How to Troubleshoot a Water Softener With a Brine Tank
Water softeners are used when the water coming into a home is filled with minerals. Those minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, make the water "hard." Hard water is difficult to use with soap and detergents since the minerals prevent them from creating a rich lather, and the minerals can form deposits in the pipes causing them to clog or break. A softener may stop working properly, leaving the water in a "hard" state for a number of reasons. You must check many items to determine where the problem lies. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Check if the digital display on the softener is blank or flashing, which could cause the regeneration to take place at the wrong time or less frequently than expected. If the display shows an error code, call a technician for repair.
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Shut the bypass valve. If open, water will run through it and "bypass" the water softener.
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3
Turn both inlet and outlet valves to the "open" position.
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4
Check the level of salt in the storage tank. Add salt if it contains four inches or less.
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Examine the level of the brine float by removing the cover from the brinewell, which is the large tube located inside the storage tank. The float should be about 10 inches from the bottom of the brinewell. Slide the float stop up and down the post to adjust its level.
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Check the water hardness setting of the softener. If set at a low to medium level, raise it to a higher level.
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Check for a salt bridge in the storage tank, which is a thick, hard layer of salt that forms in the middle of the tank and prevents the salt from dropping down into the water. Insert a long tool--a broom or mop handle works well--into the tank. If it does not reach the bottom, you have a salt bridge. Break it up by pushing into the bridge in a few places. Do not attempt to break it by pounding on the outside of the tank.
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Check if the nozzle and venturi are clogged. Look at your instruction manual to find where they are located on your brand of water softener. In most cases, the housing twists off by hand. If not, gently use pliers. They easily disassemble for cleaning. Keep track of the order of the parts, such as O-rings and screens, so that you can put them back together again.
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