With more than 30 years’ experience in the residential and commercial water treatment space, Mark Nelson is a Class 1 Drinking-Water Operator and a CBWA (Canadian Bottled Water Association) Certified Plant Operator. As founder and president of Nelson Water in Ottawa, Mark focuses on dealing with challenging water treatment system designs for problem water. He also heads the largest water bottling plant in the city of Ottawa with a delivery network throughout the Valley.
Water softeners are the only practical and reliable way to remove dissolved minerals that cause hard water problems. Many people have made the decision to switch to soft water to prevent a wide variety of problems in their homes. But, after the installation, some people experience a drop in water pressure which can be alarming. If this sounds familiar, it’s natural to wonder why this is happening and how to fix the problem.
Gradual or Fast?
In certain cases, the drop in water pressure is very fast, and the situation tends to develop with no warnings. At other times, the drop in pressure can be gradual and less noticeable. There are many possible causes of low water pressure and these must be investigated before drastic action is taken. There is a slight possibility that the water softener is the cause, and this may seem obvious if a fast drop occurs immediately after an installation. But, it’s important to rule out the other possibilities to ensure that you’re not wasting time and resources on a non-existent problem.
Can a Water Softener Reduce the Water Pressure?
Yes, it is possible, but unlikely as a drop in water pressure is more likely immediately after an installation has occurred as the system is settling down. Let’s take a look at five possible causes of a water softener related water pressure drop:
1. The Particle Filter is Clogged
One of the more annoying characteristics of hard water is that it tends to contain a large concentration of suspended particles. This is why many modern water softeners have a dedicated pre-filter to remove sediment, sand, dust, and other particulates from the water. Removing these contaminants will protect the other components in the system. But, if you have a cheaper or older water softener, these particles can accumulate inside the filter. Eventually, the path through the filter will be blocked, and this will decrease the water pressure.
2. A Blocked Resin Bed
If the aforementioned particles are not removed from the incoming hard water, they can make their way into the resin bed. This is where the resin beads are housed that are vital for the ion-exchange process. The particles can cause a build-up of iron over time and this may eventually block the water flow into the resin bed. This obstruction can in turn, reduce the water pressure throughout the home.
3. Resin Particles in the Water Supply Line
If the resin tank is filled and not replaced on time, the tank can degrade and break. This can release pieces of the tank into the water, and this material can be carried throughout the entire home. Eventually, some of the particles may become lodged in a vulnerable location such as a water supply line, and this will create a blockage. The water pressure can be lowered, and in certain cases, it may be stopped entirely.
4. The Water Softener is Undersized
A water softener must be sized to meet the demands of your home. If the water softener is too small, it cannot produce adequate volumes of softened water to keep the water pressure high enough for your needs. This is a case for involving a water treatment specialist at an early stage when you are considering a water softener installation. This sizing must be correct, simply choosing an inexpensive big box softener and installing it yourself is not a smart move. These softeners tend to fail quickly, they may be the wrong size for the home, and an incorrect installation will affect the performance and efficiency.
5. Consider the Regeneration Cycle
The regeneration cycle is essential to clean the resin beads to make the ion-exchange process efficient. But, this process uses a lot of water, and this can lower water pressure throughout the home until the regeneration cycle completes. For this reason, the regeneration cycle tends to take place at times when the demand for water is lower. When people are asleep at night, they are not using much water, and this would be hard water anyway because the system will be in bypass mode. The regeneration cycle may be pre-programmed to activate at a certain time. But, the more modern control valves use a demand initiated system that regenerates the resin bed after a set volume of water has been consumed. In both cases, this process should take place at night when the demand for water is much lower. If you’re concerned about the efficiency of the control valve and regeneration cycles, contact your local water treatment specialist.
How Can I Check if the Water Softener is the Cause of Low Water Pressure?
At the top of the tank, you should see a bypass valve that can be used to bring water into the home without it passing through the water softener system. It’s natural to wonder why you would need such a valve, but there are times when you need access to the water softener for cleaning and maintenance. At these times, you don’t want water flowing through the system because it makes these tasks impossible. The water softener is placed into bypass mode automatically during a regeneration cycle too.
When the water softener is in bypass mode, check the faucets and fixtures where you noticed low water pressure problems. If they are running normally, it’s likely that the water softener is to blame, and if the water pressure is still low, the problem lies elsewhere.
If the water softener is causing low water pressure, check the sediment pre-filter for dirt and debris that may be clogging the filter. If the filter is blocked, replace it, place the system back into normal operating mode and evaluate the water pressure again.
If you receive highly chlorinated public water, this can damage the resin media beads. They will break down to a mushy paste, and the flow of water can be restricted. This can cause a buildup of bacteria, and the entire resin bed may need to be dumped and replaced.
If you need some essential maintenance and cleaning for your water softener system, contact your local water treatment specialist today.