How will a water softener affect my water heater?

What's happening inside my water heater?

Most water heaters have an anode rod that runs down the center of the tank. The rod is designed to attract hard, corrosive materials and reduce buildup in the tank - helping extend the life of the unit. 

In some cases, the incoming water contains too many hard minerals for the anode rod to handle, leaving the minerals to settle on the bottom of the tank. The minerals compact and can shift up and down during heating, which causes a banging noise in the tank.

How will a water softener affect my water heater?

Water softeners are designed to reduce the hardness minerals in your water, which may extend the life of your water heater. Removing these minerals before they enter the heater tank takes some heavy lifting off of the anode rod and reduces mineral buildup on the tank floor. 

Helpful Tip:

Many water heater manufacturers use magnesium anode rods due to their lower price point. Soft water is mineral deficient, so it will readily attack the magnesium. If this is the case with your water heater, we recommend swapping in a zinc or aluminum (or hybrid) anode rod. These hold up to soft water much better and can be purchased at most hardware stores.