Water Softener Brine Tank Troubleshooting
Salt tank level too high, too low, other problems

Water softener brine tanks:

This article provides a table listing common problems, causes, and remedies for water softener brine tanks.

Find out what causes too much water in the water conditioner brine tank or salt tank or too little water, or other salt or brine tank problems & how do to fix them. Problem diagnosis & repair with brine tank float control & other salt tank level controls.

This article series describes procedures for diagnosing and repairing water softener or water conditioner problems including water conditioner control settings and adjustment or repair, brine tank and brine tank float cleaning and repair, and the proper amount of water softening or conditioning that is needed.

Brine Tank Problem Diagnosis and Cure

Water Softener Control / Brine Tank Problems: Table of Causes & Repair Steps
Causes of Water Remaining in Brine Tank	Cures for Flooded or High Water in the Brine Tank	Comments
Low building water pressure	Make correct setting according to instructions	See WATER PRESSURE MEASUREMENT then use your browser "BACK" button to return to this article., Typically you need at least 20 psi water pressure for the water softener to function properly.
Clogged water softener drain tubing	Clogged or just partly clogged drain tubing, or a too-small drain line piping, or a drain line not properly routed, result in abnormal brine water levels.	Check the water softener backwash/regeneration drain tubing for clogs, bends, crimps, or routing too high above the unit. Do not install water softener valve drain line runs of more than 30 feet (20 ft. for some models) and don't route the drain more than 8 feet above the floor level.
Restricted, kinked, clogged brine tank tubing	Remove the obstruction, kink, bend or clog in tubing between the water softener and the brine tank	Also see WATER SOFTENER PLUMBING PROBLEMS
Clogged softener backwash drain line flow control DLFC "Foreign material" inside the brine line flow control	The control orifice needs to be cleaned or replaced	See DLFC LOCATION for help finding this part At WATER SOFTENER BACKUP, FLOODING, LEAKS we describe how to diagnose & fix a water softener that is not draining properly. Typically the problem is a crimped drain line, a control not operating properly, or a stuck brine control float that is not allowing the regen cycle to function properly.
Clogged or Plugged injector system	Clean the injector or its filter-screen	On the water softener - there is an injector and screen that need to be cleaned
Leak in brine tank tubing between the brine tank and the water conditioner	Even a small leak can cause the regenerant (brine solution) to drain back into the brine tank when it is supposed to be flowing through the water conditioner.	Check your tubing for leaks at the tubing connectors as well as through its length just to rule out this problem.
Leak in water softener internal control head	Change seals, spacer, piston assembly in the control head
Water softener valve disk not closed (present on some systems)	Disassemble & clean the valve;	Check disk for closing by pressing in on stem; replace the part(s) if needed.
Water softener / brine tank air check valve closed prematurely or clogged	Try manual brine tank refill / regen cycle; replace or repair the air check valve if needed	See WATER SOFTENER BRINE TANK AIR CHECK VALVE for details Also see WATER SOFTENER CHECK VALVE STUCK as a cause of air discharge at fixtures
Causes of Improper Level of Water in Brine Tank	Cures for Either Too Much or Too Little Water in the Brine Tank	Comments
Brine tank float stuck, prevents water from entering the brine tank	Manually free stuck float	See repair details at BRINE TANK WATER TOO LOW
Brine tank float stuck, prevents brine from exiting - flooding brine tank with water	Manually free stuck float; use manual regen cycle to remove excess water;	See Brine Tank Water Level Too High at BRINE TANK DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR See repair details at BRINE TANK FLOAT LEVEL ADJUSTMENT
Brine tank float adjustment level improperly adjusted	Check water refill level in brine tank; adjust float level in brine tank	See WATER SOFTENER BRINE TANK FLOAT LEVEL ADJUSTMENT
Water conditioner timer is not cycling properly	this problem means a new timer is needed	See WATER SOFTENER ADJUSTMENT & CONTROLS
"Foreign material" inside of the brine level control valve	the valve can be disassembled and cleaned (if there is a valve)
Stuck brine tank refill control valve	Manually free the stuck valve; clean if needed.	The BRINE REFILL FLOAT CONTROL VALVE device is found in the vertical tube in your brine tank. Typically it incorporates a float, vertical rod, and a switch that controls the water level in the tank during a brine generation cycle.
Missing brine level or regeneration control valve	Your system has lost its entire BRINE REFILL FLOAT CONTROL VALVE assembly (sketch at right from G.E. [2]) and it needs to be replaced.	[Click to enlarge any image] In some water softener manuals you can see the "regenerant tank check valve" and a note - not provided, furnished as an option from the water conditioner system manufacturer. Note in this GE manual that some filter systems do not use the regenerant (brine) connection.
Excessive or too-high brine tank drain flow seen at the brine tank drain	Water softener injector is worn, the nozzle outlet opening is enlarged to more than 50% of the input throat opening. Internal leak in the water softener control valve allowing too much water to past the injector. Damaged, gouged, worn, scratched piston / seal assembly in the control valve. (This valve type is not used on all water softeners). Flapper on water softener control valve sticking open. (This valve type is not used on all water softeners).	Replace the entire water softener injector nozzle assembly. Replace damaged, gouged, scratched, or sticking control valves. BRINE REFILL FLOAT CONTROL VALVE device is found in the vertical tube in your brine tank
Weak brine tank draw - weak water flow at the brine tank drain Water softener does not draw enough brine from the brine tank (salt tank) Weak brine draw or poor brine flow from the brine tank through the water softener resin tank will result in hard water or the delivery of soft water for abnormally short period.	Run an extra regeneration cycle at the water softener and observe the brine drain. If the water flow at the brine drain is weak check these causes of weak flow at the brine tank drain, or of weak brine draw at the tank: Collector basket (upper) in the water softener debris fouled (not present on all water softeners) Clogged or damaged injector or eductor (in the control head, draws brine from the brine tank) Control valve clogging at the valve feeding water to the water softener injector or eductor screen; check for silt in the water supply or high iron content clogging of the injector. Distributor basket (in the softener unit) clogged with debris or iron Air leaks in the water softener brine tank tubing or elsewhere can cause weak brine flow or poor brine draw.	Check the water softener control valves or collector or distributor basket openings or slots for debris clogging and clean or replace these components. See EDUCTOR INJECTOR LOCATION 1 and also EDUCTOR INJECTOR LOCATION 2 for help finding the water softener eductor or injector. See WATER SOFTENER EDUCTOR REPAIR BRINE REFILL FLOAT CONTROL VALVE device is found in the vertical tube in your brine tank Put the water softener in bypass mode. If house water pressure improves the problem is clogging in the water softener, perhaps in the distributor basket - screen at the bottom (or top and bottom) of the center tube of the water softener resin tank. See DISTRIBUTOR BASKET LOCATION for help finding the distributor baskets. Watch out: because changing the distributor basket requires removal and replacement of the resin as well, the best time to inspect and change the distributor basket(s) is when the resin is being replaced in the softener.
No brine tank draw down, brine tank water too high Brine does not enter water softener, or abnormally high water level in the brine tank	Check the brine tank float valve and eductor as well as other parts and steps given in the two links in the column at right.	See WATER SOFTENER BRINE TANK DRAW REPAIR for a series of recommended checks See WATER SOFTENER EDUCTOR REPAIR
Your system supposed to be using a different method of brine level control	And that control is missing or more likely, not working or not properly set. There are some water conditioner models that do not use a brine tank float valve. [2]	But you'll see that in no case does normal operation leave the water softener brine tank full of water. So if this is like your system the control on the conditioner is not working properly or not set properly. In other water conditioner manuals the manufacturer describes how the control is set to change the length of "brine tank refill time" - this is the same as the amount of water to be sent into the tank.

Notes to the table above

These typical diagnostics are adapted and expanded-upon from several sources including Aqua brand, Culligan, Fleck, and Hellenbrand (American Aqua) water softeners but pertain to many other models as well, for which the manual describes diagnosing and repairing a softener that won't supply water into or that won't draw brine out from the brine tank.

Water Softener Air Check Valve

See WATER SOFTENER BRINE TANK AIR CHECK VALVE for details about the air check valve.

Brine Tank Water Too High - Not Drawn into Softener

This explanation has moved to a new page at WATER SOFTENER BRINE TANK WATER TOO HIGH

You can read about all of the steps in water softener operation at HOW WATER SOFTENERS / CONDITIONERS WORK

Brine Injector or Brine Tank Eductor Valve Repair / Replacement

Details of where to find and how to inspect, clean, or replace the water softener brine injector or Eductor Valve have moved to WATER SOFTENER EDUCTOR REPAIR

...

Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

On 2022-12-14 by InspectApedia (Editor) - level of salt in the brine tank would not be the cause of "salty-tasting water"

@Liz,

No, the level of salt in the brine tank would not be the cause of "salty-tasting water"

but an improper softener adjustment (salt dose) or a softener malfunction could cause salty-tasting water.

On 2022-12-14 by Liz

If my brine tank has to much salt in it can if cause my water to be to salty

On 2022-11-20 by InspectApedia (Editor)

@Bill,

Take a look at this WHIRLPOOL WHES30 WHES33 SOFTENER OWNERS MANUAL [PDF]

Whirlpool just says

"ADDING SALT

Lift the salt lid and check the salt storage level frequently."

so it doesn't sound as if there's more than a plastic lip cast into the body of the brine tank and edge of the cover.

However it's possible that salt has crystallized and is sticking the cover in place. You might try pressing in on the side of the softener just under the lip edge on one side as you get a trip on and lift the lid.

Let me know if that worked for you.

On 2022-11-19 by Bill

I have a whirlpool whes30 , when I pull up the brine cover it won't come off. Notice clip on side,when I push in nothing happens.

On 2022-10-05 by Paul Edmond

Okay thanks will do.

On 2022-10-03 by InspectApedia-911 (mod) - Pent Air USA 376/606 softener using salt too fast

@Paul Edmond,

If your water softener has never been cleaned it definitely needs a cleaning. You'll find instructions on doing that in the index to these articles.

Once the softener has been cleaned, you'll want to confirm that the brine tank float assembly is working correctly and moving freely.

In my experience the most common cause of wrong water level in the brine tank is a stuck float.

On 2022-10-03 by Paul Edmond

We have a Pent Air USA 376/606 softener it's around 25 years old and it gets through salt too quickly. 13 kilos of tablets in three weeks the water level is high, way above the level of the salt and the numbers on the display vary from 2 to 14 over 24 hours.

We live in, i believe the 3 hardest water area in the UK. I don't think the softener has ever really worked well we have lime scale marks on our glass shower screen Can you help please ?

On 2021-08-08 by inspectapedia.com.moderator - whirlpool WHES30 water softener brine tank float assembly not working properly

@Mark,

You're working on exactly what I'd try first: the brine tank float assembly: the float has to rise freely as water level rises, and the float valve has to successfully close the valve;

I'd also be sure there was no leak that could let the control head send water into the brine tank even when the valve is closed - like a tubing or fitting l3ak

On 2021-08-08 by Mark

I have a whirpool WHES30 water softener. The brine tank is full, up to the overflow tube. I replaced the Venturi valve to see if that did the trick........and no. I pulled apart the float and didnt see any clogs. i can run the regeneration process and it will pull the water from teh brine tank and do its normal porcess. after the process the water is down around the bottom and when i come back in the morning the water is back up to the over flow hole. What the heck? Im not sure where to go from here......

On 2021-01-07 by danjoefriedman (mod) - How much salt should you see in your brine tank in your water softener

Neil

When I feel the salt in the brine tank I feel it to just below the top of the brine Float Tube. During normal operation you may see the salt level dropped but if you're seeing it down in the bottom few inches or deeply under water in the brine tank then it's time to add more salt

On 2021-01-07 by Neil Schulman

How much salt should you see in your brine tank in your water softener

On 2020-06-25 by danjoefriedman (mod) - water level does not recede in brine tank

If no water is being used in your house and the well pump comes on then there is perhaps a leak in the well piping system or a leaky foot valve or check valve.

On 2020-06-22 by jamie

Still trying to figure out why no soft water and now another question............I noticed today that during the brine mode when water is draining into the sewer and my well pump is coming on? It's not using water so why is it necessary for it to come on?

Still having the problem that during brine mode the water is going down the drain hose perfectly but the water level in the brine tank does not drop? Just don't get it. I've had it all apart numerous times, changed gaskets, o-rings, cleaned venturi, everything suggested and there is no salt bridge.

Again, water going down the drain, well pressure drops a few times during brining but water level does not recede? I don't believe water comes into the unit while it's brining to draw my well pressure down? Whirlpool whes33 softener.

On 2020-03-09 - by (mod) - steps in testing & Troubleshooting a Whirlpool water softener

I agree that a damaged seal or part might leak air or water and prevent proper brine tank fill or brine tank draw. Let's see what the manufacturer says about the rotor disk under-side. In general if you see what looks like very regular striations or lines, most likely that's how the part was made. Perhaps you can post a photo.

You could also have a defective control head that simply is not opening and closing valves to move water according to the softener's operation sequence. We'll step through diagnosing that possibility along with some other common snafus in a moment (with help from the manual for your softener).

Just reviewing to be sure we're on the same page, a typical water softener cycle set runs like this:

1. Backwash

2. Brine/Slow Rinse

3. Rapid Rinse

4. Brine Tank Refill

The salt dose, typically between 3 and 18 lbs, determines the brine tank refill volume and thus the volume of brine that can be sent through the resin tank at step 2. The water hardness, in turn, combined with water usage rate, sets the salt dose.

For other readers, the WHES-33 is a Whirlpool water softener. You can see the IO & service manual for this Whirlpool water softener at

WATER SOFTENER MANUALS - W for Whirlpool

• Have you tried re-setting the water softener control head to the factory settings?
• Have you double-checked that there is no crimp or air leak in the water tubing between brine tank and softener control head (no blockages nor leaks) ?
• Is the water outflow from the system in normal operating mode noticeably less than if you draw water from a spigot or faucet ahead of the softener? (I'm wondering if there's an internal blockage at the bypass valve or in the control head)
• And you're sure that the brine tank float valve moves freely and that there's no restriction

Get help from the Manufacturer?

Have you tried the manufacturer's help line? Toll Free 1-866-986-3223 - Monday- Friday, 8 AM - 7 PM EST When you call, please be prepared to provide the model and serial number,found on the rating decal, typically located on the rim below the salt lid hinges.

OK so let's try the standard troubleshooting sequence for this softener, excerpted from the manual cited above.

Steps in Troubleshooting a Whirlpool ES33-Series Water Softener

This check verifies proper operation of the valve motor, brine tank fill, brine draw, regeneration flow rates, and other controller functions. Always make the initial checks, and the manual initiated diagnostics.

NOTE:The electronic control display must show a steady time (not flashing). If an error code shows, first press the PROGRAM button to enter the diagnostic display.

1. [Start brine cycle]: Press the RECHARGE button and hold in for 3 seconds.

RECHARGE begins to flash as the softener’s valve advances from the service to fill position.

Remove the brine well cover and, using a flashlight, observe fill water entering the tank.

If water does not enter the tank, look for an obstructed nozzle, venturi, fill flow plug, brine tubing, or brine valve riser pipe.

2. [Start brine draw cycle]: After observing fill, press the RECHARGE button to move the softener’s valve into the brine position.

A slow flow of water to the drain will begin.

Verify brine draw from the brine tank by shining a flash-light into the brinewell and observing a noticeable drop in the liquid level. [This is the step you have been questioning]

This may take 15 to 20minutes.

NOTE: Be sure water is in contact with the salt, and not separated by a salt bridge (See "Breaking A Salt Bridge" section).

If the water softener does not draw brine, check for(most likely to least likely):

• Dirty or plugged nozzle and venturi,
  
  see"Cleaning the Nozzle and Venturi" section.
• Nozzle and venturi not seated on the gasket, or gasket deformed.
• Valve seals leaking
  
  (See Troubleshooting).
• Restriction in valve drain, causing a back-pressure (bends, kinks, elevated too high, etc.).
  
  See"Install Valve Drain Hose" section.
• Obstruction in brine valve or brine tubing.

Watch out: If water system pressure is low, a too-long or elevated drain hose may cause back pressure, stopping brine draw.

Avoid drain hose runs longer than 30 feet. Avoid elevating the hose more than 8 feet above the floor.

3. [Start backwash cycle]: Press the RECHARGE button to move the softener's valve into the backwash position.

Look for a fast flow of water from the drain hose.

Check that the drain can adequately handle the flow and volume.

An obstructed flow indicates a plugged top distributor, backwash flow plug, or drain hose.

4. Press the RECHARGE button to move the softener’s valve into the fast rinse position.

Again look for a fast drain flow.

Allow the softener to rinse for a few minutes to flush out any brine that may remain in the resin tank from the brining cycle test.

5. To return the softener’s valve to the service position, press the RECHARGE button.

On 2020-03-09 by jamie

so i've cleaned the venturi, replaced the black gasket it it, replaced both flo plugs, installed new seal and o-rings to the head, checked brine valve and all ports for possible clogging, found nothing. cleaned out the brine tank. when problem first started I had no brine draw at all, thus hard water.

Now it is taking in some as I've watched and it drops down about an inch. its the whes33.

Reason I ask about hard water coming in during brining mode is because I hear significant amt. of water going down the drain hose during the brine mode (120 min cycle) yet the level in tank doesn't go down much?

Also, hopefully you can answer this. Is the rotor disk underside on the head suppose to be perfectly smooth.

Mine looks like a vinyl record of sorts with circular lines (numerous) going around the radius of the disk? I've tried searching for a pic of a damaged one and cannot find.

I've been told this could cause a problem with the brine draw?

Thanks for your reply - hard to get any help :(

On 2020-03-09 - by (mod) - Brine is now drawing but level in tank is only going down an inch

Jamie,

What steps have you taken so far?

What is your softener's salt dose setting?

What is the Whirlpool water softener model? - do you have the IO manual for it?

Do you know the actual hardness level of your water?

I'm not aware of a softener design that mixes incoming fresh water with the brine during the brine wash cycle

On 2020-03-09 by jamie

Thank you for your reply.

I have a whirlpool cabinet style softener and from what I've read (so much reading for weeks lol) my softener is suppose to suck out the brine and doesn't add water at the end of the cycle.

It adds it on the first mode of regeneration "fill" I've read many articles on fixes for no brine draw and have done all of them.

Brine is now drawing but level in tank is only going down an inch which doesn't seem like enough.

Do you know if fresh water is incoming in addition to the brining mode? There is water going down the drain during this process but level in tank doesn't drop that much.

On 2020-03-0 - by (mod) -

I may not quite understand your situation, Jamie but in general

- during the regen cycle at one of the early steps, the system draws brine from the tank and pushes it through the resin tank to swap out calcium and magnesium (hard water) ions for salt (NaCl).

The brine quantity is in effect determined by the salt dose setting on the softener, often expressed in "pounds of salt" - but in truth, ultimately in volume of salty brine.

- at the end of a water softener regen procedure the system pumps a "dose" of fresh water into the brine tank so that brine will be ready for the next regen cycle

On 2020-03-08 by Jamie

Been working on the brine draw problem...So I have the float stop set at 3.5 and fill mode takes it to a little over 4. Brine draw mode takes the water level down about 1 inch, is that normal amount? Not quite sure where I should put the float stop, if I raise it up higher of course the fill mode will fill it up to that level and the BD will take it down still only an inch.

So it is drawing but doesn't seem like enough? other modes work great, BW, rinse etc. I hear quite a bit of water going down the drain hose during the brine mode....I assume fresh water is suppose to be coming in during the brine mode as well otherwise I would notice the water level in tank dropping more? I've cleaned everything and replaced valve o-rings and seals too

On 2020-01-19 - by (mod) -

Great question. We need to note the softener brand and model and then look at a parts explosion for it.

On 2020-01-19 by Bill

Thank you. I too think it is the valve, or valve assembly. The trouble shooting page says, valve disk 1 may be held open and to flush it via manual operation. Do you know which valve lever is #1? Do they count from the timer end or, the inlet end?

On 2020-01-19 - by (mod) -

Bill, Most likely the float is moving ok mechanically but the actual shut-off valve operated by the float is scale clogged or has a broken gasket or seal and needs to be replaced.

On 2020-01-19 by Bill

water softener TT155-5TBFS brine tank over fills after fats rinse and brine tank refill. the float works but does not shut off the flow after it completes it's travel. The float ends up submerged.

On 2019-01-18 by Dave Elliott

We just bought a house with the water softener and the water is coming out of the overflow why is that

On 2018-12-10 by Anonymous

Thank you so much for your reply.

After further observation, I found that although the controller unit atop the resin tank gets power (can feel the heat and vibrations of working mo. tor), the 'tme of day' never changes, so the wheel on the controller does not turn. Any ideas or does this corroborate your initial opinion that service is needed?

The plumber who installed this went out of business and it has been tough to find someone to service it. Thanks again for your reply!

On 2018-12-09 - by (mod) -

If it's backwashing brine from the salt tank that will be your resin tank portion of the water softener.

If you can't reset and cause it to stop by turning power off waiting a few minutes and turning power back on then I suspect that there's a control head failure and the system needs repair.

Meanwhile you can put it in bypass mode and turn off power to the unit. I don't leave it that way for long because of hard water will clog your pipes. In other words you need a repair.

On 2018-12-09 by Larry

I have a marlo home water softener. It has a brine tank and two additional tanks, one of which we replenish calcite. I'm not sure the function of other tank but it is in line between the brine tank and the 'calcite' tank, It has a controller on top and is connected to the brine tank. It is stuck constantly backwashing. I turn it to 'in serv' but it just keeps backwashing. Any ideas or advice? Thanks!!

On 2018-10-04 - by (mod) -

Nilesh I really want to help but don't understand the situation.

If water enters the brine tank but never exits it I suspect a stuck brine tank float control (water level will just keep getting higher)

or

There can be an air leak or stuck control valve in the control head such that the unit's pump cannot draw brine from the tank.

On 2018-10-03 by Nilesh A Mahadane

I'm from India Maharashtra I'm working water softener work fild my problem softener manual water softener suck salt water in regeneration time for back water problem please solved

...

Continue reading  at WATER SOFTENER BRINE TANK WATER TOO HIGH or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see WATER SOFTENER BRINE TANK WATER TOO HIGH FAQs - questions and answers posted originally on this page.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• WATER SOFTENER ADJUSTMENT & CONTROLS
• WATER SOFTENER BACKUP, FLOODING, LEAKS where we describe how to diagnose & fix a water softener that is not draining properly.
• WATER SOFTENER BRINE TANK DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR - home
• WATER SOFTENER EDUCTOR / INJECTOR REPAIR
• WATER SOFTENER BRINE TANK AIR CHECK VALVE
• WATER SOFTENER BRINE TANK BRIDGING or CRUSTING
• WATER SOFTENER BRINE TANK DRAW REPAIR
• WATER SOFTENER BRINE TANK FLOAT VALVE ADJUST
• WATER SOFTENER BRINE TANK WATER TOO HIGH
• WATER SOFTENER BRINE TANK WATER TOO LOW
• WATER SOFTENER CLEANING & SANITIZING
• WATER SOFTENER SALT CHOICES
• WATER SOFTENER SALT DOSE SETTING
• WATER CONDITIONER / SOFTENER MANUALS - download the manual for your softener
• WATER SOFTENER OPERATING CYCLES
• WATER SOFTENER RUNS TOO LONG

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BRINE TANK DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

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INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to WATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS

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