Are your faucets covered in white residue? Skin feeling dry after showers? Appliances breaking down too soon? Hard water might be the culprit. Water softener systems solve these problems by removing harsh minerals from your water.
At Millcreek Plumbing, we provide expert water softener installation and repair services throughout Salt Lake City and surrounding areas. Our skilled technicians will help you enjoy the benefits of soft water in your home.
What Problems Can a Water Softener Solve?
Impact on Your Home
Hard water takes a serious toll on your property. The high mineral content creates scale buildup in pipes, reducing water flow and increasing pressure on your plumbing system. This can lead to costly repairs.
Appliances that use water will use more energy and wear out faster– including your dishwasher, washing machine and hot water heater. The accumulation of hard water scale on the heating elements forces these appliances to use up to 30% more energy.
Replacing appliances damaged by hard water is expensive. A water softener helps extend appliance life by preventing mineral buildup that causes premature failure.
Impact on Your Health
Hard water affects more than just your home’s systems. It can impact your body too.
The minerals in hard water make it difficult for soaps to lather properly, leaving people with itchy, dry skin.
Hard water can also affect internal organs over time. While minerals like calcium and magnesium are beneficial in your diet, they can also possibly contribute to kidney stones when consumed in high concentrations through drinking water.
How Hard Is Salt Lake City’s Water Supply?
According to a 2025 Water Quality Report from Salt Lake City Public Utilities, the city’s water hardness ranges from 121-487 ppm (parts per million), with most areas falling between 157-189 ppm. This translates to approximately 7-28 grains per gallon.
By industry standards, this is classified as “hard” to “very hard” water. The water across Salt Lake County rates at around 13 grains per gallon hardness, which is considered very hard.
A home water softener system significantly reduces or eliminates hard water problems throughout your home.
Hard Water Checklist for Salt Lake Homeowners
- Have you tested your water hardness level?
- Do you notice white scale buildup on faucets, showerheads, or appliances?
- Are your clothes feeling stiff or appearing dingy after washing, even with fabric softener?
- Do you find mineral deposits on glassware and dishes after washing?
- Have you noticed reduced water pressure in any fixtures that might indicate pipe scaling?
- Does your home use well water, or water from the city supply? (Well water in Salt Lake City typically has higher mineral content, especially during summer)
- Have you compared different water treatment options like water softeners, conditioning systems, or filtration methods for your specific situation?
If you answered yes to several of these questions, a water softener could be the solution.
What is a Water Softener System?
A soft water system for the home removes minerals like magnesium and calcium from the water. These systems work through a process called ion exchange, where hard minerals are replaced with sodium or potassium ions.
Modern water softener systems are compact, efficient, and designed to work quietly in the background of your home. It includes a mineral tank where the hard minerals are removed, a brine tank which holds the salt solution, and a control value. These components work together to provide soft water when needed.
The best systems are properly sized for your household’s water usage and calibrated to your specific water hardness level.
How Does a Water Softener Work?
Water softeners operate through a simple but effective process:
This cycle repeats automatically, providing your home with continuous soft water.
- Hard water enters the mineral tank filled with resin beads charged with sodium ions.
- As water flows through, calcium and magnesium ions are attracted to the resin beads. They swap places with the sodium ions in a process called ion exchange.
- The water leaving the tank is now “soft” – free of harsh minerals that cause problems.
- When the resin beads become saturated with hard minerals, the system regenerates. Salt water from the brine tank flushes through, removing captured minerals and recharging the resin beads with sodium ions.
- The system automatically rinses away the mineral-laden saltwater down the drain and returns to softening mode.
When to Replace a Water Softener
We find that most water softeners will last 10-15 years with regular maintenance. Here are some of the signs that it’s time for replacement:
- Your water feels hard again despite system maintenance
- Appliances showing signs of scale buildup
- System requires frequent repairs
- Water has a salty taste
- Resin beads appear in your water
- System makes unusual noises during regeneration
If your system is more than 10 years old and showing these symptoms, replacement is often more cost-effective than continued repairs.
Water Softener Repair Services
At Millcreek Plumbing, we diagnose and fix water softener issues quickly to restore your system’s performance. Our expert technicians handle everything from simple maintenance to complex repairs on all water softener brands and models.
Common problems we solve include:
- Hard water returning despite having a softener system
- Salt bridges or mushing in the brine tank
- Control valve malfunctions and timer issues
- Leaks around connections or the main unit
- Unusual noises during regeneration cycles
Don’t wait until small issues become expensive replacements. We offer upfront pricing, quality replacement parts, and complete testing after repairs to ensure your water softener works properly for years to come.
Is a Water Softener Right For You?
If you live in Salt Lake City, the answer is likely yes. With our region’s very hard water, most homes benefit from water softener installation. However, factors to consider include:
- Your water hardness level (we can test this for you)
- The age and condition of your plumbing system
- Your household water usage
- Any medical considerations regarding sodium intake
Our technicians can help you evaluate these factors and recommend the right solution for your specific needs.
Benefits of Soft Water
Save Money
Installing a water softener is an investment that pays for itself. You’ll save money through:
- Lower energy bills – appliances work up to 30% more efficiently
- Extended appliance lifespan – avoid premature replacements
- Reduced plumbing repairs – less scale buildup means fewer clogs and leaks
- Less soap and detergent usage – soft water makes cleaning products work better
Many homeowners report that their water softener paid for itself within 2-3 years through these savings.
Housekeeping Benefits
Cleaning becomes easier with soft water. You’ll notice:
- No more hard water stains on fixtures and glass
- Reduced soap scum in bathrooms
- Spotless dishes from your dishwasher
- Less cleaning product needed for the same results
- Brighter, cleaner-looking surfaces throughout your home
Your home will not only be cleaner but will stay clean longer with less effort.
Beauty Benefits
Soft water makes a noticeable difference in personal care:
- Healthier, more moisturized skin
- Softer, more manageable hair
- Less need for moisturizers and conditioners
- Reduced skin irritation and itchiness
- Soap that rinses clean without residue
Many people with skin conditions notice significant improvement after switching to soft water.
Clothes Maintenance
Your laundry will look better and last longer with soft water:
- Brighter colors that resist fading
- Whites that stay white instead of turning gray
- Softer fabrics that maintain their texture
- Less detergent needed per load
- Extended clothing lifespan
Soft water helps preserve your clothing investment by preventing mineral damage to fabrics.
Ready to solve your hard water problems? Contact Millcreek Plumbing today for a free water hardness test and consultation.
Our expert technicians will help you select the right water softener system for your home and provide professional installation, and we can provide maintenance and repair services to make sure your system runs efficiently for years to come.
Request an Estimate
Need an estimate on a plumbing challenge? Please complete the form below and we’ll get right back to you (usually same day M-F 8am-5pm). Need a faster response? Give us a call at 801-277-3342
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Frequently Asked Questions
What makes water hard or soft?
A: Water hardness is determined by the concentration of dissolved minerals, primarily calcium and magnesium. These minerals enter the water supply as it travels through rock and soil.
Hard water contains high levels of these minerals (typically above 7 grains per gallon), while soft water has minimal mineral content. Salt Lake City’s water is considered very hard due to our local geology.
How hard should water be?
A: Ideally, household water should measure below 3 grains per gallon (or 51 ppm) to be considered “soft.” Most homes in Salt Lake City have water that measures between 7-28 grains per gallon, well above the threshold for “hard” water.
While some mineral content can be beneficial, levels this high cause problems for plumbing, appliances, and personal care.
Which is healthiest and safest to consume?
A: Hard water contains minerals that can actually provide health benefits when consumed, so it is safe to drink.
However, softened water is better for your home’s systems and for cleaning purposes. Some people with certain health conditions may need to monitor sodium intake from softened water.
For those concerned about sodium, there are potassium-based systems available. Many homeowners choose to keep one unsoftened tap for drinking and cooking while softening water for the rest of the home.
Locations We Serve
- Salt Lake City
- South Salt Lake
- North Salt Lake
- Sandy
- Millcreek
- Cottonwood Heights
- Holladay
- West Valley City
- Sugar House
- South Jordan
- Taylorsville
- West Jordan
- Midvale
- Murray
- Draper
- Park City
- Jeremy Ranch
- Bountiful
- Brighton
- Emigration Canyon
- Riverton
Need service in your area? Call us at (801) 277-3342 to confirm availability.
