How to Add Salt to a Commercial-grade Water Softener
If you own or operate a business, we understand you have a myriad of responsibilities to contend with on a daily basis to keep your business functioning properly. Each of these tasks, from maintaining your HVAC system to ensuring your plumbing system is in tip-top shape, ensure the overall health of your commercial building.
One important maintenance task that is sometimes overlooked is tending to your commercial-grade water softener. The brine tank, which holds the salt, should be checked frequently to ensure there’s enough salt in the tank to effectively treat and prevent hard water from entering your business’ plumbing pipes.
While this is an important task to complete, it’s fortunately a rather simple maintenance step that can be performed in just a few minutes by a maintenance staff member. In our most recent blog, the facility supplies and furnishings professionals at A.G. Maas discuss the benefits of having a commercial water softener installed and how to properly add salt to it.
What Are the Benefits of Commercial Water Softeners?
Let’s first touch on the benefits of commercial water treatment systems and why it’s important to ensure their brine tanks are filled to the proper levels with salt.
Water in Indianapolis and Central Indiana is considered “extremely hard.” Hard water contains high levels of mineral content, including dissolved calcium and magnesium which are associated with hard water.
A water softener is a type of filtration system that removes minerals such as calcium and magnesium for healthier, better-tasting water. Some of the benefits of having a commercial water softener installed include:
Extending the lifespan of your building’s pipes and appliances
Your company’s plumbing system and water-using appliances, including water heaters, refrigerators and dishwashers, will last longer with the installation of a water softener. Scale produced from the minerals found in hard water can clog up appliances and plumbing pipes, causing reduced water flow or leaks that lead to expensive repairs or early replacements and unnecessary wear and tear. Your appliances will need very little maintenance with a water softener that removes these hard minerals.
Improving energy efficiency
Hard water can take a particularly hard toll on your commercial water heaters. When water heaters heat up, minerals can settle along the tank’s bottom where the water heater heats. Over time, the buildup causes your heater to run longer and work harder to heat the water.
A commercial water softener will extend the life of your company’s water heaters and decrease energy consumption because the system doesn’t have to work as hard.
Cleaner and shinier dishes and glassware
Hard water filled with minerals leads to streaks and other minerals on glassware, silverware and dishes. This gives the impression that they’re not clean. With the installation of a commercial water softener, your company’s glassware will come out of the dishwasher sparkling.
Easier cleaning
Your company’s maintenance or janitorial staff will thank you, as cleaning bathrooms, kitchens and dishware is much easier minus the streaks and other minerals found in hard water build up.
Healthier skin and hair
When your employees wash their hands or take a shower after a lunch-time workout, they’ll notice that soft water is much healthier for their skin and hair. This is because soap lathers better in soft water, and the minerals found in hard water can lead to skin conditions, including eczema and dry skin.
Steps for Adding Salt to a Water Softener
Here’s the step-by-step process for adding salt to a commercial and industrial water softener:
- Locate the brine tank, and open the lid.
- Check the brine tank to see how much salt it currently has.
- If the water level is above the salt level, you need to add more salt to the tank.
- Pour a bag of salt into the tank.
- If you still see standing water, add another bag of salt. Once you can’t see the water, you’re done.
- Put the lid back on.
- Monitor the salt levels regularly.
It’s important to note that if you overfill the brine tank, it can lead to damage and salt bridges. Try and always fill the tank enough so the salt level stays above the water level. We typically recommend keeping the tank at least one-third full and preferably half full at all times.
Contact A.G. Maas for Your Company’s Water Softener Needs
A.G. Maas has provided companies across Indianapolis and Central Indiana with cleaning products and facility supplies for more than a century. We can provide a steady supply of water softener salt to keep your brine tanks filled at all times. For more information about our services or to schedule an appointment, contact us today!
