Why Water Softeners Fail
Water softeners fail when the resin bed fouls, the control valve stops cycling, or the tank cracks. Hard water then passes through untreated and leaves calcium scale in your water heater, fixtures and pipes.
Newnan's water supply can carry enough hardness that a softener works continuously, which shortens the life of valves and resin over time.
Signs Your Softener Needs Replacement
Spotty glassware, soap that will not lather, and crust on faucets are the first signs hardness is getting through. A softener that runs constantly or drains without regenerating usually has a failed valve or resin.
If the unit is old and the tank or valve is cracked, replacement is usually more reliable than another repair.
Repair or Replace?
Repair suits a softener with a single failed part and a sound tank. Replacement makes more sense when the valve, resin and tank are all near the end of their life, or when the unit is undersized for the home.
The same repair-or-replace logic applies to water heaters, pipes and sewer lines; our guide on when repair beats replacement explains the trade-offs.