Plumbers Rockford IL Pros is a referral service. We connect you with independent local plumbers and do not do the plumbing work ourselves.
Rockford has some of the hardest tap water you will find, and a water softener is the most direct way to stop the scale it leaves behind. Call (815) 420-9933 and we will connect you with a local plumber who sizes, installs and repairs water softeners across the Rockford area.
How hard is Rockford's water?
The City of Rockford reports its water at 19 to 22 grains per gallon of calcium and magnesium. That is roughly 325 to 375 milligrams per liter, about double the 180 mg/L at which the U.S. Geological Survey classes water as very hard.
The city draws its water from groundwater aquifers, so the hardness stays much the same all year.
Do I need a water softener in Rockford?
At 19 to 22 grains per gallon, most Rockford homes will see scale build up without one. A softener is most worth it when you are replacing a water heater or fixtures you want to last, or when you already see the signs below.
- White crust on faucets, showerheads and glass shower doors
- Spots on dishes and glasses after washing
- Soap and shampoo that do not lather well
- A water heater that pops or rumbles
- Low pressure from clogged aerators and showerheads
What does a water softener do?
A water softener passes your water through a tank of resin beads that trade the calcium and magnesium for sodium or potassium. When the beads are full, the softener rinses them with salt water from the brine tank, called regenerating, and starts again.
How is a water softener sized?
The plumber sizes a softener from your water's hardness and how much water your household uses each day. For example, a home that uses 300 gallons a day at 20 grains per gallon needs to remove about 6,000 grains a day, and the softener's capacity sets how often it has to regenerate.
A softener that is too small regenerates too often and wastes salt and water; one that is too large can sit too long between regenerations.
What does water softener installation involve?
The softener is plumbed into the main water line where it enters the house, ahead of the water heater, with a bypass valve so it can be isolated for service. It also needs a drain for the regeneration water and an outlet for its control valve.
Outdoor faucets are often left on unsoftened water, since there is no need to soften water for the lawn.
Can I use a water softener on a private well?
Yes. Hardness in well water varies from one well to the next, so test the water first and size the softener to the result. Winnebago County residents can get private well water tested through the City of Rockford Environmental Lab.
If the test shows iron, tell the plumber, because it affects which system fits. We also connect well owners with plumbers for well pumps and pressure tanks.
How do I look after a water softener?
Keep the brine tank topped up with salt, and break up any hard crust of salt that forms across the tank. The City of Rockford's guidance is to clean out the brine tank every year.
When does a water softener need repair?
Call a plumber if hard water signs come back, the salt level never drops, the brine tank fills with water, or the softener regenerates constantly. Agree the price with the plumber before any work starts.
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