El Mirage's city water is on the softer end for the Valley, at about 4 to 9 grains per gallon with an average of 7, and the city's own report suggests 7.5 grains as the setting for water softeners. A softener is still worthwhile for many homes, just sized and programmed for moderate hardness. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in El Mirage.
The City of El Mirage Water Services Division pumps groundwater from nine city wells spread through town and serves almost 40,000 people in El Mirage and the Original Town Site of Surprise. Its consumer confidence report lists hardness of 4 to 9 grains, averaging 7, and notes that 7.5 grains is the recommended softener setting. The city also runs its own wastewater reclamation facility, so brine from a softener goes to a regular household drain.
What to do now
- Decide what's bothering you: spots and scale, taste, or both. A softener only addresses the first.
- Check any existing softener's hardness setting. If it's set far above 7.5, it's wasting salt; far below, it's letting scale through.
- Test at the kitchen tap; individual wells vary, so your number may differ from the average.
- Look for a bypass valve so you can isolate the unit if it misbehaves.
- Note whether anyone in the house is watching sodium; potassium is an option.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Salt disappearing quickly | Hardness set too high or regeneration too frequent |
| Light spotting despite a softener | Unit undersized or resin aging |
| Water heater still rumbling | Sediment from before the softener; needs a flush |
| Brine tank dry | Fill valve or float not working |
| Valve clock wrong after a power outage | Older timer control without backup |
Cost factors
Because El Mirage water is moderate, a smaller resin tank often covers a typical household, which keeps equipment and salt costs reasonable. Labor depends on whether a loop already exists, how far it is to a drain, and whether the old softener has to be removed. Reprogramming or repairing an existing unit is often the simplest path to better results; many units are simply set wrong. Adding a reverse osmosis faucet or a carbon tank raises the total. Plumbing permits go through El Mirage Building Safety, and the plumber can check whether your job needs one.
When you call, mention which part of town you're in and whether your home is on El Mirage water. If you live in the Original Town Site of Surprise, the same El Mirage water figures apply to you.
Water Softeners & Filtration questions in El Mirage
What hardness number should the softener be programmed with?
Is an old softener worth repairing?
Will softened water raise the sodium in what I drink?
Does a softener do anything about chlorine taste?
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