FAQs on fixing a water softener or water conditioner - set #4.

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 #4

Diagnosis & repair questions about water conditioners or water softeners, posted originally at DIAGNOSE WATER SOFTENER PROBLEMS - home. Please remember to review that article.

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Reader Comments: Diagnostic tips for a water softner that won't draw brine

Although I'm not the most expert on water softeners I've messed with them a bit and inspected quite a few. It is common for the brine tank float to get stuck or fail to operate properly.

Some folks go on for years with the system not working, never realizing a thing until their water pipes clog with minerals that the softener was not removing because it was not doing a thing.

I haven't come across the air leak problem but that makes some sense, though I'd like to hear more specifics about where the air leaks occur;

I suspect that an air leak in the brine line between brine tank and softener might let air rather than brine pass back to the softener, but I'd think during the brine tank fill cycle you'd see water leaks at the same place.

The manual for your water softener says an air leak in the brine line can cause a brine tank overflow.

I'd suggest removing all the salt (you've done that) then starting a manual regen cycle and then stand there and with the lid off the brine tank watch what it does. You should see water enter, the float rise, the float stop the water entry, then the water flow should reverse and flow back through the softener.

(If you'd photograph the whole sequence and email me those that'd be a useful addition to our diagnostic routines online.)

Take a look at the diagnostics page in the manual - I'll quote some key passages:

Continuing with Autotrol w55/440 Water softener diagnostics, here are things to watch for during the regen cycle:

Control will not draw brine: possible causes

- low water pressure

restricted drain line

- injector plugged or defective

- Valve 2 disc and/or 3 not closed (see parts diagram)

- Air check valve prematurely closed (there's that air check valve again)

Also interesting is a system that actually takes or uses less salt than the setting on the salt dose dial (I suspect this is a good candidate for your complaint as you say the softener gives soft water after a regen cycle but just for 2 days):

The Dx says look for foreign matter inside the controller - debris causes incorrect flow rates.
You should see this in the quantity of water pumped in and out of the brine tank (it'd be reduced)

Finally, some general Dx for "Run out of Soft Water Between Regen Cycles"

- improper regen (which we've been discussing)

- incorrect salt dose setting

- incorrect hardness or capacity setting

- water hardness has increased (in the incoming water supply)

- Restricted meter turbine rotation due to foreign matter in the meter (see parts diagram)

Given the age of your water softener I'd be alert for the debris-related diagnostics in the company's list.

If you don't have the manual on hand contact me by email and I can send you a copy.

Reader follow-up:

That list is very helpful. I decided to shock the well again today (2nd time in a month) because I still believe it's at the heart of my problems.

I'm clogging up a whole house filter once every 7-10 days now.

Used to be every 2 months. It's never been a good well and I'm thinking it got worse and the softener simply can't deal with the high iron content, I'm flushing the chlorine out as I type, the hose has been running for well over 1 hour and the water is still very brown.

Hopefully it starts running clear soon. If I can't improve that part and go at least a couple months before a filter change, I think a new well or at least well company inspection is next.

Reply: shocking the well won't help a clogged water softener

If the water filter clogs in just a few days I'm doubtful that shocking the well is going to do much for it - you'll need to

- find and (ick) fix a leaky cracked damaged well casing or well piping

- install a larger capacity water filter

Reader Jim added:

Look for an air leak at the check valve or brine tank line; possibly an air leak at the backwash control,

Reader follow-up:

Yeah Dan, I think you're on the right track there unfortunately but I'll give it a couple days.

Thanks , I'll look for the leak, still not sure why there is no ball in the air check. Thought that was required for it to work.

Question: foamy water from Rainsoft water conditioner

(Mar 1, 2014) Lloyd Franklin said:

I have a rainsoft whole house water system that is showing signs of foamy water. Please let me know what problem can cause the system to make the water foamy?

Reply:

I'm not sure Lloyd; maybe mis-adjustment, over-softening; have you tried cleaning the brine tank and checking the water softener settings against the actual measured hardness of incoming water?

Question: water foamy briny

(Mar 22, 2014) John said:

Recently I've been experiencing very foamy and salty tasting water from the cold water faucets in the mornings. I have to run the faucets for several minutes to clear. I have RainSoft about 30 years old. Never maintained except to replace salt.

Reply:

John, perhaps you need to empty and clean the brine tank, then check that the tank float is moving freely, then run the softener through an extra regen cycle.

Question: water softener beeping and says "sending help"

(Mar 27, 2014) David Ashby said:

my water softener won't stop beeping. And the screen reads " SENDING HELP "

Reply:

David,

Well that's one I've not heard before. "Sending help"? You didn't mention the brand and model - which would let us (or you) check the owners' manual.

For example Culligan Gold water softeners include a beeper that can be turned on and off and indicates button activity as well as an "alarm" mode.

Your unit needs repair or service.

You might try "tapping" on the control motor to see if you can get it going again for a time but I'm not optimistic that even that free-up would be a lasting repair. The motor is accessible by removing the front plastic cover on some water conditioners.

On Rain Soft water softeners you may be able to re-set the alarm. If you have that brand or most others you can obtain a manual from the company's website, and we also have some on file.

Question: water hammering during water softener regen

(Apr 13, 2014) TERRY M said:

My water softener makes noise like water hammering when it regenerates very loud thru out the house

Reply:

Terry, take a look at this water hammer diagnosis & cure article and keep us posted

inspectapedia.com/plumbing/Water_Hammer_Noise.php

Question: long water softener regen cycle

(May 11, 2014) Stuart Machin said:

My Crown twin tank water softener is running much longer on its regeneration cycle, 2-3 hours instead of the usual 10-15 minutes.
What is the likely problem & is it something I can fix myself ?

Reply:

Stuart start by checking the control settings. Then try a manual regen cycle and watch what happens. Is the clock reading ticking or moving? I suspect a debris clogged control, check valve, or possibly a salt-stuck brine float.

Question: Performa water softener keeps clogging my washing machine with yellow stuff

7/19/2014 (4 hours ago) james lavalley email is jel122643@gmail.com said:

I have a performa water sofner.It keeps pluging up my washing machine screen with q
yellow substance and makes the washer not fill.Please help

Reply: possible resin loss from a water softener

James

This sounds as if the water softener is sending debris from the brine tank OR actual resin from the softener out with the house water supply. You could try emptying and sanitizing the brine tank (articles here describe how to do that). But I suspect it's a resin problem - which means it's time to call your local water conditioner company to take a look at the equipment.

See details at WATER SOFTENER RESIN LOSS

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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-5 - more-recent Q&A about fixing a water softener.

Or see these

Water Softener Diagnosis & Repair Articles

• DIAGNOSE WATER SOFTENER PROBLEMS
• 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-4 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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