Scale buildup will be much more prevalent if you have a salt-based water softening system and you might have to drain your water heater more because of it.
Study by the Gas Institute
Another study, conducted by the Gas Institute, found that softened water accelerates the depletion of anode rods in water heaters. Anode rods ordinarily keep heater tanks from rusting for five years. When the life of an anode is shortened, the life of the heater is as well.
I would definitely flush the water heater during your softener install. If it's really crusted with minerals, they make tools to connect to your water heater drain to manually dislodge as much as possible.
The two major cons associated with water softeners are cost and maintenance. Depending on the type and size of water softener you choose, the initial price along with installation can cost you anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.
If neither you nor a professional have flushed your water within the last five years, Water Heaters Now recommends not flushing it yourself. If you flush a water heater that already has a significant sediment buildup, it can actually cause more problems.
The longer your water heater goes without a drain-and-flush, the more sediment and minerals will accumulate at the bottom of the tank. Eventually, this causes scaling. Ever noticed that hard, mineral buildup on your sink faucets and shower heads? That's scale: accumulated mineralization.
It is recommended that you flush your water heater at least once per year. Doing so will help to prevent the potential problems that sediment can bring over time. Typically, it takes one to two hours to flush a water heater. The size of your tank will impact the amount of time it takes to drain.
The cost of treating this wastewater is significantly higher than other types of waste, and much of the water treated in this way still isn't recoverable. Thus, in 2005, California took action and made it legal for communities to ban this type of water softener in order to meet toughening environmental standards.
While water softeners have a life expectancy of 10-15 years, several factors contribute to this lifespan. Water hardness levels can affect the lifespan of a water softener. The higher the water hardness, the harder the water softener works to remove minerals like calcium and magnesium.
The process of water softening can cause water to have an elevated amount of sodium. While most soft water is perfectly safe to drink, elevated sodium levels may not be ideal for people with high blood pressure.
Scale buildup will be much more prevalent if you have a salt-based water softening system and you might have to drain your water heater more because of it.
The average U.S. homeowner spends about $160 to flush a water heater. Depending on the type, size, location, and labor, most spend between $110 and $200. Your average water heater flush cost falls around $160, with most prices ranging from $110 to $200 depending on several factors.
More importantly, any water used during the regeneration cycle will still be unsoftened. Yuck.
However, soft water lacks minerals and can wear down magnesium rods quickly. If you have soft water, it's a good idea to switch to a zinc or aluminum (or hybrid) anode rod, which you can find at most hardware stores.
While today's water heaters are better designed than older models, they still require regular maintenance in order to prolong their lives. With regular inspection, draining, and flushing, you can expect a gas water heater to last anywhere from 8-12 years and an electric water heater to last anywhere from 10-15 years.
Water softening products will remove those minerals and replace them with salt. Soft water will not leave behind an uncomfortable and unclean residue, but it will shorten the lifespan of your hot water heater.
Plumber Installation
Water softener knowledge and installation is par for the course for professional plumbers, so they'll be able to expertly install your system in two or three hours, barring any unforeseen setbacks.
However, regular cleaning and inspections will boost the lifespan of your softener — replacing the salt, scrubbing out the brine tank and having your softener inspected annually are essential for a well-functioning system.
The major disadvantage to softening water is the potential health risks for people that might be on low sodium diets. The exchange of hardness minerals for sodium adds 7.5 milligrams per quart for each gpg of hardness removed. In addition, calcium and magnesium are eliminated from the homeowner's diet.
Environmental impact of water softeners
While added salt may not be a detriment to the health of a generally healthy household, the salt that is then discharged from one's home/business into freshwater streams, rivers, and aquifers is causing serious damage to our water supplies and aquatic life.
The most common alternative to water softeners is called a water conditioner and offers a viable way to reduce the damage hard water can cause throughout your home through a process distinct from the process used by water softeners.
If you've got a soft water plumbing system, your heater may not build up sediment as quickly, but you will need to check the heater anode at least once a year. Soft water corrodes anodes much faster because of the salt that replaces the hard water elements.
If you don't drain or flush your hot water heater, minerals and sediments from the water supply will settle at the bottom of the tank.