Depending on the neighborhood, Encinitas water comes from San Dieguito or Olivenhain, and no published hardness figure turned up for either, so test your water or check your district's report before buying a softener. A plumber can do both and install or repair a unit. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Encinitas.
Encinitas water at a glance
San Dieguito Water District serves Cardiff, Old Encinitas, Leucadia and part of New Encinitas; Olivenhain Municipal Water District serves the rest. The City's MyEncinitas Map shows which one serves an address. San Dieguito's water quality page states its tap water met all state and federal drinking water standards; meeting standards doesn't speak to hardness, which is an aesthetic and maintenance issue rather than a health one. The median Encinitas home was built in 1980, so many water heaters and fixtures here are on their second or third generation.
Not every scale complaint calls for a softener. Coastal homes see salt spray deposits on outdoor glass and fixtures that have nothing to do with the water supply, and a single crusty showerhead can be cleaned in a vinegar soak. A softener earns its place when the test reading is high and scale keeps returning on water heaters, faucets and shower valves throughout the house.
What to do now
- Find your district. Look at your water bill or the MyEncinitas Map.
- Read the report. Your district's annual water quality report usually lists hardness.
- Test the tap. A simple test kit or a plumber's test confirms the number at your house.
- Check the symptoms. Note scale on showerheads, water heater noise and spotty glassware.
- Pick a location. Find a spot near the main line with a drain and outlet, usually the garage.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| White film on glass and fixtures | Hardness minerals left behind as water dries |
| Rumbling water heater | Scale and sediment in the bottom of the tank |
| Softener salt never goes down | Unit not regenerating; control valve or setting issue |
| Salty taste at the tap | Softener rinse cycle problem |
| Low pressure after an install | Undersized unit or clogged resin bed |
Cost factors
- Installation of a new unit versus repair of an existing one
- Capacity, based on your hardness reading and household size
- Tie-in at the main and the route to a drain
- Coastal salt air, which argues for an indoor or covered location
- Extras like a chloramine-rated carbon filter or an RO tap
- Any permit through Encinitas Development Services
Water service questions go to your own district; San Dieguito customers can reach customer service at (760) 633-2658.
Water Softeners & Filtration questions in Encinitas
Does my water provider publish a hardness number?
Where does the softener's brine drain go?
Where can a softener go in a home with no basement?
Does softened water add sodium to drinking water?
More plumbing services in Encinitas
Water Softeners & Filtration nearby
Helpful guides
Sources
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