Water Softeners
Water hardness is a common issue in Irish homes due to the natural mineral content of water sources. Hard water contains high levels of minerals like calcium and magnesium, which can wreak havoc on your household appliances, plumbing, and personal comfort. In the rising cost of living crisis, it’s putting pressure on homeowners financially due to decreased efficiency of appliances which as a result shoots up energy bills.
At Hydrotech Water Services, we understand the unique water challenges faced by Irish homeowners, and we’re here to help you transform your water quality and lifestyle. Say goodbye to the hassles of hard water and hello to the benefits of soft, luxurious water in your home.
Whether you’re looking for a solution to remove limescale from your existing home or embarking on a new build project, limescale would be a thing of the past with a Clack Water Softener.
Life's Easier Without Hard Water and Limescale
Over time limescale builds up on taps, sink, bathtubs transforming from a minor nuisance to a formidable challenge that can seem impossible to conquer. As it hardens and thickens, limescale becomes a stubborn intruder that defies easy removal.
Clack Water Softener is your ultimate solution to bid farewell to limescale-related woes. With our water softener in place, your home will maintain its pristine appearance, and your water-dependent appliances will stand the test of time.
Not only does it prevent limescale from building up, it actively dissolves the limescale deposits that have silently accumulated within your pipes over the years, improving water pressure and saving you thousands on a potential plumbing repairs.
Our Range of Water Softening Systems
Our water softeners are designed to bring you a multitude of benefits to transform your home & lifestyle. Check out our range of water softeners to suit your needs.
Enjoy Luxurious Living with Soft Water
Protect Your Home from Hard Water Damage
Save Money & Environment
Why Choose Hydrotech Water Services?
When it comes to addressing the challenges of water hardness and improving the quality of water in your home, the choice of your water treatment partner is crucial. With over 20 years of experience in the water treatment industry, we’ve fine-tuned our expertise to address the specific challenges you face with our customized solutions.
Our commitment to your satisfaction doesn’t end with installation. We provide ongoing support to ensure that your water softener continues to operate at its best. Experience the difference that Hydrotech can make in your home, and let us help you enjoy a softer, more comfortable lifestyle.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a water softener work?
Inside the water softener, there are tiny resin beads. These beads are made of a special material that can attract and hold onto the minerals in hard water. When hard water flows into the water softener, it passes over these resin beads. The minerals in the water, like calcium and magnesium, stick to the resin beads because they have the opposite electrical charge. This process is called ion exchange.
As the minerals attach to the resin beads, the water that comes out of the softener is now “soft” because most of those troublesome minerals have been removed.
Eventually, the resin beads get covered in minerals and need to be cleaned. The water softener goes through a process called regeneration, where it flushes a salty solution (called brine) over the resin beads. The salt in the brine helps to release the minerals from the beads and flush them away. The resin beads are now ready to soften water again.
How do I know if my water is hard?
You can tell if your water is hard by looking for a few common signs:
- Soap Doesn’t Lather Well: When you try to wash your hands or dishes with soap, hard water can make it difficult to create bubbles or lather. Instead, you might get a scummy feeling on your skin or dishes.
- Limescale Buildup: After your water dries, it can leave behind a white, chalky residue on faucets, showerheads, and glass surfaces. This is called limescale or mineral deposits.
- Frequent Damage to Appliances: Hard water can lead to a buildup of minerals inside your pipes, shower heads, kettles, and other appliances like washing machines and dishwashers. This can reduce their efficiency and lifespan.
- Dull and Stiff Laundry: Clothes washed in hard water might feel stiff and look faded or dingy. The minerals in hard water can also make it harder to remove stains from clothing.
- Low Water Pressure: Over time, mineral deposits from hard water can clog up your plumbing, leading to reduced water pressure in your faucets and shower.
- Itchy Skin & Hair: Hard water can strip away the natural oils on your skin, leaving it feeling dry and itchy. This is because the minerals in hard water can make it harder for soap and shampoo to rinse off completely, leaving a residue on your skin. This can be particularly bothersome for people with sensitive skin.
What size water softener do I need?
The right water softener size depends on several factors, including:
- Water hardness: The harder your water, the larger the softener you’ll need.
- Water usage: The amount of water your household uses will determine the capacity needed.
- Type of softener: Hydrotech offers various water softener models, including electronic and timed regeneration options.
Our team of water treatment specialists can help you assess your needs and recommend the most suitable water softener for your home.
Where will a water softener be installed in my house?
Most often, a water softener is installed under your kitchen sink, garage, or utility room, close to where the main water pipe enters your house.
The reason it’s placed here is so that the water softener can treat the water before it goes to all the faucets, showers, appliances, and pipes in your house. By treating the water at this point, it ensures that all the water in your home is softened.
Is there any maintenance involved with a Water Softener?
Like most appliances on the market, there’s some maintenance involved with a water softener.
Clack Water Softeners use salt to regenerate or clean the resin beads that remove the minerals from your water. You’ll need to keep the water softener topped up with salt. How often depends on the size of your softener and the hardness of your water.
Usually, you’ll need anywhere between 6-8 bags of salt a year and each salt bag costs around €13-15. You can order the salt by calling our office at 071 96 37908 or buy from a local hardware store.
We also recommend getting water softener checked annually by our professional technician to ensure it’s working correctly. This annual service includes inspecting and cleaning the resin tank and checking the system’s settings.
Can I drink softened water?
In general, softened water is safe to drink for most people, and it won’t harm you. However, softened water can have a higher sodium content because of the salt used in the softening process. Babies and people on a low-sodium diet for health reasons should avoid drinking softened water.
You may also choose to have a drinking water filter installed if you have health concerns or want to improve the quality of tap water in general.
Will a water softener remove hardness from my well water?
Yes, a water softener can effectively remove hardness minerals from well water. However, well water can also contain other minerals like iron or manganese that can affect water quality. Hydrotech offers water softeners specifically designed for well water, which may include additional filtration features to address these challenges.
During the initial consultation, our water specialists will inquire about your water source and discuss any additional water quality concerns you may have. We can then recommend the most suitable water treatment system to address your specific well water needs.
What is involved in the water softener installation process?
Installation of the water softener is covered in our package. Our engineer would bring all the necessary equipment, tools, and accessories needed for installation.
The process itself should take anywhere between 2-3 hours including all the plumbing work. The engineer would then set the settings on the digital meter and complete the installation process.