This water softener troubleshooting guide will help you get the most of your model.
If you notice a difference in the performance of your water softener and wonder what to do, use these five troubleshooting steps:
There are several signs. Water will leave water spots on glasses or a film on ceramic surfaces. Soap won’t lather as well and it will leave behind a film or scum.
When you wash your hair, it may still feel sticky after it has been shampooed and it won’t have the normal shine. Salt pellets have to be refilled on a regular basis in order to keep the soft water flowing.
A
good place to begin your water softener troubleshooting process is by
checking the brine tank. Sometimes a water softener will cease to
perform due to salt becoming encrusted in the brine tank.
Wash
the crust away using soap and water and rinse completely. It’s also
possible that salt has formed a crusty plug at the connection between
the resin tank and mineral tank. Clean it in the same manner.
High
iron content in water can leave deposits on the bead bed which will
hinder a water softener’s capability. Use an iron-removing product to
clean the bead bed.
You are likely seeing the results of no
brine draw. Disassemble and clean the nozzle and venturi. Using a soft
tooth brush, clean the parts with mild soap and warm water. Rinse
completely.
If the parts are iron coated use a resin bed cleaner.
Your valve drain hose also may be plugged. Check for kinks, sharp bends
or blockages in the hose.
Another explanation might be a leak
between the valve and resin tank assembly. Using a simple kit, replace
the tanks’ O-valve rings.
A
salt bridge can sometimes form in the brine tank, causing a space
between the water and the salt due to high humidity or from using the
wrong kind of salt. The salt won’t dissolve in the water to make brine
and the resin bed does not regenerate.
To loosen a salt bridge,
use a broom handle and carefully push down on the salt in several areas.
Do not use any sharp objects or you could puncture the tank. Make sure
also to select and program a regeneration schedule with the timer.
Check
to make sure your time setting is correct. Next, set a regular
regeneration schedule. You may be using more water than originally
expected, so check the regeneration chart to make sure you’re performing
that process often enough.
You may have a leaky faucet or toilet
valve, which can waste hundreds of gallons of water in just a few days.
Correct these problems immediately.
Water softener
troubleshooting takes some time, but it’s well worth the effort to do it
yourself instead of calling in a repairman.
Water
Softener Maintenance
Simple, do-it-yourself methods to keep your softener working well.
How
Does a Water Softener Work?
Learn how your unit removes the unwanted impurities from your drinking
and washing water.
All
Water Purification home page
Your journey to better quality water begins here.
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