Questions & answers about water softener-related water colors, debris, stains, slime, odors.

This article series gives the causes & cures for building water supply colors, odors or stains & debris that may be traced to a water softener, water conditioner or other water treatment equipment?

Q&A about Colored Water, Debris, Odors, Stains, Blamed on Water Softener

These questions and answers on the causes of and cures for stains, smells, slimy, or otherwise nasty water that might be caused by water softener problems were posted originally at WATER SOFTENER OUTPUT COLORS DEBRIS STAINS ODORS - be sure to review the diagnosis and action advice given there.

On 2019-04-28 by (mod) - goop in dishwasher might be due to water softener?

Tracy

I would take the following steps:

1. get the operation manual for your water softener so you know how to use and care for it

2. Either ask for an inspection and cleaning and sanitizing of the softener by your nearest Culligan dealer

OR read WATER SOFTENER CLEANING & SANITIZING to see how to clean and sanitize yours

3. Have your water tested for hardness and for contaminants

4. Clean the dishwasher thoroughly, run it through a cycle with no dishes, clean its drain strainer, and then don't use excessive dishwasher detergent

Let me know how those steps work for you and we'll take it from there.

On 2019-03-13 by Tracy

We recently bought a new house and were told nothing about how to operate culligan water softener. Our dishes come out of dishwasher with a white fruity coating. Also, water tastes funny. Any suggestions?

On 2018-02-25 by (mod) - bath fixtures got stained purple - potassium permanganate (KMnO4)?

Deborah

Causes & cures for purple stains traced to the water supply & its equipment:

While potassium permanganate (KMnO4), used in a water treatment system, would not normally cause staining, it's true that at high concentrations that chemical can cause purple staining.

We discuss the use of potassium permanganate at WATER ODOR TREATMENTS, CURES - SULPHUR

and also at OTHER WATER SOFTENING METHODS

So it's reasonable to start by checking the settings at your water treatment equipment to be sure there is no over-dosing with (KMnO4) .

An example emphasizing the proper preparation of Potassium permanganate in a water softener application is at inspectapedia.com/plumbing/Water_Boss_Softener_V1_Manual.pdf

It would also be clever to have your water supply tested for contaminants or abnormal levels of manganese. Some research I reviewed for this answer commented that the addition of household bleach to water that is already high in manganese can actually form potassium permanganate ions that in turn stain fixture surfaces.

Sometimes we find high manganese in the same water supply where iron is present at high levels.

Purple stains might also be traced to the formation of coppery cyanurate in water with high copper levels.

Other purple-ish, more pink or red, stains can be traced to bacterial contamination present in a water heater, water supply system, or (less likely because of the high salt content), in a water softener.

Sanitizing the equipment can help with that problem.

This article WATER STAINING CONTAMINANTS surveys various sources of stains traced to a water supply - please take a look at that article as well.

Removing purple stains:

It's usually best to start trying to remove stains with the most-gentle cleaners, escalating as needed. That's best both for personal safety and also to minimize the risk of scouring, scratching, abrading, or otherwise damaging the porcelain surface of your tub.

Start with a paste of baking soda, let it sit on a test area of the stained surface, then wash it away to test the effect.

Watch out: depending on the stain chemistry, some purple stains might actually be made worse if you try chlorine bleach on the stained area. Don't try that without a small area test first.

I have also had success with scouring powders that include a bleaching agent, such as Bar Keeper's Friend.

Other readers have had stain removing success using a denture cleaning product.

Again, be sure to test these cleaners on a small area lest you make a large purple stain area worse than before.

Keep in mind that other blue-like stains may be caused by quite different sources such as a combination of aggressive (corrosive) water and copper pipes.

Keep us posted and we'll proceed from there.

On 2018-02-23 by Deborah

We had a new water softener installed several months ago and used potassium tablet.

Almost immediately, my white Kolher tub became stained. The stains are almost purple and are ugly.

Could this be caused by the potassium pellets? We switched to salt pellets but the stains remain and I have tried many things to get rid of them. Any advice for removiing these stains? Thank you.

On 2017-05-03 by Kathy

I have lived in my home for 19 years now. There was a water softener hooked up when we moved in but we have never used it! My home now has a constant musty, worse then the average must basement smell due to a sump pump. I had that checked already. I also spent a lot of money inspecting my home for mold, we didn't have any.

I'm now wondering if this nasty smell in my home can be caused from stagnant water in the softener for over 19 years? It never dawned on me until now! Can you help me with this? Also, I want to remove it. Is this something I should higher a plumber for?

On 2017-02-01 by (mod) -

A water softener working normally would not cause blackening of fixtures. I'd have the water tested for sulphur.

On 2017-02-01 by Mark

After installing a new softener system I noticed some fixtures and some loveelery becoming black from the water. What causes this and can it be fixed?

On 2016-12-19 by Teresa Ross

I have a RainSoft water softener and it has left yellowish/brownish rings at water level in all three of my toilet bowls. Why is this happening and how do I get rid of the rings??

On 2016-11-26 by (mod) -

PJ

I don't think so. I'd check first on the water chemistry - ask your local water test lab to tell you what's in the water. For example water high in iron will not be adequately handled by a typical water softener - whose ability to remove iron is limited.

On 2016-11-26 by PJ

I recently had a water softener installed, it has definitely made a difference in removing hardness (Iron Sulfate) but now the toilets have yellow ring and bowl is discolored. Could this be eliminate by using a specific type of pellets??

On 2016-09-07 by (mod) - Water softeners remove minerals, not chlorine

Iris:

Water softeners remove minerals, principally calcium and magnesium, from the incoming water supply by swapping into the water salt ions. They are not designed to remove chlorine.

Search InspectApedia for WATER SOFTENER CLEANING & SANITIZING to see how to clean your water softener. If after that water coming through the unit still smells something else is wrong.

On 2016-09-07 22:02:47.354337 by Iris Robishaw

Since water softeners remove the chlorine in the water, my clothes smell unless I use additives to my washer. Is there an easier way to take care of this problem.

On 2015-07-29 by (mod) - black stains on kitchen sponges

• Possibilities are
  
  Dirt
  
• Grease
  
• Algae
  
• Mold
  
• Sulphur (if there is sulphur in your water supply)
  
• Bacteria
  
  You could Try sanitizing the water softener.

But in any event, bacteria and fungi will grow in kitchen sponges - you should replace the sponges every week or so or whenever the sponge looks or smells nasty.

On 2015-07-28 by Will

Sponges used in kitchen sink get black stains on them (not mold). Water softener problem?

Question:

(Feb 11, 2013) Sarg s. said:

The city recently came in and changed our water reader and once they did our water consumption went from 10,500 gallons to 55,500 gallons of water in a 28 day cycle. The only thing running when we were notified was the water softener BUT I do not know for sure if it was in its cycle for the day or if it was the problem. The thing is the city just replaced their head in our basement a day before we started wasting water. WHat gives, if anything? Is this normal or was it just our luck? Any ideas would be great. Thanks

Question:

(Feb 15, 2013) Shannon - in New Castle said:

I'm new to having a water softener.. I don't know how to use this thing, don't know how to adjust it, and can't get it to cycle. How often should it cycle for 2 people living in the house? There are NO stickers or labels on it anywhere to tell me what make/model/mnfctr it is either. I'm pretty sure the dern thing hasn't run in over a week now, the water is starting to smell really strong... HALP!

Question:

(Feb 8, 2014) kawika said:

Similar to the question "discolored water after water softener regen cycle". I cleaned the brine tank but I still get discolored water afar regeneration. We have only noticed the discoloration in the 2nd bath toilet and tub, nowhere else. it clears up after 3 flushes.

Reply:

Kawika, I'm just guessing, but it seems to me that if water looks different colors at different fixtures in the building I'd think the root source is not the softner (that all water passes through) but perhaps the piping or some other contaminant, or iron, or debris source.

If you see it mostly at a toilet it could be worth cleaning debris out of the toilet tank too.

Reader says:

he discoloration is only present immediately after a regeneration cycle. Why only in the toilet/tub is unknown. If it were the piping or other source it should be present at all times.

Reply:

K
I agree with your reasoning, more or less; sometimes a fixture that runs water faster (like a tub) will stir up and show debris that slower running fixtures don't.

A toilet would offer the opposite explanation: debris often accumulates in the toilet tank - in part because the relatively slow fill rate doesn't stir it up enough to flush out when the toilet is flushed.

Start (because it's easy) by taking a look in the toilet tank; look for deposits on the tank walls or crud on the tank bottom; that may point to a water supply debris problem; if there are yellow stains but no deposits more often that points to iron in the water;

With that simple look out of the way and assuming we want to pursue the water softener, I'd check the softner brine tank - in these articles we describe cleaning and disinfecting the brine tank. It's tempting to also run a disinfectant cycle through the water softner itself but I would not do that without knowing the brand and model and then checking the manufacturer's cleaning instructions.

Summarizing: try:

1. checking and cleaning the brine tank

2. running the softener through an extra regen cycle

Reader says:

Toilet tank is clean. Cleaned brine tank, manually ran two regenerations…next scheduled regeneration had no water discoloration…latest regeneration (Today) had the discoloration back in toilet (cleared after 4 flushes).

Reply:

K
are we certain that the incoming water from the source is not the origin of the discoloration you're seeing? Have you tested that water - ahead of any treatment equipment?

Question: white residue in dishwasher

(Feb 16, 2014) stanley costello said:

i get a light powder like residue on my dishes after a dishwashing cycle

Reply:

Stanley,

I've seen this deposit in more than one circumstance: using too much dishwasher detergent, very hard water supply, and on occasion, debris that needs to be cleaned from the dishwasher bottom.

Question:

(June 7, 2014) Ann said:

Just set up new digital water softener. finished settings and run regeneration cycle. It carried out regeneration adn then started cycle all over again ? what is wrong pleaase - what should I do?

Question: replace algae-contaminated water softener?

(June 9, 2014) David Williams said:

have well water system. had a bad algae bloom. water co. said softener had to be replaced. could it have been cleaned, repaired instead?

Reply:

David

I'm unclear why a dirty water softener would need replacement; someone is giving expensive advice that's safe for them and costly for you. Instead I would follow the water softener cleaning and disinfection procedure in your water softener's instruction manual or see our water softener cleaning procedure article at

/plumbing/Water_Softener_Cleaning.php

Question: cleaned water softener, lost prime

(June 29, 2014) Dave said:

I cleaned my water softner tank and now I can't get the prime back. Please help!

Reply:

Dave,

If you mean your well pump has lost prime just search inspectApedia for "LOST WELL PRIME" or "HOW TO PRIME THE PUMP" to see procedural details.

If you mean the water softener is not filling the brine tank you will want to check for disconnected tubing, a clogged check valve, or a clogged or improperly set (e.g. on bypass) control valve.

...

Continue reading  at WATER SOFTENER OUTPUT COLORS DEBRIS STAINS ODORS - topic home, or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Water Softener Odor or Stain Articles

• DIAGNOSE WATER SOFTENER PROBLEMS
• WATER SOFTENER CLEANING & SANITIZING
• WATER SOFTENER OUTPUT COLORS DEBRIS STAINS ODORS
• WATER ODORS, CAUSE CURE - home
• WATER STAINING CONTAMINANTS

Suggested citation for this web page

WATER SOFTENER OUTPUT COLORS DEBRIS STAINS ODOR FAQs 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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