Anthony at the Water Heater Hub promotes 8 Ways to Extend the Life of Your Water Heater. One of the 8 recommended checks is to install a Water Softener. Let’s find out why… source: https://www.waterheaterhub.com/extend-life-of-water-heater/



Maintenance Checks.
Test the Pressure-Relief Valve.
Flush the Tank.
Check the Anode Rod.
Inspect Gas Lines.
Add an Expansion Tank.
Install a Water Softener.
Give it Space.



According to the Water Heater Hub: Install a Water Softener
“In some areas, the mineral content of water can be high, otherwise known as hard water. Hard water is much more likely to leave mineral deposits along the inside of the water heater tank and cut down its lifespan. Water softeners can be installed to reduce the buildup of these deposits.”


I agree, lowering the percentage of hard water minerals in your water will help to extend the lifespan of your water heater. However, understanding the nature of a water softener device will hopefully make you realize the hidden costs of owning and maintaining a water softener/ conditioner. There are a lot of articles pointing out the negative implications of water softeners. Water softeners use salt; this has caused environmental implication to where government is passing stronger legislation to ban water softeners. The only company who really promotes the benefit of water softeners are dealers who sell them. On the other end of the PH balance you have a danger in making water too soft where it is regarded as an acid. In fact there are a few areas in the USA where they have very soft water and residents have to compensate by adding in Calcium and Magnesium minerals to protect their homes and appliances.

Summary so far: beyond some general maintenance involving checking the pressure relief value, etc. Hard Water damages water heaters; so you need to find an effective solution to deal with these hard water minerals.


According to Accurate Plumbing Solutions: Soft Water’s Effect on Water Heaters
“One thing you may not know is that water softeners are often the most common cause of premature water heater failure.”
http://www.accurateplumbingfl.com/water-heater/soft-waters-effect-on-water-heaters/

We hinted at this above at how making water too soft can still damage appliances and your water heater because the water is then regarded as an acid.



https://www.johnsonwater.com/8-water-softener-myths-debunked/