Do You Really Need a Water Softener in Gilbert, AZ?

Water across the Phoenix metro is some of the hardest in the country. In Gilbert that hardness shows up as scale inside your water heater, white spots on glassware, clogged aerators and valves that wear out early. Whether a softener is worth it in your house depends on what your water actually tests at, not on a brochure.

Key takeaways

• Hard water is dissolved calcium and magnesium, and it leaves scale on everything the water touches.
• Scale is one of the reasons water heaters and fixtures here do not last as long as the brochure says.
• We test your water before recommending a softener, a filter or nothing at all.

What hard water actually does to a house

Hardness is calcium and magnesium dissolved in the supply. When the water is heated or left to evaporate, those minerals come out of solution and stick.

That is why the inside of a tank water heater scales up, why a tankless heat exchanger needs descaling, and why shower glass clouds over no matter how often it is cleaned. Aerators and shower heads block. Fill valves in toilets and cartridges in faucets wear faster because they are grinding against grit.

The U.S. Geological Survey explains hardness and how it is measured in its hardness of water overview.

How do I know how hard my water is?

You can guess from the spots on the glassware, or you can measure. We measure. Before we recommend any softener, conditioner or filtration, we test your water and show you the numbers, so the conversation is about your house rather than about the metro average.

That matters because the right answer is not always a softener. Sometimes the problem is drinking water taste, which a reverse osmosis system at the kitchen sink solves for less. Sometimes the plumbing is fine and the real issue is a water heater that was never flushed.

What a softener changes, and what it does not

A softener swaps the calcium and magnesium for sodium or potassium as the water enters the house. What you notice:

• Less scale building inside the water heater and the pipes
• Shower glass and fixtures that stay clean longer
• Soap and detergent that lather with less of it
• Cartridges, seats and fill valves that last longer between repairs

What it does not do: a softener is not a drinking water filter. It deals with hardness, not taste, chlorine or sediment. That is a separate job, and it is why many homes here end up with a softener for the house and an RO unit at the kitchen tap.

Does my house already have a softener loop?

Many East Valley homes built since the 1990s were plumbed with a softener loop, usually in the garage near the water heater. If yours has one, installing a softener is a much simpler job than it sounds. If it does not, the loop can be plumbed in.

We check for the loop during the visit and tell you which situation you are in before anything is quoted. You can see the whole scope on our water softener installation and repair page.

Softener, conditioner or filter: how to choose

1. Test first. Know your hardness number before anyone recommends equipment.
2. Name the problem. Scale and appliance wear point at a softener. Taste and odor point at filtration.
3. Size it to the house. A system sized for the number of people and fixtures runs less often and uses less salt.
4. Ask what the upkeep is. Salt, and a service check. Filters and membranes on an RO system are on their own schedule.

If the honest answer is that you do not need a system, we will say so.

What it costs

Every job gets a price before any work starts, and the softener is no exception: you see the number for the equipment and the install before anyone touches a pipe. There is a $69 trip fee, and it is waived with any work or assessment. Call (480) 225-5257 for a quote on your house.

Frequently asked questions

Is soft water safe to drink?

Softened water adds a small amount of sodium in exchange for the hardness minerals. Many households still prefer filtered water for drinking, which is what the RO unit at the kitchen sink is for.

Will a softener make my water heater last longer?

Scale is one of the things that shortens a heater's life here, so reducing it helps. Our post on how long a water heater lasts in Gilbert's hard water goes through the rest.

Do I still need to flush the water heater?

Yes. An annual flush is worth doing even with a softener, and it is quick. Ask about it when we are out for anything else.

Do you work outside Gilbert?

Yes. We come out from Gilbert across the East Valley, including Mesa and the surrounding towns. Hours are Monday to Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Saturday 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

Get your water tested

If the glassware is spotted and the shower head keeps blocking, start with a number rather than a guess. Call Clear Plumbing at (480) 225-5257 and we will test your water and tell you what, if anything, it needs. Clear Plumbing LLC, ROC #365570, licensed, bonded and insured.