Water Softener Installation in Marble Falls, TX

The Highland Lakes has some of the hardest water in Texas. A properly sized and installed water softener protects your pipes, appliances, and fixtures, and your investment.

If there is one plumbing upgrade that delivers more value per dollar for Highland Lakes homeowners than any other, it is a properly sized and installed water softener. The water in Marble Falls, Kingsland, Burnet, and surrounding communities is among the hardest in Texas, and that hard water is silently damaging your pipes, water heater, dishwasher, washing machine, and every other water-using appliance in your home. Knockout Plumbing Services installs, services, and repairs water softeners throughout the Highland Lakes, and we can help you choose the right system for your home and water chemistry.

What's Included

Our Process

Water Testing

We test your water hardness and assess your household water usage to size the softener correctly for your home.

System Selection

We recommend the right system for your needs, considering water hardness, household size, budget, and whether you prefer salt-based or salt-free treatment.

Professional Installation

We install the system to code, including the bypass valve, drain connection, and brine tank, and program it for your specific water chemistry.

Testing and Training

We test the system to verify it is working correctly and show you how to maintain it, including salt replenishment and regeneration settings.

The Hard Water Problem in the Highland Lakes

The Highland Lakes region sits atop the Edwards Plateau, one of the most geologically distinctive areas in Texas. The limestone bedrock that gives the region its dramatic scenery and crystal-clear lakes also gives it some of the hardest water in the state. As rainwater percolates through the limestone, it dissolves calcium and magnesium, the minerals that cause water hardness, and carries them into the aquifers and surface water that supply homes throughout the region.

The water in Marble Falls typically tests at 15-25 grains per gallon (GPG), roughly two to three times the national average of approximately 7 GPG. Kingsland, Burnet, and other communities in the region have similar hardness levels. This is not a water quality problem in the sense of health risk, hard water is safe to drink and use. But it is a significant problem for plumbing systems, appliances, and household surfaces.

The economic impact of hard water on a Highland Lakes household is substantial. Hard water reduces the lifespan of water heaters, dishwashers, washing machines, and coffee makers. It reduces the efficiency of water heaters, increasing energy costs. It leaves mineral deposits on fixtures, shower doors, and dishes that require significant cleaning effort to remove. It reduces the lathering effectiveness of soaps and shampoos, requiring more product to achieve the same result. And it accelerates the corrosion of copper pipes, contributing to the slab leak and pinhole leak problems that are endemic in older Highland Lakes homes.

A properly sized and installed water softener addresses all of these problems simultaneously. By removing the calcium and magnesium minerals from the water before they enter the home’s plumbing system, a softener protects every pipe, appliance, and fixture in the house from the damaging effects of hard water.

How Water Softeners Work

A traditional ion exchange water softener works by passing hard water through a tank filled with resin beads that are charged with sodium ions. The calcium and magnesium ions in the hard water are attracted to the resin beads and exchange places with the sodium ions, removing them from the water. The water that exits the softener contains sodium instead of calcium and magnesium, it is chemically soft and will not cause scale buildup.

Over time, the resin beads become saturated with calcium and magnesium and need to be regenerated. The regeneration process involves flushing the resin bed with a concentrated salt solution (brine), which displaces the calcium and magnesium from the beads and recharges them with sodium. The brine and displaced minerals are flushed down the drain. This regeneration process happens automatically, typically at night, when water usage is low, and requires only that the brine tank be kept filled with salt.

The key to a well-functioning water softener is proper sizing. A softener that is too small will not fully soften the water, leaving some hardness to pass through. A softener that is too large will regenerate too infrequently, allowing the resin bed to become fouled. We size softeners based on the measured water hardness and the household’s daily water usage, making sure that the system is matched to the specific needs of the home.

Choosing the Right Water Treatment System for Your Home

Salt-Based Ion Exchange Softeners

Salt-based ion exchange softeners are the most effective treatment for the very hard water found in the Highland Lakes. They remove essentially all of the calcium and magnesium from the water, providing complete protection for pipes, appliances, and fixtures. They require regular salt replenishment and periodic maintenance, but they are the gold standard for hard water treatment in high-hardness areas.

We install and service a range of salt-based softeners from reputable manufacturers, sized appropriately for the specific hardness level and household water usage of each home. We program the regeneration cycle for optimal efficiency and show homeowners how to maintain the system.

Salt-Free Water Conditioners

Salt-free water conditioners use a physical or chemical process to change the structure of the calcium and magnesium minerals so they are less likely to adhere to surfaces. They do not remove the minerals from the water, the water is still technically hard, but the minerals are less likely to form scale. Salt-free conditioners require no salt, no electricity, and no drain connection, making them simpler to install and maintain.

The effectiveness of salt-free conditioners is a subject of ongoing debate among water treatment professionals. In moderate hardness areas (7-15 GPG), they can provide meaningful scale reduction. In the very high hardness conditions of the Highland Lakes (15-25 GPG), their effectiveness is more limited. We can discuss the pros and cons of salt-based vs. salt-free treatment for your specific situation and help you make an informed decision.

Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Systems

A reverse osmosis (RO) system is a point-of-use water treatment system that removes virtually all dissolved minerals, including the calcium and magnesium that cause hardness, from the water at a single tap, typically the kitchen sink. RO systems are used for drinking and cooking water and produce water of excellent purity.

We recommend RO systems as a complement to a whole-home water softener, not as a replacement. The whole-home softener protects the plumbing system and appliances throughout the house; the RO system provides pure drinking water at the kitchen tap. Many Highland Lakes homeowners who are concerned about sodium intake from softened water use an RO system for drinking water while benefiting from the softener’s protection for the rest of the house.

The Return on Investment of a Water Softener in the Highland Lakes

A water softener is one of the few home improvements that pays for itself through measurable savings. In Highland Lakes conditions, the savings are particularly significant:

Extended water heater life: A water heater in Highland Lakes conditions without a softener typically lasts 6-8 years. With a softener, 10-15 years. The difference in replacement cost alone, $800-$1,500 per replacement, more than pays for the softener over the life of the home.

Reduced energy costs: A water heater free of mineral scale operates at its rated efficiency. A heater with significant scale buildup uses 20-40% more energy. The annual energy savings from a scale-free water heater can be $100-$300 depending on the heater type and usage.

Extended appliance life: Dishwashers, washing machines, and coffee makers all last longer with soft water. The combined savings in appliance replacement costs over 10 years can easily exceed $1,000.

Reduced cleaning products: Soft water lathers more effectively with soap and leaves no mineral deposits on surfaces. Homeowners with soft water typically use 50-75% less soap, shampoo, and cleaning products than those with hard water.

Reduced pipe repair costs: By slowing the hard water corrosion of copper pipes, a softener reduces the frequency of pinhole leaks and the risk of slab leaks, potentially saving thousands of dollars in pipe repair costs over the life of the home.

Water Softener Service Throughout the Highland Lakes

Knockout Plumbing Services installs, repairs, and maintains water softeners throughout the Highland Lakes region, including Marble Falls, Kingsland, Burnet, Horseshoe Bay, Llano, Granite Shoals, Meadowlakes, Spicewood, Bertram, and surrounding communities. We are a licensed plumbing company (RMP #45640) with extensive experience in the specific water chemistry challenges of the Highland Lakes. Call (325) 248-1800 to schedule a water hardness test and softener consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How hard is the water in Marble Falls and the Highland Lakes?

The water in the Highland Lakes region is classified as ‘very hard’ to ‘extremely hard’ by water quality standards. Water hardness is measured in grains per gallon (GPG) or parts per million (PPM). The water in Marble Falls typically tests at 15-25 GPG (250-430 PPM), which is well above the 10.5 GPG (180 PPM) threshold for ‘very hard’ water. For context, the national average water hardness is approximately 7 GPG. Highland Lakes water is roughly 2-3 times harder than the national average.

What does hard water do to my plumbing?

Hard water causes mineral scale to accumulate inside pipes, water heaters, dishwashers, washing machines, and any other appliance that heats water. This scale reduces efficiency, shortens appliance lifespan, and eventually causes failures. In pipes, scale narrows the interior diameter and reduces water pressure. In water heaters, it insulates the heating element and forces the heater to work harder. In dishwashers and washing machines, it reduces cleaning effectiveness and causes premature mechanical failure. A water softener eliminates all of these problems.

What is the difference between a water softener and a water conditioner?

A traditional water softener uses an ion exchange process to remove calcium and magnesium minerals from the water, replacing them with sodium. This produces genuinely soft water that does not cause scale buildup. A salt-free water conditioner does not remove the minerals but changes their structure so they are less likely to adhere to surfaces. Water conditioners are less effective than softeners at preventing scale but do not add sodium to the water and require no salt. For most Highland Lakes homeowners with very hard water, a traditional ion exchange softener provides better protection for pipes and appliances.

Will softened water taste salty?

Properly softened water should not taste salty. The ion exchange process replaces calcium and magnesium with sodium, but the amount of sodium added is proportional to the hardness of the water and is typically very small, much less than the sodium in a slice of bread. If your softened water tastes salty, the softener may be set incorrectly or may need service. We recommend a separate reverse osmosis system for drinking water if sodium intake is a concern.

How much does a water softener cost?

Water softener costs vary depending on the size of the system and the type of treatment. A properly sized whole-home softener for a typical Highland Lakes home, professionally installed, typically ranges from $1,200 to $2,500. This investment pays for itself quickly in reduced appliance repair costs, lower energy bills (from a more efficient water heater), and extended appliance lifespan. Call us at (325) 248-1800 for a specific estimate for your home.

How often does a water softener need maintenance?

The primary maintenance requirement for a salt-based water softener is keeping the brine tank filled with salt, typically every 4-8 weeks depending on household water usage. Annual professional service, including brine tank cleaning and resin bed inspection, is recommended to keep the system operating at peak efficiency. We offer water softener maintenance service throughout the Highland Lakes.

Can a water softener extend the life of my water heater?

Yes, . In Highland Lakes conditions, a water heater without a softener typically lasts 6-8 years before the mineral scale buildup causes failure. With a properly functioning water softener, the same water heater can last 10-15 years. The softener pays for itself in extended water heater life alone, before accounting for the savings on other appliances, reduced cleaning products, and improved soap lathering.

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