Water softeners are one of the plumbing jobs Odessa homeowners search for most. A softener takes calcium and magnesium out of the water before it reaches your fixtures, which can cut down on scale in the water heater, spots on dishes and crust on faucets and shower heads. Before you buy one, though, it pays to know what is in your water.
Start with your water
The City of Odessa buys untreated water from the Colorado River Municipal Water District, mostly surface water from Lake Ivie, Lake Thomas and Lake Spence, then treats it. A city notice has tied changes in taste and odor to naturally occurring minerals in that supply. The city lab is accredited by TCEQ for total hardness testing, and the yearly reports are posted on the city's water quality reports page.
Two ways to find out what you are working with:
- 1Read the latest city report and look for hardness, often given in parts per million or grains per gallon.
- 2Test your tap water with a hardness test kit, or ask the plumber or softener dealer to test it.
The hardness number decides what size softener you need and how often it regenerates. Buying without knowing it is guesswork.
Signs hard water is causing trouble
- White crust on faucets, shower heads and glass shower doors.
- Spots on dishes and glasses after the dishwasher.
- A water heater that pops and rumbles from scale on the bottom of the tank.
- Low flow from aerators and shower heads that clog with mineral buildup.
- Soap and shampoo that do not lather well.
These can have other causes too, so a test is the best first step.
What a plumber does on a softener install
- Picks a spot, often in the garage or near where the main line enters the house, with room for the tank and salt.
- Cuts into the main water line and adds a bypass valve, so you can take the softener out of service without shutting off the house.
- Runs the regeneration drain line to a proper drain with the right air gap.
- Provides a power outlet for the control head if one is needed.
- Sets the hardness and regeneration schedule to match your water test.
- Leaves outdoor hose bibs on untreated water if you want, so you are not softening water for the yard.
Repairing or replacing an old softener
Common problems with older units include a control head that no longer cycles, a resin bed that is worn out, salt bridges in the brine tank, and leaks at the bypass or fittings. A plumber can tell you whether a repair makes sense or whether a new unit is the better buy.
Questions to ask before you buy
- What hardness did my water test show, and what size unit does that call for?
- How much salt and water will it use each month?
- Where will the drain line go, and is there a proper air gap?
- Does the install include the bypass valve and any needed electrical outlet?
- If I have an older house with galvanized pipe, should any of it be replaced while the line is open?
Softeners and your water heater
Scale is hard on water heaters, tankless units in particular. If you are replacing a water heater and thinking about a softener, ask the plumber to price both together. Doing the work in one visit can save time and labor.
Check the license
Softener installs involve cutting into your main water line and running a drain, which is plumbing work. In Texas, plumbers are licensed by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, and you can look anyone up on the state's public license search.
Common questions
Is Odessa water hard?
The city tests for total hardness at its TCEQ accredited lab and publishes yearly water quality reports. Read the latest one or test your tap water before buying a softener, so the unit fits your actual water.
Where should a water softener go?
Usually close to where the main water line enters the house, often in the garage, with access to a drain and power. A plumber can suggest the best spot.
Can a plumber install a softener I already bought?
Many will. Ask when they call you back, and have the model and size ready.