What happens if you have an old, out of warranty or resin-fouled water softener?
Short story | Full story
Nothing lasts forever – and that’s certainly true when it comes to water softeners. If they are regularly maintained, however, they should be capable of providing you with many magnificent years of service.
If they are kept in tip top working condition, it’s not unusual for machines to deliver consistent levels of soft water for between 10 and 15 years.
Of course, you may have inherited a water softener when you moved house and might not be familiar with the benefits of soft water. Maybe you are umming and aahing as to whether it’s worth bothering to replace it because of the costs involved.
Well, before you give up on that old softener altogether, how about giving some thought as to why your predecessors had a softener installed in the first place. They were probably fed up with how hard water was ruining their hair and skin and they’d witnessed the damage that limescale (created by hard water) was causing. Also, that trusty old softener probably saved hundreds of pounds each year on utility bills, cleaning costs, plumbing and appliance call outs, not forgetting boiler repairs.
That’s why, if you live in a very hard water area like much of the south- east of England, then water softeners are always advisable.
The full story
As effective as they are, however, age will eventually catch up with them; they’ll start to get out of warranty, or you may end up with a resin-fouled machine (more of this later).
In the majority of these situations, there will be little we can do to resurrect or repair the machine – it will simply be a case of recommending an upgrade.
When does a water softener need upgrading?
- It is out of the manufacturer’s warranty – this usually means that replacement parts are very difficult to get hold of and there is nothing that can be done to rejuvenate the failing mechanism. Even if the unit is still under warranty but over eight years old, replacement parts may still be scarce. In which case, it will mean calling time on the old softener.
- It has already reached or exceeded its life expectancy. A repair may be possible, but there is a strong possibility that the unit will fail soon after the work has taken place. A sure sign it’s time for a new water softener.
- The cost of repairs can quickly start to outweigh the value of the unit and you end up throwing good money after bad.
Do we carry out repair work on budget softeners?
For water softeners that are typically supplied and installed for under £1000, either on a DIY basis or appliances that were part of a new home fit out by a builder, we generally stay clear of any repairs.
This is because it can be difficult to get hold of parts and dealing with unfamiliar manufacturers isn’t usually very easy. Also, budget softeners are cheap for a reason – they weren’t designed to be in constant use and generally have an inferior softening capacity.
Budget softeners aren’t designed for longevity or to be subjected to regular maintenance.
Water softeners with resin fouling
Resin fouling is the description for a water softener that has become completely blocked up with contaminants after a period of time.
These obstructions can be due to the presence of iron, manganese or organic matter in the water supply.
If we come across a water softener where resin fouling is present, we would always recommend upgrading the softener, as it really has got beyond the point of repair. It’s worth mentioning that if your water softener is repaired to a high standard.
How much will it cost me to upgrade my water softener?
The cost for an upgrade starts at £1345.00 with installation costs beginning at £120.00. This includes the upgrading of any pipework. The optional removal and disposal of your current unit is an additional £25.00.
Another bonus with softener upgrades is that you not only benefit from having a brand-new softener, you also swerve the full installation cost that comes with a brand-new install. Happy days all round.
For all service enquiries, either contact us by phone on 01243 607494 or via email: scott@sjbs.info
