Question 1

How does an ion exchange water softener work?

Accepted Answer

The resin tank contains thousands of negatively charged resin beads coated with sodium ions. As hard water passes through, calcium and magnesium ions (positive charge) swap places with sodium ions on the beads. The result is softened water with sodium replacing the hardness minerals. When the beads are saturated, a brine (salt water) solution flushes through during regeneration, recharging the beads with sodium for reuse.

Question 2

What grain capacity do I need for Denver's water?

Accepted Answer

For Denver's 7.8 GPG hardness: 1-2 people = 24,000-32,000 grain capacity; 3-4 people = 32,000-48,000 grain; 5+ people = 48,000-64,000 grain. Suburbs with harder water (Parker, Castle Rock, Brighton) need 15-20% more capacity.

Question 3

What's a salt bridge and how do I fix it?

Accepted Answer

A salt bridge is a hard crust of salt that forms in the brine tank, creating a gap between the salt and water. The softener goes through the motions of regenerating but can't dissolve the salt needed. Fix it by poking a broom handle or dowel down through the salt to break up the bridge. Then add fresh salt and run a manual regeneration cycle.

Question 4

How often should my water softener regenerate?

Accepted Answer

A demand-initiated (metered) softener regenerates based on water usage — typically every 3-10 days for a Denver family of 4. Timer-based softeners regenerate on a set schedule regardless of usage. Metered systems are more efficient and recommended.

Question 5

My water feels slippery after softening — is that normal?

Accepted Answer

Yes, this is completely normal. Soft water doesn't have the calcium and magnesium that hard water does. You're feeling the natural slipperiness of clean water without mineral residue. Many people actually prefer this feeling for bathing and washing.

Question 6

Will a water softener remove chlorine or chloramines?

Accepted Answer

No. Standard water softeners only remove hardness minerals (calcium and magnesium). Denver Water uses chloramines (not chlorine), which softeners do not remove. For chloramine removal, you need an activated carbon filter.

Question 7

Can I drink softened water?

Accepted Answer

Softened water adds a small amount of sodium — about 8 mg per 8oz glass at Denver's hardness level (7.8 GPG). This is well within safe levels for most people. However, those on sodium-restricted diets may want a separate reverse osmosis drinking water tap.

Question 8

Why is my water softener using too much salt?

Accepted Answer

Common causes: incorrect salt setting (control valve set too high), salt bridging (salt crusted over without properly dissolving), a failing control valve, or a brine tank leak. Check salt settings first — for Denver's 7.8 GPG, efficiency settings of 6-8 lbs of salt per 1,000 gallons removed are typical.

Question 9

How do I test if my water softener is working?

Accepted Answer

Buy test strips ($10-$20 at Home Depot). Test water upstream of the softener (inlet), then downstream (outlet). Hardness should read 0-1 GPG at the outlet. Also check for soap lather, no scale on fixtures, and softer feeling of water.

Question 10

Should I use solar salt, evaporated salt, or rock salt?

Accepted Answer

For Denver's water quality, evaporated salt pellets are best — they're 99.99% pure and dissolve cleanly without leaving sediment. Solar salt is 99.6% pure and also good. Rock salt is least pure and can leave sediment in your brine tank.

Question 11

What happens if I run out of salt?

Accepted Answer

Without salt, the resin can't regenerate and your system will pass hard water. Denver's hard water will resume within hours of running out of salt. Refill the salt and run a manual regeneration cycle immediately.

Question 12

Is a water softener worth it for Denver's water?

Accepted Answer

For most Denver homeowners, yes. At 7.8 GPG, untreated hard water costs an estimated $800-$1,200/year in reduced appliance efficiency and shortened lifespans. A quality softener ($600-$2,000 installed) typically pays for itself in 3-5 years.

Water Softener FAQ