There is no one-size-fits-all troubleshooting guide for water softeners, but if you start to notice changes in how your water softener is performing, start with these troubleshooting tips before you call for professional water softener repair service:
How do I know if my water softener isn’t working the way it should?
You’ll notice one or more of the following signs of a water softener that isn’t working as efficiently as it should, including:
- Your drinking glasses have water spots on them after they’re washed and dried
- Soap doesn’t lather well and doesn’t rinse completely
- Your hair doesn’t rinse completely and has a dull appearance instead of shiny
- You need to add salt to your water softener more frequently
Check the brine tank
If you notice any of the signs of a water softener that’s not working properly, start by checking the brine tank. Is there salt built up? If you notice a salt build up, use a mild soap and water to wash the salt away and rinse it completely.
Check the connection between the mineral tank and resin tank
Sometimes salt can get lodged in the plug of the connection between the mineral tank and resin tank. Clean it with mild soap and water.
Remove iron from bead bed
Over time, iron can build up and leave deposits that will prevent a water softener from operating the way it should. Clean the bead bed with any iron-removing product.
If your water is hard, salt storage tank has water while the unit is in soft water cycle and water runs into the drain:
This is usually due to no brine draw. Take it apart and clean the venturi and nozzle with a tooth brush in mild soap and water. Be sure to rinse it completely. If you notice the parts are coated in iron when cleaning, use a resin bed cleaner to remove.
Check the valve drain hose to ensure it is not plugged, kinked, or blocked in some way.
If your water is hard and the level of salt is not dropping:
Sometimes a salt bridge will form inside the brine tank. The bridge creates a space between salt and water which can be caused by humidity or the wrong kind of salt for your water softener. Use a broom handle to push the salt down being careful not to put a hole in the tank.
If you sometimes have hard water:
Is your timer set up the way it should be? Do you have a regeneration schedule that’s working based on the amount of water you’re actually using? It’s possible you set it up for a lower volume of water consumption than what your household really uses. Check the regeneration chart that came with your water softener and adjust accordingly.
Do you have leaking faucets, toilet, or tub? A small leak will waste more water than you’d expect in just a couple days (hundreds of gallons!) so make sure you are always watching for leaking and dripping faucets, toilets that don’t shut off properly, or tubs. Fix them when you find problems.
If these tips do not correct the problem you are having with your water softener, make sure to call a professional to help with your water softener repair.