Softening Units
Softening Units | Water Purification | Plumbing | Farragut
Whether you’re rinsing produce or running a relaxing bath, Farragut’s hard water shouldn’t leave spots, film, or metallic aftertastes behind. HEP’s specialized softening units strip away excess calcium, magnesium, and other minerals through advanced resin exchange, delivering silky-smooth water that’s kinder to your pipes, appliances, and skin—an effortless blend of softening and water purification efficiency that you’ll notice from the very first pour.
Our licensed plumbers size, install, and fine-tune each system for maximum performance, then back it with ongoing maintenance and 24/7 support. From the initial free assessment to the final crystal-clear glass you raise in a toast, HEP keeps the whole experience simple, transparent, and refreshingly local. Call today and discover why more Farragut homeowners trust us to soften life’s every drop.
FAQs
Why is a water softener important for homes in Farragut?
Farragut and the greater Knoxville area draw much of their supply from limestone-rich groundwater and the Tennessee River, leaving local tap water with hardness levels that frequently test above 8–10 grains per gallon (gpg). Hard water deposits calcium and magnesium scale inside pipes, water heaters, and fixtures, shortening equipment life and reducing flow. A properly sized softening unit exchanges those hardness minerals for sodium or potassium ions, protecting your plumbing, lowering energy bills, and eliminating spots on dishes and glassware.
How does a softening unit actually work?
Most residential softeners use an ion-exchange resin tank filled with microscopic, negatively charged beads. As hard water flows through the tank, calcium (Ca²⁺) and magnesium (Mg²⁺) ions cling to the beads while sodium (Na⁺) or potassium (K⁺) ions are released into the water. Once the resin is saturated, the control valve initiates regeneration: brine from the salt tank flushes the resin, swapping the captured hardness ions for fresh sodium/potassium and sending the hardness minerals down the drain. The result is consistently soft water delivered to every fixture in the home.
What are the benefits of pairing a softener with a whole-house purification filter?
A softener removes hardness but it does not treat taste, odor, chlorine, sediment, or heavy metals. Adding a carbon or multi-stage filtration unit upstream of the softener provides comprehensive protection—chlorine and chloramine taste are removed, lead and VOCs are reduced, and sediment is trapped before it can foul the resin. The filter improves drinking quality while the softener protects plumbing, giving you bottled-water taste and scale-free appliances from a single integrated system.
How often will I need to add salt to my Farragut softener?
Salt usage depends on household size, water hardness, and softener capacity. For a typical 4-person Farragut household with 10 gpg hardness and a 32,000-grain softener, expect to add one 40-lb bag of pellet salt roughly every 4–6 weeks. High-efficiency demand-initiated valves can stretch that to 6–8 weeks. We recommend keeping the brine tank at least one-third full and checking the level whenever you change your HVAC filter—about once a month.
Will a softening unit remove contaminants like chlorine, lead, or bacteria?
No. Standard ion-exchange softeners target only hardness minerals. They do not reduce disinfectants, heavy metals, pesticides, or microbiological contaminants. To address those concerns, we offer combination systems that place a carbon block, KDF, or UV purifier in line with the softener. During your free water analysis, our technicians test for chlorine, pH, iron, and lead and then design a solution that meets all EPA primary and secondary drinking water standards.
What is involved in installation and ongoing maintenance?
Installation usually takes 3–4 hours. Our licensed plumbers cut into the main supply line where it enters your home, install a bypass manifold, connect the softener and, when selected, a pre-filter, then program the control valve for your measured hardness. We haul away any debris and leave the area clean. Routine maintenance is straightforward: 1) replenish salt as needed, 2) clean the brine tank once a year, and 3) schedule an annual service visit so we can sanitize the resin bed, check valve settings, and verify water quality. Most units last 12–15 years with proper care.