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Typical side-located water softener injector (C) InspectApedia.comWater Softener Injector / Eductor

How to clean or replace the injector or eductor in a water softener

The water softener injector or eductor is a venturi device that creates the suction to draw brine from the water softener brine tank and to inject that brine into the water softener's resin tank.

Hence the part's name varies in water softener service manuals, where you'll find it described as the water softener eductor (Culligan) or as the water softener injecctor (most brands).

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. To identify the main components of a water softener click to enlarge the page top image.

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Brine Tank Eductor Valve / Water softener Injector Location, Cleaning, Repair

Here we provide details about how to locate, remove, clean, or replace the injector in most water softeners. We start with several photos and sketches to show the injector location on some common water softener brands and models, followed by detailed instructions for specific water softener examples.

Water Softener Injector Located on the Front of the Control Head

Water softener injector located beneath screw cap on front of control head (C) InspectApedia.com ... Water softener injector located beneath screw cap on front of control head (C) InspectApedia.com

Above we see the water softener injector located below a screw cap on the front of the control head.

Water Softener Injector/Eductor Located on the Side of the Control Head

Below we show a typical water softener injector located on the side of the control head, using a Fusion water softener as an example.

Injector assembly location on a Fusion NLT water softener at InspectApedia.com ... Injector assembly location on a Fusion NLT water softener at InspectApedia.com

AO Smith & Water Right Injector Assembly Locations

Below: location of the injector/eductor on an AO Smith 400T Water softener.

AO Smith water softener injector at InspectApedia

The injector above is discussed at AO-Smith WATER SOFTENER INJECTOR CLEANING

Below: Parts explosion for the injector assembly on a Water Right Impression Series water filter/treatment tank/softener, listed by A.O. Smith several middle-eastern countries including Egypt and saudi Arabia, Jordan, Juwait, UAE, Oman, Bahrain and Quatar.

This model provide a screw-off cap over the softener's injector screen and plug.

AO Smith Impression Water Softener Injector Assembly cited & discussed at InspectApedia.com

Below: on the AO Smith Triasoft Midi water softener the injector is found in the plastic valve at the top of the brine tank well.

AO Smith injector assembly location for the Triasoft Midi softener - InspectApedia.com

Steps in Water Softener Injector / Eductor Removal, Cleaning, Replacement

Below, using as an example excerpts from the Culligan HE 1.25 water softener manual, we show the location of the Water Softener Eductor Valve parts (on a Culligan High Efficiency Softener) that may need to be cleaned or replaced.

Watch out: when replacing an eductor, the parts need to be matched to the specific model of water softener - the backwash flow control, eductor nozzle, and eductor throat sizes must be matched to the tank size.

Eductor valve inspection, cleaning, or replacement on a Culligan(R) HE-1.25 water softener - adapted (C) InspectApedia.com 2018

The following steps in locating, inspecting, and replacing a water softener eductor are excerpted/adapted from the Culligan High Efficiency HE 1.25 water softener guide cited in detail below.

[Click to enlarge any image]

Eductor Nozzle and Throat Replacement

Refer to Figure 5 above and the instructions below when changing the eductor nozzle and throat.

1. Remove the eductor cap clip - circled in green in our illustration

2. Remove the eductor cap - outermost component of the assembly in the red circle in our illustration

3. Remove the eductor assembly.

In our illustration in the red circle [click to enlarge] in order under the Eductor cap from outer-most to inner-most component in the eductor assembly are the eductor throat, nozzle, and screen.

4. Remove the eductor screen from the assembly. Check the eductor screen for tears or debris clogging.

Clean or replace the screen. A clogged eductor screen is a likely explanation for failure to draw brine from the softener brine tan k.

5. Remove the blue nozzle and replace it with the correct nozzle. See Table 2 below, also given on pp. 13-14 in

the INSTRUCTIONS for the CULLIGAN HE-1.25 [PDF] for a guide to selecting the proper-sized backwash flow control (aka DLFC), eductor nozzle, eductor throat for various water softener sizes and brine refill flow-rates.

Watch out: It may be possible to clean a clogged water softener injector nozzle using a soft probe like a wooden toothpick, but take care not to enlarge, gouge, or damage the injector's orifice or it will not work properly.

6. Make sure to put the O-ring on the nozzle.

Watch out: take care not to gouge or damage an o-ring seal or the unit will leak.

7. Replace the eductor throat (injector throat) if required.

8. Reverse the procedure to reassemble.

Fleck Brine Injector Nozzles

Shown below are Fleck Style Brine White Injector Nozzle 10913 and White Throat 10914 used on Fleck water treatment controls found on 8" / 9" / 10" diameter tanks.

Fleck watersoftener brine injecctor nozzles at InspectApedia.com

Fleck Style White Brine Injector Nozzle 10913 & Fleck Style White Brine Throat 10914 found on 8" / 9" / 10" Water Softeners Tanks such as the Fleck 1500, 2510, 2750, 2850, 2900, 5600, 9000, 9500 Series water softener control heads.

Fleck water softener manuals can be found at the WATER CONDITIONER/SOFTENER MANUALS link in the Recommended Articles list at the end of this page.

Water Group Water Softener Injector Assembly Cleaning

The following is exceprted from the Water Group WG7000 MI water softener manual cited below.

Water Group 7000 MI Water Softener Injector cleaning procedure cited & discussed at InspectApedia.com

Cleaning the Injector Assembly

Sediment, salt and silt will restrict or clog the injector. A clean water supply and pure salt will prevent this from happening.

The injector assembly is located on the top of the control valve. This assembly is easy to clean.

Shut off the water supply to your softener and reduce the pressure by opening a cold soft water faucet. Remove the injector cap clip. Next remove the injector cap. Carefully remove the assembly and disassemble as shown in Figure above.

The injector assembly is removed from the valve body by carefully using the injector cap clip. Note: Do not rotate the injector when removing. Carefully flush all parts. Use a mild acid such as vinegar or Pro-Rust Out to clean the small holes in the orifice and throat.

Reassemble using the reverse procedure 

References for Softener Eductor / Injector Valve Cleaning or Replacement

Typical side-located water softener injector (C) InspectApedia.com


Also see WATER SOFTENER PLUMBING PROBLEMS where we warn about crimped tubing or leaky tubing between the brine tank and the water softener control head or resin tank, causing weak brine flow due to crimps, blockages, or air leaks.

 

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Reader Comments, Questions & Answers About The Article Above

Below you will find questions and answers previously posted on this page at its page bottom reader comment box.

Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

Question: high water in brine tank

(Dec 22, 2014) jjrlam@gmail.com said:
I have an Aqua Fine metered WS.

I noticed the level of water in the brine tank is about 3/4 full. I have never seen the water so high and do recall being advised the water level should not be higher than 1/4 of the tank. How can I get information on this system? I have never used regular salt and have always used pellet style salt in the system.

Reply:

JJ

High water in the brine tank suggests that the float is sticking or the connecting piping is clogged.

Start at BRINE TANK WATER TOO HIGH for complete diagnosis and repair.


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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.

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