Water softener brine tanks diagnostic questions & answers:

FAQs on what causes too much water in the water conditioner brine tank or salt tank & how do we fix it. Problem diagnosis & repair with brine tank float control & other salt tank level controls.

How to Diagnose & Fix Water Softener Problems: 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.

Water Softener Brine Tank Diagnostic FAQs - Too Much Water in the Brine Tank

Our photos at left and at page top show the water softener brine tank in normal condition.

[Click to enlarge any image]

On 2020-09-19 - by (mod) -

Mark

I'm not sure if the problem is that the rinse cycle is too short or that the softener or brine tank is contaminated; try following our advice in the ARTICLE INDEX on water softener cleaning and sanitation.

On 2020-09-19 by Mark

After regeneration approx 1st 100 gallons is discolored

On 2020-04-26 - by (mod) -

Will a charcoal filter can produce black sediment in the water. But if your water systems are different I don't know enough about what installed to be able to offer a diagnostic suggestion

On 2020-04-26 by Anonymous

Thanks for your reply, I filled a white coffee cup with water and no residue. My husband says the drinking water runs different. I mentioned that I saw an article about the charcoal filter's reaction when the city water has a lot of chlorine. I do note that our city water has a lot, I can smell it. He's going to run a cleaning cycle which we are supposed to do about every 4 months so maybe that will help. It was very odd to see all the toilets like that, I even asked my neighbor to see if maybe it was something with the city water I wasn't aware of but she said her water was fine so I know it's our system. We will see if it improves:)

On 2020-04-26 - by (mod) -

Let's start by taking a look at water from the source - ahead of any treatment equipment. Perhaps fill a clean 5 gallon pail and let it settle.

On 2020-04-25 by Amy

Just noticed yesterday that our toilet had this grey dirty appearance as if I dumped bucket of dirty cleaning water. Checked all three toilets, same appearance. We have new water softener system about 5 months, but drinking water is clear. What could be causing this and how do we adjust or clean or fix?

On 2020-03-22 - by (mod) -

Ronnie,

First check carefully the tubing and connections between the brine tank and water softener to be sure there is not a leak running down the brine tank side.

Once you are certain that there are no such higher-leaks (that are repairable) then you are probably going to find a crack or damage near the tank bottom, in which case it's time to replace it.

Attach a photo of any damage you can see and I can comment further.

On 2020-03-21 by Ronnie

Water coming from bottom of brine tank

On 2019-01-04 - by (mod) -

David

There may be dirt or debris in your salt source, but also if the tank is old and has never been cleaned there could be other contaminants that include algae or bacteria.

Please see

WATER SOFTENER CLEANING & SANITIZING at https://inspectapedia.com/plumbing/Water_Softener_Cleaning.php

On 2019-01-03 by David

I have noticed that there are a lot of black particles in my brine tank which does not belong from the salt. I am wondering why these particles exist? Can you give me any feedback? My email address is dkww18@gmail.com

Thank You

I have noticed that there are a lot of black particles in my brine tank which does not belong from the source. I am wondering why these articles exist? Can you give me any feedback? My email address is dkww18@gmail.com

On 2018-12-19 by Lloyd

I replaced a now control valve for my reisen tank, and brine tank not working.

On 2018-12-19 by Ron

Our water has gone really slimy when you have a bath,our unit is from water Canada and can't find my book any advice on if I can adjust the salt to water or not. I have done a regen a couple days ago. Thank you

On 2018-07-15 by Anonymous

Trying to get a operating manual for a Structural water Softener model 1035

On 2017-11-14 by Anonymous

water was high in the Salt tank never noticed before

On 2016-10-26 by bill

Sometimes in the morning when i get uo the water in my sink seems salty when i first use the water, the other sinks do the same thong .after a
couple seconds it is gone .Probably not backwashing correctly but how do i fix it. Thanks

On 2016-04-11 by (mod) -

If you've also tried setting up the system as per the instructions in the softener manual, then there are two choices

1. call the manufacturer's help line - I gave that information earlier

2. call a local water softener repair company for help

Do keep me posted

On 2016-04-09 by Misty

Tried pulling the plug and waiting 10 minutes. No change...it retained the settings. I don't know what else to do.

On 2016-04-08 by (mod) - tricks to re-set water softener controls

It's worth a try. Leaving power off for a few minutes will reset some softener controls. On restoring power check the program: I don't know if this system remembers settings across a power outage.

Watch out: some water softeners include a "hidden" additinal reset button that can be accessed by removing the plastic cover on the control head to disclose a tiny reset switch mounted on the circuit board. Take care as there's live power - you can be shocked or killed touching stuff. Check the instructions specifically for your water softener.

On 2016-04-08 by Misty

Would unplugging the unit allow me to fully reset the controls?? The high salt usage is the only issue I'm having.

On 2016-04-08 by reader

Would unplugging the unit allow me to fully reset the controls?? The high salt usage is the only issue I'm having.

On 2016-04-08 by (mod) - Reset a Rainsoft EC4 100 CV water softner

Misty,

If you don't have the owners' manual for your Rainsoft EC4 water softener, you can obtain one from the company at
RainSoft
101 S. Gary Avenue
Roselle, IL 60172
847-437-9400
Website: www.rainsoft.com

or you can use our page bottom CONTACT link and I can send you a PDF copy of the manual.

On your water softener the salt dose is adjusted by the electronic / LCD control panel on the control head face.

1. If the display is not already lit, press any of the keys or buttons - if you don't see it light up the unit is dead and needs repair.

2. Press the Customer Settings button

3. Use the Menu Forward / Back keys to find SALT LEVEL

4. Fill the brine tank with salt up to level 4 (marked on the tank)

5. Press the UP / DOWN keys to show level 4 in the display

The softener controls also include a salt alarm that you can set if you like.

When you exit the settings menu your changes are automagically saved

The INFO CENTER will display salt usage, water usage and other specifications for your installation.

Significantly, the instructions make no mention of salt *dosage* adjustment. Presumably the controller is monitoring water hardness, usage, and regen requirements.

In your specific case, the "every day" regeneration suggests that the controls need to be completely re-set.

On 2016-04-08 by Misty

I have a Rainsoft EC4 100 CV water softner. I am having some issues and desperately need help.

I went from a once a week Regen and refilling my salt every 2-3 months to my system now regenerating every day and going thru 100 lbs of salt in less than a week.

Help!! I went thru the installer and service settings and even pulled the back off the units computer but cannot locate the salt dosage adjustment knob/pin anywhere.

Where is it located in this unit and besides adjusting the salt dosage what can I do to fix it?

I can't afford to spend a bunch of money to get it fixed.

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.

Details are at

• BRINE TANK DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR - home
• BRINE TANK WATER TOO HIGH
• BRINE TANK WATER TOO LOW

 

Question: what if there is no salt tank at my water softener

(Jan 30, 2013) trish said:

We have a tank in our basement that we were told was a salt system. I am confused because it has no brine tank.

It is tall and thin with a control box on top. We have lived here 6 months. Finite was the first time I hand heard it "regenerate". It was running for about 20 minutes.

My husband turned it off and bypassed it. We don't have a clue about it. Do they all have brine tanks or do some have just a pressure tank??

Reply:

Your system may not have a separate water brine tank if the unit is an exchange type system:

Some water conditioners use an "exchange tank" design: the resin is pre-charged with salt or other chemicals and is inside a tank taht is exchanged periodically, typically monthly by a water treatment service company.

Our photo shows the interior of a Culligan brine tank (or salt tank). A simlar, rectangular salt tank can be seen in the photo at the top of this page.

Question: My softener was sitting with too much water in the brine tank and was using loads of salt.

(Mar 21, 2015) Mark said:

My softener was sitting with too much water in the brine tank and was using loads of salt. I did a regen and it did not fix.

I took the air check valve (the simple small float type) and shook it up and down and ran it under a tap and since then the problem has gone. Is it as simple as that? Should I now take the time to super-clean the brine tank and makes sure there is no debris anywhere. Is there a cleaning solution you could recommend for this?

Reply:

Good going on the repair Mark. Anything that fouls up the softener's ability to control the volume of water into or out of the brine can can cause trouble. As another step I'd double check that the brine tank float is moving freely.

Mark for your second question

At the ARTICLE INDEX at the end of this article please see

WATER SOFTENER CLEANING & SANITIZING

Question: sudden increase in water softener salt usage

I have a twin tank and all of a sudden I am using tons of salt. Any ideas? - Joanne 8/16/12

Reply:

Joanne,

Check for a change to the salt dose or water softener backwash/regen cycle frequency on the unit controls

Check for a water softener stuck in backwash/regen cycle - see WATER SOFTENER BACKUP, FLOODING, LEAKS

and then see WATER SOFTENER REGENERATION CYCLE DURATION

Question: My softener was sitting with too much water in the brine tank and was using loads of salt.

(Mar 21, 2015) Mark said:
Hi, My softener was sitting with too much water in the brine tank and was using loads of salt.

I did a regen and it did not fix. I took the air check valve (the simple small float type) and shook it up and down and ran it under a tap and since then the problem has gone.

Is it as simple as that? Should I now take the time to super-clean the brine tank and makes sure there is no debris anywhere. Is there a cleaning solution you could recommend for this?

Reply:

Good going on the repair Mark. Anything that fouls up the softener's ability to control the volume of water into or out of the brine can can cause trouble. As another step I'd double check that the brine tank float is moving freely.

Mark for your second question

At the ARTICLE INDEX at the end of this article please see

SOFTENER CLEANING & SANITIZING

Question: 6-7 inches of dissolved salt sitting in bottom of softner tank

(Apr 4, 2015) joan said:
I have noticed that there is about 6-7 inches of dissolved salt sitting in bottom of softner tank

some soft & mushy. some getting hard. should this be here . will it cause problems in future??

Reply:

Joan

I'm not certain because I can't see your water softener brine tank, but what you describe could be perfectly normal if the level of salt in the tank is quite low. As long as during regen cycling water enters the salt tank, dissolves salt, and is pumped back out through the softener to regenerate it you're ok.

If the salt solidifies into a solid block, yes I'd agree that's a problem since in my OPINION the entering water will not dissolve the required amount of salt during a regen cycle. In that case I'd break, up or even remove the solid block, clean the salt tank, check that the brine level float is working, and then re-fill it.

If that salt tank bottom goop is dirty or mushy I'd clean and sanitize the system. See WATER SOFTENER CLEANING & SANITIZING

Question: should salt in the brine tank be covered with water?

(Apr 15, 2015) Wally Smith said:

According to my manual...my brine tank with it's salt table, The water should refill to about on inch above the salt table. When I cycle the softener the refill never refills to that level. The float assembly appears to be an overfill protection device not a device that turns off the incoming brine.

The float is set to about half way up the float tower. I cleaned all brine tank and float assembly

During the brine flush the brine tank empties in around 20 mins.

The manual says that cycle should last 50 mins. During the brine flush cycle the transfer of the brine to the softener. Should the brine flow be for 50 mins? Wallysmi@aol.com

Reply: It depends

Wally tell me the softener brand and model or email me a PDF of the manual (email is at our CONTACT link) and I'll take a look.

Normally the brine tank is filled to near the top with salt crystals and water never comes up that high.

Naturally when the level of salt in the tank is near the bottom (and more salt is needed) a regen cycle will indeed pump enough water into the tank that you can see it.

If the salt tank is flooding then I suspect the float assembly is jammed or there is a crimp in the tubing connecting brine tank to resin tank.

See BRINE TANK FLOAT VALVE ADJUST first.

Then see the diagnostics at BRINE TANK WATER TOO HIGH

In my brine tank photo above you can see that water completely covers the salt in this Pentair Fleck new water softener installed in San Miguel de Allende.

The installation of this equipment is described

at WATER SOFTENER RESIN REPLACEMENT. When we filled the brine tank to near its top the water was of course no longer visible. Our installer insisted that this visible water when salt is low in the tank is normal behaviour.

Question: brine tank doesn't fill during a scheduled recharge

(Apr 23, 2015) Sean said:
I have a whirlpool WHES48 and my brine tank doesn't fill during a scheduled recharge.

I have watched as it starts and there is a slow draining of water out of the drain hose but the brine tank is not filling. My water does not feel near as soft either.

Now, if I do a manual recharge, it seems to work just fine. The brine tank fills to the salt level and the cycle runs normal. My water is soft again after as well.

Reply:

Check for a crimped tube between brine tank and softener; check for a sticking float valve in the brine tank; if those aren't the problem the control head may need cleaning or repair.

See BRINE TANK WATER TOO LOW for a complete list of reasons that the brine tank isn't filling, and also

see the diagnostic table at BRINE TANK DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR - home

Question: Water very high in salt tank

(Sept 23, 2015) John said:
Water very high in salt tank

Reply:

John check for a stuck brine tank float control

then see the diagnostics at BRINE TANK WATER TOO HIGH

Question: drop in water pressure during softener regen cycle

(Oct 2, 2015) Chris said:
I have a Fleck 5600 econominder. This morning, our water pressure dipped very low (during all of a shower, sink usage and toilet flush).

I went downstairs to check and found the brine tank filling up (but must have been empty). I have not touched the control panel in forever. Do I have a problem? How do I prevent this problem (temporary low water pressure) from recurring?

Reply:

Chris the problem may be in your water supply system. You can confirm that by noticing if water pressure drips during a shower when other fixtures are run.

Question: water remains in the brine tank after regen cycle

(Dec 30, 2015) john said:

Can you help me? My Brine tank fills up with about 8 inches of water. It appears that by the end of the brine risen cycle, only about 2" of brine has been sucked back out of the tank - thus leaving 6 inches of brine water in the tank - is this normal or should the amount of water going into the brine tank equal the amount that comes out of the brine tank in the brine cycle? how much water should be sitting in the bottom of the brine tank after the completed cycle.

Reply:

John,

Water is normally visible in the salt tank once the salt level gets down to 3/4 or 1/2 full.

In the ARTICLE INDEX given above please

find BRINE TANK WATER TOO HIGH that will diagnose and probably fix the problem you describe. Let me know if that works for you.. or not.

Question: brine tank was overflowing with water

(Feb 18, 2016) Kris said:
Earlier this week I noticed that the brine tank was overflowing with water. I tried lightly pulling up on the rod that the float is attached to and was unable to move it (which is maybe normal). I pulled the float assembly out and unhooked the line that runs to the softener.

The line was under pressure, which again, maybe is normal. After line was depressurized, I could easily move float rod. I took the check valve apart to make sure nothing was clogged in there.

Also checked the line that runs to the softener. Everything seemed good. I put everything back together and manually cycled the softener.

It did lower the water level some during that cycle and lowered it more after I manually cycled it again the next day.

However now after it ran it's scheduled cycle last night, there is maybe 3inch of water in the tank. I can easily move the float rod up and down. I've never seen the water lever this low before and I've lived in this house for 15+ years. Any ideas on whats happening?

Reply:

Kris you're looking at what I would look at too. The brine tank float rod should move up and down.

I would check the float adjustment against the instruction manual for your softener.

See BRINE TANK WATER TOO HIGH

Also at BRINE TANK DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR - home - you'll see other snafus such as a leaky valve that can cause brine tank over-filling or even over-flowing/

Question: water softener not removing enough iron and sulphur or rotten egg odor

(Feb 20, 2016) Cindy&Eric said:

In our attempt to have soft, iron-free, and smell-free well water, we replaced a corroded anode and flushed our hot water heater with a chlorine solution.

Before this, our water softener was doing its job and kept our water soft and fairly iron free (although we had the rotten egg smell in the hot water, which is why we worked on the hot water heater).

That was less than a week ago and we have high iron and hardness in our water again.

Could what we did to the hot water heater be effecting our water softener? Everything seems to be in working order except our brine tank only has a small amount of water in it and is not refilling during manual regeneration cycles and the float doesn't want to move.

Reply:

C&E

Most water softeners can remove limited amounts of sulphur and iron from water.

As the water heater is downstream from your water softener I don't see any way that disinfecting it and changing the anode (two good steps to take if hot water smells eggy), would impact the water softener.

If the brine tank float is not rising or water is not entering the brine tank then it sounds as if the water softener is not working. CHeck for a stuck brine tank float or a crimped brine tank tube. If those are all OK the problem may be in the softener control head.

If those steps don't correct the trouble, I suggest having the water tested for iron, hardness, and sulphur level. That may tell you that your well water has changed, perhaps seasonally or due to a lowering water table, and the results might suggest you need additional iron and sulphur removal equipment.

...

Continue reading  at WATER SOFTENER SALT DOSE SETTING or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• WATER CONDITIONER / SOFTENER MANUALS
• WATER SOFTENERS & CONDITIONERS - home
• WATER SOFTENER ADJUSTMENT & CONTROLS
• WATER SOFTENER BRINE TANK DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR - home

Suggested citation for this web page

WATER SOFTENER BRINE TANK SALT DOSE 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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