshed when necessary, in pace with the demand.

On-demand regeneration is more efficient than regenerating at timed intervals, and softeners that are designed to regenerate on an as-needed basis also use less salt and water. Also soft water is always available for use, even when the amount of water used increases.

Why Choose a Kinetico Water Softener?

Kinetico softening systems feature on-demand regeneration – but that’s far from the only reason our softeners are the ideal choice. Kinetico offers:

Non-electric operation
Low salt usage
Twin-tank design
Compact size

In addition, Kinetico water softeners are engineered to provide 20 to 30 years of trouble-free service, with very little maintenance. Additionally, our softening systems come with a comprehensive 10 year warranty – and our warranty coverage is among the best in the industry.

With Kinetico, you can be certain that you’re getting a high-quality softening system. Homeowners in Provo and the surrounding northern Utah area have been turning to us for decades, and we’re known for both affordable, innovative products and exceptional customer service.

To learn more about water softener regeneration, or to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation for installing a water softener, contact Kinetico today.

May 11, 2021May 31, 2021

How a Reverse Osmosis System Will Benefit Your Family

Have you thought about installing a reverse osmosis system?

When it comes to your family’s drinking water, you have your choice of a few different types of filtration systems. The best feature RO technology, purifying water by using pressure to push it through a semi-permeable membrane. To see what makes reverse osmosis the ideal water treatment solution, read on.

Safer and Cleaner Water Supply

One of the greatest advantages of installing a reverse osmosis system is knowing that your household has water that’s nearly free of impurities. The RO process can remove up to 99 percent of common contaminants, including arsenic, lead, nitrate, bacteria, viruses and particulates.

Great-Tasting Drinking Water

With an RO system removing unwanted contaminants from your water, every glass you drink will have a clear, refreshing taste. Water filtered through reverse osmosis is widely considered to be the best for drinking and cooking, and you’ll love having a virtually unlimited supply.

Savings that Quickly Add Up

You can say goodbye to bottled water after installing an RO system, and by doing so, you can save quite a bit of your hard-earned money. Instead of spending hundreds of dollars on single-use bottles each year, you’ll be getting your drinking water for just a few pennies per gallon.

Reduced Environmental Impact

Plastic is recyclable, but did you know that roughly 70 percent of the water bottles we use end up in a landfill? Install an RO system, and you’ll be doing your part to benefit the environment – you won’t need to buy single-use bottles, and that means your family will produce less plastic waste.

Ready to Reap the Benefits of Reverse Osmosis?

If your home is in Salt Lake City or the surrounding area, Kinetico Utah is the water treatment company to call. Our innovative RO systems outperform others on the market in several ways, as they’re designed to:

Provide a constant flow, delivering water at about twice the speed as other filtration systems
Conserve water, using up to 93 percent less than filtration systems made by other manufacturers
Make maintenance easy, as you can change filters with a simple twist – and the indicator lets you know when it’s time for filter replacement

In addition, Kinetico RO systems are certified by the National Sanitation Foundation to remove more contaminants than any other system you can buy. Choose Kinetico, and you’ll feel confident in not only the quality of your family’s drinking water, but also in the quality of your filtration system. Ours are made to operate for up to twenty years, but for your peace of mind, we also provide an industry-leading warranty.

For more information on water filtration, or to schedule a free consultation to discuss the benefits of installing a reverse osmosis system with the Kinetico Utah team, contact us today.

July 14, 2020July 16, 2020

How Does Reverse Osmosis Work?

Reverse osmosis is an advanced water purification process, one that can greatly improve the quality of your water. Installing an RO system is an effective way to get safe, great-tasting drinking water – and the components last a long time, so each glass will cost just a few pennies.

For details on how the water purification method works, what an RO system can remove from your drinking water and answers to your questions about installation, take a look at the following guide.

The Reverse Osmosis Process

Reverse osmosis is a high-tech solution to drinking water quality problems, but the way RO systems work isn’t all that difficult to understand.

The process essentially involves using pressure to force water through a semi-permeable membrane. The holes are just large enough to allow water molecules through – impurities are trapped, and even small contaminant particles get flushed away. As such, the drinking water produced through the RO process is clean, clear and delicious.

Impurities Removed through Reverse Osmosis

Install an RO system, and you won’t have to worry about the quality of your household drinking water – you’ll be providing your family with a supply that’s free of many potentially harmful contaminants. The pollutants and impurities filtered out by the semi-permeable RO membrane include:

Arsenic
Lead
Iron
Floride
Mercury
Copper
Sulfate
Cadmium
Sodium

And that’s just a few of the contaminants removed through the RO process. Organic, inorganic and chemical byproducts of the water disinfection process are also trapped, and high-quality RO systems contain additional filters to remove particulates and sediments.

Installing a Reverse Osmosis System

RO systems are typically installed under the kitchen sink or in the basement or a utility closet.

You can also opt to hook up your reverse osmosis system to a refrigerator or ice maker. And if you already have a water softener or are planning on installing one, you won’t have any issues – in fact, because hard water damages the RO membrane, having a softener will extend the lifespan of your RO system.

Do you have any questions? For expert answers and advice on drinking water purification systems, turn to the professional team at Kinetico Utah.

An industry leader serving residential clients throughout the state of Utah, we’ve been helping homeowners get clean, great-tasting drinking water for more than 30 years. We offer a range of affordable treatment solutions, including the Kinetico K5 reverse osmosis system. To learn more, contact us and schedule a free consultation today.

June 9, 2020July 16, 2020

How Often Do Water Softening Systems Need Servicing?

Are water softeners hard to take care of

High-quality water softening systems, like those designed by Kinetico, require very little attention. Invest in one, and other than adding salt – which you’ll do far less often than with a traditional softener – you’ll only need to schedule regular service calls.

So, how often will that be necessary? Most softening system manufacturers recommend yearly servicing by a water treatment professional. Below, you’ll find four reasons why annual service calls are essential for a well-functioning water softener.

Cleaning & Sanitizing

During an annual service call, a treatment professional will thoroughly clean out the brine tank and sanitize your water softening system. These are tasks you could handle on your own, but neither is particularly easy – and if you’re like most homeowners, you’ll rest easier with an expert taking care of the cleaning and sanitization.

Settings Optimization

When you get your softening system professionally serviced, you can count on the settings being optimized to suit the needs of your family. You might be using more or less water than before, and an expert knows how to make sure that the equipment setup is right for your household.

Component Maintenance

High-quality water softening systems that don’t use electricity – like those we offer here at Kinetico Utah — don’t need repairs or replacement parts nearly as often as traditional models. That said, just like every other appliance, components can get worn over time. During a service call, a professional will inspect every part of your softener and, if necessary, complete any repair work. They’ll catch any problems early on, before they grow to cause more extensive issues.

Water Quality Testing

In addition to all of the above, treatment professionals also typically perform water quality testing as part of every annual service call. Based on the results, you’ll know if your household supply is safe or if it contains any biological, chemical or physical contaminants. And in the event the latter is true, an expert can recommend an effective filtration system, one that works with your softener.

Clearly, annual servicing by a water treatment professional is key to ensuring a water softener operates efficiently for as long as possible. If you’re ready to schedule a service call – or if you’re interested in installing a new softening system – reach out to Kinetico Utah.

We’ve been a trusted regional industry leader for more than 30 years, known for our advanced water treatment solutions, competitive pricing and exceptional customer care. For more information on our water softening systems or their servicing needs, contact our office in Draper, Utah, today.