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Water conditioner control valve (C) D Friedman B B Water Softener Control FAQs-2
Water Softener Control Settings Q&A

  • POST a QUESTION or COMMENT about water softener controls, adjustments, timers, salt dose setting, regeneration frequency setting

Water Softener Operating & Maintenance Instructions:

How to set & adjust a water softener or water conditioner. Here we provide an owner's guide to water softener controls, what they are, what they do, how to set them - for water softener or water conditioner maintenance, including water softener adjustment of the regeneration or backwash cycle frequency and the water softener salt dose.

We explain the salt dose, regen cycle, hardness setting, and brine tank float level adjustment. We also discuss setting the water softener timer or clock.

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Water Softener Settings & Adjustments - FAQs on how to set the water softener controls

Sears Kenmore Water Softener Control Panel at Power-On - at InspectApedia.comQuestions & answers about how to set the softener controls such as regeneration cycle frequency, hardness, salt dose, etc.

These questions & answers about water softener settings or water conditioner controls & settings were posted originally at WATER SOFTENER ADJUSTMENT & CONTROLS - be sure to review the diagnosis and repair advice given there.

Shown at page top and in our photo above/left: two typical water softener control dials and pins.

[Click to enlarge any image]

On 2018-10-26 by (mod) - blinking light on water softener

Lee

The meaning of an error light on a water softener is brand and model dependent so I'm afraid you need to consult the manual to see what the area code is.

On 2018-10-26 by Lee

Light not stop blinking

On 2018-10-02 by (mod) - water softener will regenerate manually but not under clock control

Sorry to say, when the water softener will regenerate manually but not under clock control, I suspect the timer / control head needs repair or replacement.

However before replacing anything I'd turn power off, then review the reset instructions in the manual for your water softener brand and model. Some softeners have a hidden "reset" switch on a control board inside the control head.

On 2018-10-02 by Donald Logan

Water softener will only regenerate when turned manually, can hear timer running but it doesn’t regenerate on its own. Please help

On 2018-09-30 by (mod) - softener leaking it the top of the brine tank

Most-often, T, a stuck brine float control in the tank.

On 2018-09-30 by T

Water softener leaking it the top of the brine tank. Why would it over fill?

On 2018-06-30 by (mod) Water Softener treatment parameters & specifications: what is the capacity of a water softener

KK

Water sofeners remove minerals from hard water - removing principally calcium and magnesium.

The amount of hardness or mineral level that is reduced depends on the water flow rate, water temperature, hardness or mineral levels in the incoming water and the water softener resint tank capacity, salt dose, regen cycle and other settings.

Typically a water sofener's specifications include the maximum amounts of two substances that the softener can handle

Maximum Water hardness - example: 110 gpg = 110 grains of hardness per gallon of water flowing through the device

Maximum "clear water" iron removal - example: 11 ppm = 11 parts per million of iron per gallon assuming that the water is clear, that is not further contaminated with sediment

Watch out: if the iron level in your water is above 5 ppm, additional iron removal equipment may be required.

On 2018-06-30 by Kkpandey - what are WATER SOFTENER Treated water parameters

WATER SOFTENER Treated water parameters

On 2018-05-07 by (mod) - problem with water pressure, both hot and cold, is probably not due to hard water

When water pressure falls below the pump CUT_IN pressure for a time before the pump turns on I suspect a debris-clogged pressure control switch or its pressure sensor tube itself is clogged. I'd replace those.

On 2018-05-06 by Lee

I have well water and needed to install a water softener. (Culligan). I have two showers the pressure in one starts out strong than weakens and then goes back to strong after about 3 mind.

The other shower does the same but the water completely stops for 3 mins or more.

Any ideas? I just had it installed about 35 days ago. When I called they told me to trouble shoot.


On 2017-07-28 by Shawna

Trying to reset water softener. Bought house and have no paper work on unit. Trying to figure out how it works

On 2017-05-25 by (mod) -

Glad to assist;

Certainly I've spent a lot of a lifetime worrying about things I shouldn't have done, of which the worst are those from my youth that out of fear or ignorance were unkind. cf Goodbye Linda Rae at https://inspectapedia.com/hog/Apology_to_Linda_Rae_York.php

I hope you won't lose any more sleep over the water softener.

On 2017-05-24 y Bruce

Oh ok thank you, I was worried I did something I shouldn't have.

On 2017-05-24 by (mod) - which way to turn the softener dial to get back to a prior setting

Bruce, you can of course always run the dial around forward; if you didn't force it backwards you didn't break anything.

On 2017-05-24 by Bruce

Hi I seem to have made a huge mistake with our water softener.. I have the model similar to the picture shown right under the homeowner's guide header. I was surprised to see the brine tank (correct me if I'm wrong, it's the one that you fill in with salt right?) still with about the same amount of salt I placed about a month ago. I was turning the dial to do a manual cycle but kept turning it into the next settings..

I panic realizing I couldn't turn the dial backwards and tried turning it forward. I eventually got to the setting before the rapid wash (brine wash I believe) and left it there for 40 mins. I came back knowing I wouldn't break the dial, and turned it to the next setting, rapid wash. Stayed there for a few mins before I set it back to manual regeneration cycle..

I'm wondering if I damaged anything in the tank and should call a specialist since I made the cycle skip steps. Or do I have nothing to fear?

 

On 2016-12-21 by Anonymous

I know a good backwash time is between 8 and 10 minutes. but what about the other settings? what to set everything else at?

On 2016-09-30 by (mod) - where does the small red dial point for genreal softener maintenance

The small red dial with a slot in it on the control at page top is pointing to "start" when the system is first installed and turned-on.

It will rotate to indicate different steps in the regen and backwash cycle as the equipment operates.

On 2016-09-30 by Stacie Cartwright

Ok I have a water softener with the red dial on it in one of the pics u have posted. For general maintenance where is the red dial suppose to be set at??

On 2016-06-12 2 by (mod) - softener Model AQS E II 34

Marlene; if you can find the brand name of your water softener it's usually easy to find a free manual from the manufacturer;

Another option is to match your water softener control, by appearance, with the several controls described in this article series and in softener manuals you'll find in the article end REFERENCES section.

On 2016-06-12 by marlene

Hello I have an older Model AQS E II 34 and I am trying to reset everything as I do not have a manual and not sure how to reset the regeneration time

On 2016-05-15 by (mod)

Yep. I agree. It sounds as if the control is stuck or damaged.

On 2016-05-15 by Bob

Thanks for the reply. On the brine control (right hand dial) my red arrow is set at 1 and its going off a few times a day. In your picture above its set on 6. From my calculations and understanding, it should be going off 3-4 times a week max for our needs.

I have to find out which number I should set it on for that to happen. I will read the manuals you suggested but if you have any idea which number I'd appreciate it. Thanks again.

On 2016-05-12 by (mod) - where to find generic water softener controls

Bob, there are several generic and common water softener manuals to which you can link (as PDF files) in

WATER CONDITIONER / SOFTENER MANUALS

For example https://inspectapedia.com/plumbing/Autotrol_255-460i_Owners_Manual.pdf is similar to your machine. The dial you ask about is the brine control. Check it out in the manuals.

Test your incoming water for hardness so you'll know the salt dosage needed; estimate your water usage rate so you'll have an idea how often to cause a regeneration cycle.

On 2016-05-12 by Bob

I moved into a house and have the water softener shown in the second picture down from the top of this page (black panel two dials) No manual, the time is right. Can you please explain the dial on the right to me?

The water softener if cycling too often (every day) and i am going through bags of salt. Can you walk me through adjusting the cycle?

On 2016-04-30 by LL

What happens if my water pump is off and my Softener tries to cycle?

On 2016-03-07 by (mod) re: using the bypass valve or what if there is no bypass valve on a water softener?

Mary:

That's an easy question to test. IF there is no bypass valve on the softener itself, there should be manual bypass valves and piping that let you pass incoming water around the softener. If not then it's an unfortunate installation that needs help from a plumber to correct. Else you cannot test but also you cannot work on or replace the water softener without shutting down the whole water system.

Check the water pressure gauge at the pressure tank (if you are on a pump and well system). If that gauge shows normal pressure - say 20-50 psi, and if you've cleaned faucet strainers, shower heads, etc. then it's time to search InspectApedia.com for DIAGNOSE LOW WATER PRESSURE to read about what to try.

On 2016-03-06 by mary

we have low water pressure after replacing the pump and pressure tank. is it from our softner? we do not have a bypass valve, how can we test the system to determine the cause for low pressure?

On 2016-02-29 by (mod) re: regenerating a water softner twice in succession

It might if the original regeneration specifications of salt dose and frequency were not adequate for the hardness of the water supply and the volume of water used.

On 2016-02-27 by Anonymous

Does regenerating a water softener twice in a row improve the results?

On 2016-02-14 by (mod) re: water pump won't stop

MIke: if you mean your water pump, search InspectApedia for PUMP WON'T STOP RUNNING to read a diagnostic and repair procedure

On 2016-02-14 by Mike

My pump seems to be stuck "on"...running constantly...what might this be??

 


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