These questions and answers help diagnose problems with your water softener or water conditioner.

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.

Recent Water Softener Diagnostic Q&A #3

Set 3 of questions & answers about troubleshooting & repairing a water conditioner or water softener, posted originally

at DIAGNOSE WATER SOFTENER PROBLEMS - home. Be sure to review that article - it offers an organized approach to water softener troubleshooting.

[Click to enlarge any image]

Question: water visible above the salt in the brine tank

(July 27, 2014) joanne said:

I filled my water softner tank to the top with salt salt has gone down but my water level in tank is over the salt

Reply:

Joanne

Depending on the brine dose required by your water softener it might be normal for water to be above the salt level in the tank,

but IF your salt tank is really filled with salt (and there is no salt bridge or crust giving you a false indication of how much salt is in the tank)

THEN I suspect the brine tank float is not working properly and the brine tank is flooding.

Watch out: in some water softener designs, too much water in the brine tank will send too much brine through the water softener resin tank during the regeneration cycle.

If that occurs your water may feel too slimy (too soft) and may contain excessive salt.

See WATER SOFTENER BRINE TANK WATER TOO HIGH for diagnostic advice. - it may just be a stuck brine tank float.

Question: pressure drop after using GE water softener

(Aug 24, 2014) Jayesh said:

I have a GE water softener. After about 4 years of use, it started causing pressure drop in house faucets, and after some time, the pressure was so bad that I had to put it in bypass. It's been that way now for months, and I want to commission it back again.

I've checked the valve assembly, and all the inlets/outlets, as well as ventury assembly, and there is no blockage anywhere. Today I also tried an iron-out treatment, but nothing has helped. Any suggestions? Please help.

Reply:

J

I agree that if on bypass building water pressure is good and in softener mode building water pressure is poor then the softener is likely to be the problem.

I'd suspect the bypass valve, but also the softener itself could have a clog at any valve that controls water passing through the actual ion exchange tank - the softener body, or the softener media itself could be clogged, particularly if the system was not properly regnerating. I don't assume there's no blockage anywhere.

Question: regen cycle does not stop fully

(Aug 26, 2014) doug said:

when the softner finishes its cycle,the water continues to run at a trical non stop

Reply:

Doug

Sounds like the control is stuck, or a valve is dirty and is not fully closing. Try an extra re-gen cycle; if that doesn't help, the control valve probably needs repair.

Question: replace water softener resin?

(Aug 30, 2014) Ron Fix It Man said:

My softener is 13 years old and I have read the resin becomes ineffective in about that life time. Iron out has been used with little benefit. Effectiveness of the softener has declined unless greater amounts of salt per cycle are used.

Troubleshooting reveals no improper cycle operation. Is it true the resin has a limited life? Can it be restored, say with a wash of dilute muratic acid? If not, where can it be purchased?

Reply:

Ron

Yes it is possible to replace water softener tank resin.

I've moved your question and written a more detailed reply now found at

WATER SOFTENER RESIN REPLACEMENT

On 2017-04-15 by (mod) re: check the settings before replacing the water softener control head

Ryan,

Some water softeners are a bit tricky to program. I'd run through the program steps, first seeing how the unit has been set-up and recording that before messing with any changes. I don't assume the control head is bad before knowing how it's set up.

On 2017-04-15 by ryan

I have a demand regeneration power head. It never turns on by itself but it works and i have soft water when i manually regen it. Do i need a new one?

On 2017-03-28 by (mod) - pump was red? Sounds dangerous. Turn it off.

Pump cycling on and off too often can burn up a pump motor, moreso of the pump runs dry.

The fact that the pump was turning on at regular intervals suggests it was doing so when whatever was leaking or using water was continuing with no other water use in the building - that could be a running toilet, a plumbing leak, or a leak in well piping.

I don't think bypassing the water softener will fix a pump priming problem.
It's possible that the "fix" should have included a new foot valve - a leaky foot valve can make priming the pump impossible in a one line jet pump system.

"pump was red" / really?

if you mean glowing read hot the pump is unsafe, probalby destroyed and should not have power on to it.
If you mean a red warning light we need to know pump brand and model to find the installation and operation manual to interpret the light.

On 2017-03-28 by Sue

Having an issue of no water. In the beginning pump was coming on every 18 minutes. Had water. Monday called well guy he thought there was a leak between well and house. He couldn't get to it until Saturday.

I still had water and pump was still coming on 18 minutes. That night pump started on and off.

I left it on until it just ran with no turn off. Now they fixed the line and can't get pump to prime. Should I have turned water softener bypass on? When we cut the line to replace water from pump was red- Help!

On 2017-03-10 by (mod) water softener system aging or malfunction cause a big TDS spike?

I'd be surprised, tough perhaps if resin is leaking out of the boiler it might show up in a TDS test

On 2017-03-09 by mef

Can water softener system aging or malfunction cause a big TDS spike?

On 2017-03-06 by (mod) fine white dust everywhere in the house using a humidifier

Could be salt if the softener is not properly-adjusted or is not working properly - does the dust taste salty? Is the dust greater where humidifier spray output is greatest?

On 2017-03-06 by Carolyn

We have a fine white dust everywhere in the house using a humidifier. I have used water from kitchen sink and bathroom sink, doesn't make a difference. Is it too much salt or not enough causing this?

On 2017-02-21 by (mod) model 5600 water softener control settings

If you can find the brand and model number for your water softener, it should be easy to find an instruction manual for it.

General instructions for setting water softener controls can be found by searching inspectapedia for


Water softener settings

On 2017-02-21 by Anonymous

how to set up controls for

model 5600 water softner

On 2017-02-20 by (mod)

I don't know, John. With the brand and model of the water softener we ought to be able to dig up the operation manual to interpret the display data.

On 2017-02-20 by John Stegeman

two piece water softener display flashes full... This is only thing that works . salt tank is half full and ok. What is full and how to fix?

On 2017-02-05 by sue

water softener runs every 2 weeks at the same time, softener use to go for longer period of time as only two of us in house and don't use a lot of water.

On 2017-01-06 by Anonymous

Getting salty water from refrigerator door dispenser

On 2017-12-22 by mike

high pressure constantly on plastic line going to tank causing leak

On 2017-12-06 by (mod) - where can I find someone to fix my water softener?

Yes, House, there are water softener maintenance services in most cities - in part because they'd also like to sell you salt supplies.

If you know the brand of your softener, try looking for a local company who services that brand.

On 2017-12-06 by House wife

I have a newer water softener and no suddenly everything is turning rusty colored such as bath tubs.

We have well water and it has always been great. I can tell my water is hard by the feeling of mine and my girls hair.

Is there companies that come out to help with this, if we didn't buy it from them?

On 2017-11-14 by Billie

No power to my softener?? Screen is blank!!

On 2017-11-13 by (mod) -

Josie,

Possibly yes. If the burst pipe was in fact Downstream from the water softener and if the water softener is a model that recharges itself based on monitoring the quantity of water used then that could explain what has happened.

Turn the system off, make sure there's salt in the brine tank, and then try turning it back on

On 2017-11-12 by Josie pipe leak makes water softener run?

We had a pipe break underground in our yard causing a large amount of water to run continuously. We did not discover the flooding for many hours. Would this cause our water softener to recycle continuously?

On 2017-11-10 by Rich S

I will read the article and follow the procedure. Thank You for your help.

On 2017-11-09 1 by (mod) - house water turns a very rust color.

During a regeneration cycle, brine is run through the resin tank and out of a drain line.

It's not likely that brine would be running directly into the house.

I would start by reviewing our article on how to clean and sanitize the brine tank and water softener. Follow that procedure and then use an extra regen cycle.

A completely separate possibility is that during the region cycle you are drawing so much water from your well that you are picking up silt or debris.

On 2017-11-09 by Rich S.

Its a rusty color. No beads. It will not sperate in a glass. 2-3 days and no speration.

The only time it does this is after a reharge. Wondered if it was minersls coming out of softner instead of going down the drain.

On 2017-11-07 by (mod) - house water turns a very rust color.

Do you think the softener is losing resin into the water - very tiny beads - or is it actually rust?

On 2017-11-07 by Rich S.

Afer the water softner goes through the recharge cycle, the house water turns a very rust color.

It stays that way for 20 min or so. Then its good untill the next recharge. I've cleaned the tank, changed the salt, and cleaned the ventury valve on top of the softner. Its like the waste water after cleaning the softner is dumped into the house water and not down the drain. Any suggestions?

On 2017-10-30 by Rob Water is constantly running to the water softener

Water is constantly running to the water softener all of a sudden, I can't figure out why?

On 2017-10-19 by Angela kenmore water softener

I have a kenmore water softener that id's only about 2-3 years old and all of sudden outs not softening my water and not all of the water empties out the salt tank after regeneration. It also just stays at 0 gpm( gallons per minute when have faucet running

On 2017-10-03 by James L. The water is salty tasting

I have a new house, new well and a new water treatment system which was supposed to be the Cadillac.

It ran well with sporadic issues for a year. Now the levels of hardness coming from the well are off the charts high and our water treatment company says the existing equipment (nor any other options) can handle this kind of water change.

They say it may change back or continue but they have no way of knowing what is going on under the ground.

I was suspicious that the septic to which the regen waste is drained to maybe leaching back to the water supply under the ground.

The un-dissolved solids reading when 3X higher out of the blue. The company had previously being trying to up the content of salt by increasing regen cycles. Where do I point the finger next? The water is salty tasting but has no salt in it. I live on a lake. Please help!

On 2017-10-02 1 Anonymous

I have a whirlpool water softner. It won't find the home position. Is it worth fixing

On 2017-09-27 by Carrie aqua logic/ Fleck water softener

Please help with our water softener. We have an aqua logic/ Fleck water softener, and it is not pulling the water out of the brine tank during the brine drain cycle.

Consequently, we are getting water continually added to the brine tank and not getting soft water. It is a brand new unit; we checked and double checked and cleaned all connections, tubes, injectors, etc. We are also ending up with air in the pipes after a regeneration cycle.

We have determined that the problem at the brine tank, more specifically pulling water/brine through the float assembly during the brine drain cycle.

If we disconnect the tube from the float assembly and put the tube directly in the brine tank (bypassing the float), it sucks water out just fine during the brine drain cycle. But then when we connect to the float, it stops pulling water. Is it some kind of suction issue?

We have soaked the float in hot water and the plastic ball moves fine and water flows through it when poured. The float appears to be perfectly fine, but it won’t crank the water out when it should. We can’t figure out why it isn’t working. Any ideas? Thank you.

On 2017-09-16 by (mod) - logix 760 controller

Jason,

I think there are two possible repair directions:

1. If the control is NOT itself faulty (which means replacing the control head or at least parts of it), then one of the troubleshooting suggestions from Pentair/Logix for "Control will not draw brine" should fix the trouble you describe:

1. water pressure too low (you need at least 20 psi)

2. restricted drain line ( a crimp in the drain tube)

3. plugged injector (the injector and screen can be removed and cleaned)

4. defective injector (the part will have to be replaced)

5. Air check valve closes prematurely on 255 valve or brine pickup tube (Put control momentarily into brine/slow rinse, C2.

Replace or repair air check if needed. )

or

2. The valve or the control head actuator that moves the valve is itself actually damaged and needs replacement.

I would look through the first series of repair suggestions before considering replacing the head (expensive) or taking it further apart (risky).

The Logix 760 is typically on a Pentair water softener. If that's your case, you would next call Pentair's / Autotrol's customer support for advice. Call: 800.279.9404

Contact: Pentair, filtration services, 5730 North Glen Park Road, Milwaukee, WI 53209
Tel: 262.238.4400 Website: WWW.PENTAIRAQUA.COM CUSTOMER CARE: 800.279.9404 Email: tech-support@pentair.com

Keep me posted as what you learn will help other readers. Meanwhile I'll be sure we've got Pentair/Autotrol/Logix controller manuals online as free PDF downloads over at WATER CONDITIONER / SOFTENER MANUALS https://inspectapedia.com/plumbing/Water_Softener_Manuals.php

On 2017-09-16 by Jason

I have a logix 760 controller and when it's time for regeneration the cam opens the valve to draw brine but then rotates slightly past and the valve closes therefor only drawing brine for a couple of seconds. If I open the valve with a screwdriver it draws brine just fine. The cam always rotates a little to much. The other functions seem to work fine. Any help is appreciated.

Jason.

On 2016-05-08 by (mod) softener needs new resin

Than, If your water softener needs new resin and you don't replace it the unit will simply stop working - it won't remove minerals from your water supply.

The repair for water softener leaks starts with drying the unit off and then inspecting it carefully to find where the leak is occurring. Without that any "solution" would be nonsense.

See WATER SOFTENER BACKUP, FLOODING, LEAKS for help finding and fixing leaks.

On 2016-05-08 by Than Htay

my softener water leaked have any solutions

On 2016-05-08 by than htay

in my softener 1 year over.need to be change carbon and resin.so if i not change carbon and resin.then have any effect to softener.

On 2016-03-03 by (mod) re: use bypass to diagnose water softener as cause of weak water pressure

Put the device on bypass. If that corrects the water pressure problem then you've demonstrated that indeed the softener is the problem.
If that's the case I'd look for a clogged strainer or damage in the control head.

On 2016-03-03 by Mike

My water softener (Myers M120) is causing poor water pressure downstream. Is there a sequence of repairs to solve this issue?

On 2016-02-29 by (mod) re: water softener controls are stuck

Kim

Your softenener controls may be mis-set, stuck, need repair, or possibly the resin in your water softener needs replacement. That last tip is more likely if the unit is old.

On 2016-02-28 by kim

Our unit is using alot of salt and I believe our water is not soft I fill the dogs dish with water and within a few hours it's cloudy and I'm constantly cleaning the toilets because of the orange tint in the bowl..why would it be using so much salt and not softening the water

On 2016-02-24 by (mod) re: what do the error lights on a water softener mean

I'm sorry Joseph, but without knowing your water conditioner brand and model, we can't even look for the owners' manual where diagnostic codes are listed along with their significance. If you don't have the manual for your unit, the manufacturer's website will usually offer it for a free download. If you have trouble finding a manual tell me the softener brand and model and serial number and we'll also take a look.

On 2016-02-24 by Joseph Bianco

My system is not doing a full regeneration it stops and show error3. What does it mean?

On 2016-01-31 by (mod) re: Water Technologies water softener water ran backwards

If you are referring to the drainage tube that is connected to an overflow on the brine tank then I suspect that the brine tank float control is stuck.

On 2016-01-30 by Ron

I have a Water Technologies softener, it was working fine until last week when it went into regeneration the water came out of the drain tube instead of going through the tank any idea why this is happening

On 2016-01-24 by (mod) re: signs of a bad water softener contro lhead

That suggests that the control head of the softener needs cleaning or repair; some control heads include a cleanable screen. Check your owners's manual.

On 2016-01-23 by Anonymous

I have an advantapure water softener system and my water pressure dropped but when I bypass the system the pressure is good , any thoughts

On 2016-01-10 by greg

Water softener keeps draining small amounts of water

...

Continue reading  at DIAGNOSE WATER SOFTENER PROBLEMS - topic home, where you'll find a helpful water conditioner troubleshooting table, or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see WATER SOFTENER DIAGNOSTIC FAQs-4 - more-recent Q&A about fixing a water softener.

Or see these

Water Softener Diagnosis & Repair Articles

• DIAGNOSE WATER SOFTENER PROBLEMS
• WATER CONDITIONER / SOFTENER MANUALS
• WATER SOFTENERS & CONDITIONERS - home
  • BRINE TANK BRIDGING or CRUSTING
  • DIAGNOSE WATER SOFTENER PROBLEMS
  • BRINE TANK WATER TOO HIGH
  • BRINE TANK WATER TOO LOW
  • WATER SOFTENER BACKUP, FLOODING, LEAKS
  • WATER SOFTENER OPERATING CYCLES
  • WATER SOFTENER RUNS TOO LONG
  • WHITE MINERAL SCALE DEPOSITS on FIXTURES

Suggested citation for this web page

WATER SOFTENER DIAGNOSTIC FAQs-3 at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to WATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS

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