Water softener regeneration cycle time period: how to diagnose a water softener that uses too much water, runs too long, or is stuck in regeneration mode.
What is the normal duration or length of a water softener regeneration cycle? What determines the length of the softener regen cycle? Can the regen cycle duration be adjusted? How to diagnose & fix problems with a water softener that runs too long or not long enough.
How much water does a water softener consume to regenerate its ability to remove minerals from the water supply?
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.
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If your water softener is running in regen mode continuously, something is drastically wrong. You'll know this by seeing water discharging from the softener drain and by hearing water running through the softener continuously, for more than three hours.
[Click to enlarge any image]
Watch out: A water softener that is "stuck in regeneration mode" running continuously
In that case, turn off the water softener or put it in bypass and call for repair.
Watch out: Before you decide that your water softener is running for an abnormally long time, it's worth noting that even in a perfectly adjusted water softener the regeneration cycle can involve five steps or more and can run for 1-2 hours.
Is it normal for brine flush to be an hour long ? - D.C.
DC it could be an hour - as long as it stops you're OK. The length of the regen cycle is controlled by the timer/control on your equipment and will vary by water conditioner size and salt dose. It would not be unusual for the total regen cycle to take more than an hour, comprised of these steps:
Water Conditioner Regeneration Cycle Time Components |
||
Older Water Softeners | Current Water Softener Cycles | |
1. Backwash cycle - wash out the resin tank | 14 minutes | 14 minutes |
2. Brine Draw: Water Softener regen cycle - brine is pumped slowly out of the brine tank, through the water conditioner tank including a "slow rinse" when the brine is exhausted |
52 minutes | 30-52 minutes |
3. Slow Rinse (if not included in step 2) | 10-20 minutes | |
4. Fast Rinse | 6 minutes | |
5. Brine tank refill - water is pumped into the brine tank to dissolve salt to be available as salty water for the next regen cycle | 10 minutes | 5-6 minutes |
Total Water Conditioner Regen Cycle Time (sum of above) | 76 minutes | 65 - 98 minutes |
The times in the "Older Water Softener" column above above are accurate for older, simpler water softeners and water conditioners.
Newer water softeners from about 2000 to present may use more regeneration steps and take a longer time for which we added the second column: Current Water Softeners. Thanks to reader "Conflicting" for pointing out that inconsistency 2018-07-24.
See WATER SOFTENER OPERATING CYCLES for details of what a modern water softener is doing in normal or service cycle (providing soft water) and what the softener is doing in multiple steps of its regeneration cycle.
My water softener continues to run when no water is being drawn from anywhere in the house. Why is this happening? - Joe Hernandez, Brighten MI
Joe:
The table below lists common causes & cures for a water softener that cycles continuously or that keeps draining continuously.
Causes of Long Water Softener Run or Regeneration Cycles or Continuous Water Softener Draining |
||
Water Softener "Stuck On" Problem | Water Softener Problem Cause | Water Softener Repair Procedure |
Water softener control cycles continuously | Broken or shorted water softener control switch or timer | If the water softener timer or control switch is defective it can cause the softener to remain "stuck" in regeneration mode, causing the water softener to cycle continuously. Replace the timer, switch, or if necessary replace the entire water softener control head. |
Water softener drains continuously | Water softener control valve not programmed correctly | Check Timer Program and Positioning of Control. Replace Power Head Assembly if not Positioning Properly. |
Water softener control valve clogged by debris | Remove the water softener power head assembly and inspect the bore. Remove foreign material and check the control in various regeneration positions. |
|
Water softener valve internal leak | Replace the seals and piston assembly in the softener control head. | |
Water softener regeneration cycle inadequate | Various causes in the article cited at right | Insufficient salt dose or brine tank problems can cause the water softener regen cycle to be too short or can cause the softener to fail to produce enough soft water. |
Water Softener fails to draw brine from the brine tank | Various causes in article cited at right | Brine tank flooding or water level too high. |
If the water softener actually seems to "run" or to be "stuck" in regeneration mode, running continuously, then its operating control needs to be repaired or replaced. Don't leave the softener running forever - doing so wastes water and if your home is connected to a private septic system it will also flood and damage the drainfield.
In an emergency if the water softener is "stuck" running water continuously I'd just unplug it and also perhaps set the control to bypass while
(see BYPASS VALVE)
waiting for a water treatment company to perform the needed control repair.
Adapted from a review of multiple water softener installation and repair manuals.
SeeReferences or Citations in this and other water softener repair articles at InspectApedia's More Reading section.
What you describe might be normal if the water softener runs when no water is being used in the house but later stops itself. The water softener itself does not deliver water to your home.
That is done by the water pump or incoming water supply. So when a water softener "runs" it is in its regeneration or "backwash" cycle during which the softener pumps water into a salt tank to make brine, then flushes the brine backwards through the water treatment tank, then flushes the brine out of the treatment tank.
Because during the regeneration cycle the water softener is on "bypass", any household water used by occupants during that interval is not treated or softened during the regeneration cycle.
Therefore we usually set the water softener timer to process its regeneration cycle in the middle of the night - when no one is using water. That may be what you are hearing.
See HOW WATER SOFTENERS / CONDITIONERS WORK for details about how water softeners work.
See WATER SOFTENER ADJUSTMENT & CONTROLS for advice on how to set the water softener timer and salt dose.
2016/06/20 John said:
how many gallons of water being wasted during each regeneration cycle?
Thanks for asking an important question, John.
"Waste" is perhaps not perhaps the best term to use when discussing water use during a water softener regeneration cycle. The water softener is treating as much as 2000-3000 gallons of hard water depending on water softener size, model, and the hardness of the water supply.
That treatment is more than aesthetic, as it's also keeping plumbing piping, water heaters, and fixtures working rather than clogging from scale. Water hardness even determines the amount of detergent needed to wash clothing.
To regenerate - that is removing calcium and magnesium that has accumulated in the water softener the regen cycle may use between 30 and 100 gallons of water over 1-2 hours of the regeneration cycle, again depending on softener model, size, water hardness (1 grain of hardness is about 17 ppm of calcium/magnesium in the water), salt dose and similar parameters.
Another data point for cross-checking claims about water softener water consumption during regen coming from a different source suggests that: typical mid-sized water softeners regenerate at about 0.3 gpm during the regen cycle.
Over two hours that's 120 x .3 or as little as 40 gallons of water being consumed. The lowest regen flow rate I've seen is about 0.18 and the highest 0.8 gpm, putting the upper end of water consumption by this approach at 0.8 x 120 or 96 gallons of water used over two hours.
I would agree, however, that more sophisticated water softeners that measure the hardness of water and the volume of water passing through the unit are more efficient at both salt and water usage than softeners that operate strictly by a clock-timer approach to setting the regeneration frequency and time.
As water softener efficiency varies that means the amount of salt needed and thus flush-water or brine needed varies too.
A good standard is that an efficient water softener should use no more than 5 gallons of regeneration cycle water per 1000 grains of hardness removed from the water supply.
Actual water usage is between 1.3 and 5.6 gallons of regeneration water per 1000 grains of water hardness, depending on softener model, design, and efficiency.
This tips us off that there isn't a single "right" answer to your question. As Mark Cramer says, .... it depends. In this case on the hardness of your water supply, the volume of water being consumed, and the efficiency of your water softener.
See also WATER SOFTENER SALT DOSE SETTING as that determines how much salt is used at each regen cycle and thus how much water should be pumped into and then back out of the brine tank.
Can someone explain why, during a regeneration cycle, the time for drawing brine from tank is five times longer than refilling water into tank. That part of the cycle is drawing all of the water from tank and continues that cycle long after the brine tank is empty.
This system was installed and setup by a water softener company who I'm assuming made all necessary tests. My new job is to maintain this system and insure proper operation. I had a stuck float in the brine tank which was repaired, than I forced a regeneration cycle and noticed the brine tank and cycle setup. - Bob
Bob, indeed it sounds as if the water softener control or perhaps the brine tank fill control is not working properly. Or maybe not.
Some water softeners do not pump water into the brine tank until the start of a regen cycle. In that case once brine has been drawn out of the tank you won't see water pumped back into the salt tank until the next regen cycle.
The water softener regeneration takes place by cycling salty water backwards through the treatment tank and out into a disposal drain, followed by some wash-out of brine from the treatment tank so that the household water is not full of salt.
So the regeneration cycle would be expected to run for the sum of the brine passage plus the flush out water passage - longer than just the time to remove the brine-water from the salt tank.
But if the cycle is abnormally long compared to the exhaustion of the brine tank liquid, another possibility is the following: the softener is set to use a particular quantity of salt (in the form of brine water) based on water hardness and quantity used.
But if the float in the brine tank prevented sufficient water from entering the tank at the start of the regen cycle, then the softener control could find itself blithely pumping along, having exhausted the undersized salt dose but having no way to know that (the brine float is a mechanical device that has most often no direct communication with the actual electrically powered softener control).
So I'd make a double check that the un-stuck float in the brine tank is properly set in its height and free in its movement.
See WATER SOFTENER BRINE TANK FLOAT LEVEL ADJUSTMENT
Water overflows - citation, 8/31/11
Water is flowing out of the top of my water softener salt tank. Can you tell me what's wrong and how to fix it ? - anon.
Sure. We discuss this problem in the article above
at WATER SOFTENER REGENERATION CYCLE DURATION - your system overflowing may be due to
I moved into a new house 3 months ago to find the softener to be "out of service" meaning my inlet outlet valves to softener were closed and bypass open.
When I lined softener up I noticed that water was running out of my backwash line this continued for 15-20 min. It was not in a regeneration cycle? Any answers would be great thanks - Josh 10/5/12
Josh, I'm guessing you bumped an extra regen cycle switch on the control; But it's just a guess. If the system was put out of service and on bypass it might be because the system was stuck in regeneration mode and needs cleaning or repair.
water softener i unplugged the unit and it still runs water through it is there is there something i can do to shut off water from going through the system until i can get someone to look at it - Robert Clem 8/1/12
Robert,
Put the water softener on bypass.
See BYPASS VALVE
Also see WATER SOFTENER BACKUP, FLOODING, LEAKS.
I have a Culligan 50 series softener that is continually draining water. There is a plastic tube out the top that goes direct to the main house drain and recently we noticed there is a steady stream coming from it.
I tried to put in by pass and can't move the spool. - NH 8/8/12
NH
I'd need to see a photo to be sure we are talking about the same component but it sounds as if you are describing a leak at the water / brine line between the brine tank and the water softener.
That line might leak either when the system is pumping water into the brine tank to make brine, or when the system is in regeneration cycle and is pumping salty water back through the water conditioner. Take a close look to see exactly what's leaking and replace those parts - it should be an inexpensive "screw-together" repair.
See WATER SOFTENER BACKUP, FLOODING, LEAKS for diagnostic & repair procedures for this problem.
If we have not kept salt in our tank, would the softener recycle more often than it should?
The reason for my question is I got a call from the city about our culinary water consumption and it is extremely higher than normal which indicates either a leak in our home such as a toilet, or the water softener is recycling too often. How do I know how many times the softener is recycling? - Jamie 6/18/12
Jamie,
No, if you have a basic softener that just runs the regen cycle by a timer. That sort does not know how salty the regen solution is.
Yes, if your softener is a more advanced model that monitors water hardness. that type would see that the water remains too hard and keep running regen cycles fruitlessly.
we haven't used our Culligan softener since we moved in 1999. when i plug the unit in it constantly discharges water down the main waste. is this normal? - Sal 6/21/12
Sal, it sounds as if your water softener is stuck in regen-cycle.
Try cleaning it
see WATER SOFTENER CLEANING & SANITIZING
then re-set the controls
see WATER SOFTENER ADJUSTMENT & CONTROLS
then try a manual backwash cycle.
See WATER SOFTENER MANUAL REGENERATION
If the system keeps running for hours, then the water the water softener control needs repair or replacement.
Above we discussed the duration of water softener regeneration cycles: how long the equipment should run when executing a regeneration cycle.
Frequency of water softener regeneration is not the same question as duration of the regeneration cycle.
See the article above on this page:
WATER SOFTENER REGENERATION CYCLE DURATION for a discussion of abnormally-long water softener regeneration cycle time duration.
See WATER SOFTENER REGENERATION CYCLE FREQUENCY for details about how to set the water softener salt dose, regeneration frequency and on some models, softener regeneration time.
16 March 2015 Anonymous said:
I have a Waterboss 900 that's stuck in regenerate mode. How do I remove valves to check for obstruction?
This question was originally posted at DIAGNOSE WATER SOFTENER PROBLEMS
Anon,
On a WaterBoss 900 if the unit stays in "regeneration" mode it may or may not be an obstruction.
Common causes of being stuck in regen include
1. The computer control is not properly attached. Check this FIRST. Be sure that the computer control is pushed all the way up onto the drive end cap.
2. Here you may be right: a foreign object (crud) may be stuck in the valve body. Look at the parts explosion and see my caveats below when disassembling to check or clean the valve.
3. Your Water Boss could have a broken valve assembly. If the motor runs and the valve doesn't turn this is probably the problem so I'd look for this condition before disassembling the valve.
If you don't already have an owners and installation manual for your Water Boss water softener, contact the company at the location I give below to obtain that document. That will give you a parts explosion and repair procedures specific to that machine.
Meanwhile I'd put the system on bypass and turn it off so you stop wasting water and perhaps flooding a septic system.
Watch out: I would NOT disassemble the unit one bit before having repair parts kit in hand. Going to all that trouble and finding that you've nicked or damaged an O-ring can leave you shut down while you have to wait for such parts, and chances are you need them anyway.
Contact details for WaterBoss Water Softeners
WaterBoss
4343 S Hamilton Rd
Groveport, OH 43125
Phone: 800-437-8993
Fax: 614-836-9876
http://www.waterboss.com/
...
Below you will find questions and answers previously posted on this page at its page bottom reader comment box.
On 2021-04-11 - by (mod) -
@Anthony,
Most water softeners have a strainer in the bottom of the water softener resin tank. If that's traitor fails such as if parts of it break off from age, it's possible that sand or Roshan beads from the water softener tank would then be pumped out through the water system.
On 2021-04-11 by Anthony
Gold color dust comes out exit pipe after water system backwash
Anybody know why gold colored sand is there next day
On 2021-02-18 - by (mod) -
Bob
Let's search InspectApedia.com for "hellenbrand water softeners" to find HELLENBRAND WATER SOFTENERS
The link is https://inspectapedia.com/plumbing/Hellenbrand-H-100-Manual.pdf
where there is at least contact information for the company - I'd give their customer support a call.
You can download a manual for your water softener to review the Hellenbrand H-100 softener error codes from this link
On 2021-02-17 by Bob
2/17/2021. My 15 year old Hellenbrand H-100 Starts regen very noisely and 2 hours early, set for 1 AM but starts at 11. It takes 4 hours to complete regen. Error code C-8 displays when cycling thru display. Appears to use salt and soften ok.
On 2021-01-09 by (mod) - WaterBoss 950 softener error Code E1
High:
A WaterBoss 950 softener error Code E1s isn't a code listed by the company, but Error Code E1 (without the s) is described as:
“E1” Home not found
Remedy:
Cycle power by unplugging the transformer
and plugging it back in. It will look for Home
again. Make sure the controller is pushed all
the way onto the drive end cap
Or in older manuals:
“E1” Home magnet not found: Cycle power by unplugging the transformer and plugging it
back in and it will look for Home again.
H0 isn't a code I found in the manual. So if after trying the remedy above I would give WaterBoss a call -
WaterBoss®
4343 S. Hamilton Rd. Groveport, OH 43125
Phone: 1-800-437-8993
and do let me know what you're told as that will help other readers.
If you don't have the manual for your Water Boss 950 softener see WATER CONDITIONER / SOFTENER MANUALS https://inspectapedia.com/plumbing/Water_Softener_Manuals.php
On 2021-01-09 by HighWater
Have Waterboss 950 thats not working properly and show E1s or H0 error. Unplugged and turned to bypass position while waiting for new parts, continually hear water running through the softner even though there is no water being used insided house.
Sound similiar to regen cycle when softener is working properly but then eventually goes silent when finished. The only way to get the water noise to stop is turn off water at the meter, but then there no water available in the house.
On 2020-12-19 - by (mod) -
Terry:
The brine rinse cycle of a water softener indeed discharges rather salty water from the system. However I'm doubtful that the discharge will harm a typical residential sump pump system.
There can be a question of impact on a septic system tank and drainfield of salty brine discharge.
On 2020-12-19 by Terry Scharnhorst
When the brine tank flushes, how salty is the water that discharges? Is it too salty to discharge into a sump pump?
On 2020-10-08 - by (mod) -
Maureen:
What you do to stop a water softener regen cycle once it has begun depends on the specific water softer - as the controls will vary - as well as on why you're stopping it. I'll give some examples:
Case #1: If there is a leak and water is flooding the area, indeed you want to stop the water softener immediately; in that case turn off the valve that supplies water to the softener right away.
You may also want to turn off power to or un-plug the leaking softener.
Now take a closer look at where the leak was occurring: if it's in the softener's drain system or control head, you may be able to restore water to the building by putting the softener into BYPASS mode while you wait for your repair technician. Don't wait for months as hard water will ultimately cause scale deposits that can damage water heating equipment and clog pipes.
Case#2: you started a regeneration cycle and it's at an inconvenient time or you want to change softener settings:
In this case, again varying by type of softener control head (electro-mechanical, clock, vs. digital display for example) you can advance the timer's controls to skip the present regen cycle.
But watch out: depending on what step in the regeneration process your softener is working when you interrupt it, you may need to at least set the softener to run its final rinse cycle.
For example if the softener was in the middle of the brine backwash cycle and you stop that and then return the softener to service you'll be sending very salty water into the building fixtures unless you finish with a rinse cycle.
Take a look at (and post a photo of ) your specific softener's control head and we can perhaps identify the model and refer you to the manual for your machine.
On 2020-10-08 by Maureen
How can I stop regeneration once it’s started?
On 2020-09-23 - by (mod) -
Thank you for the helpful comment, Anon.
On 2020-09-23 by Anonymous
NOTE: the first step in many newer models is to -fill- the brine tank, then proceed to brine drawing.
On 2020-08-11 - by (mod) -
Try power of, wait a few minutes, power on, manual regen; if the problem persists I suspect a bad control board.
On 2020-08-10 by Anonymous
My rainsoft drains some constantly?
On 2020-07-22 - by (mod) -
Alex
I think a reasonable place to start is by making sure first that your water softener timer is set to the current hour or time.
On 2020-07-22 by Alex
Rainsoft Silver SERIES
MODEL: AMS 50 CT
Today I heard the drain getting the water out thru the washer/dryer evacuation system.
Initially I thought it is normal after it is been doing that for a while. Then I thought there is some problem so I unplugged the unit, but it keep drainning.
Then I stopped the water. After restarting everything worked fine, but than it started doing it again. Then my wife was using one of the faucets and it stopped. Then I took a shower it stopped again draining.
I am confused is there an issue.
PS: We bought the house 1 year ago but I started the unit only a week or two ago.
On 2020-01-26 by (mod) -
Loven,
Check that water can flow into and brine flow out of the brine tank; a stuck brine tank float or crimped or leaky brine tank water tube are the easiest problems to find and fix
If those are intact, try a manual regen and watch what the softener does; if it's not opening a valve to send water into the brine tank and doesn't pump brine out of it I suspect the control head needs repair or replacement.
On 2020-01-26 by loven
My water softener goes through the regeneration cycles, but does nothing during the actual cycle.
On 2019-11-25 by (mod) -
I'd talk to the manufacturer; "pre-programmed" could be wrong settings if not specifically for the hardness of your water supply,
On 2019-11-22 by Aaron Krystal Pure salt dose
Thanks. I have a Krystal Pure and it says the salt dosage is “pre-programmed” and should not be changed. The unit is only 4 years old.
On 2019-11-21 by (mod) -
There are several possible explanations here.
First you may need to adjust not just the Regeneration frequency but also the salt dose.
In addition it's possible that the softener is in fact not functioning that is not softening water if in fact it's resin is old and expired.
On 2019-11-21 by Aaron
I have a water softener and having issues getting the water soft. I tried adjusting hardness level and increasing it (even know I know it’s set correctly), but same readily. I have to manually Regen about 3-4 times for my water to get soft!
Any thoughts on why or what could cause this? Watched Regen cycle and everything seems to run normal. Verified no leaks/air in the brine valve. Any other recommendations?
On 2019-06-21 by (mod) -
I'd try removing all power for 5 minutes,
Then restore power and try a manual regen cycle.
On 2019-06-21 y Karen
My rain soft q2 water softner is stuck in a cycle what steps can i take to correct it
On 2019-05-05 by Miro
Water is drain from drain pipe nonstop on my ws series softener.What I can do?
On 2019-02-10 by (mod) - SOME water softeners permit cancelling a regeneration cycle by pressing particular control head buttons.
Anon
SOME water softeners permit cancelling a regeneration cycle by pressing particular control head buttons.
Example:
On an AquaAmerica / AquaSoft / Aqua Systems WATER SOFTENER, To cancel the regeneration simultaneously press UP + DOWN buttons and release.
On a Culligan Gold water softener: the word "cancel" does not appear in the manual.
Watch out: I don't like to cancel a softener regen cycle once it's actually begun because you're leaving the system in a possibly dys-functional state.
The sequence of steps in a typical water softener regen cycle are at WATER SOFTENER OPERATING CYCLES
inspectapedia.com/plumbing/Water_Softener_Operation.php
Step 1 - backwash the resin tank - about 14-15 minutes maybe longer
Step 2 - Brine draw out of the brine tank
Step 3 - slow rinse cycle
Step 4 - fast rinse cycle
Step 5 - re-fill the brine tank
So you can see that unless you stopped a regen cyle in the first moments of its first step, if you stopped it later you are leaving it in the "wrong" state and there's a good chance you're not softening your water or you're leaving the system improperly maintained.
So what can you do?
When I've made the same mistake as you
AND when it was inconvenient to let the regen cycle continue
I left the softener OFF
I put the bypass control valve into BYPASS
I warned building occupants that the water softener was out of service,
Watch out: that means do not use a tankless coil or tankless water heater as extra minerals will quickly clog the hot water piping
But that permitted people to wash the car or water the lawn.
As soon as it was convenient I
- put the softener back into service - out of bypass mode
- allowed the softener to complete its regeneration cycle
at WATER CONDITIONER / SOFTENER MANUALS you can find the installation and operation manual for your particular water softener.
On 2019-02-10 by Anonymous
8 accidentally started washer during water softner regeneration. I turned it off after bout 15 minutes. What should I do?
On 2018-10-28 by (mod) -
The video is about How to fix a Rainsoft water softener motor and water valve on Q2 series unit.
At MANUALS for WATER SOFTENERS - Rainsoft
readers can also find the actual instruction and repair manuals as well as contact information for RainSoft water softeners.
On 2018-10-28 by (mod) -
Re-posting
Chain said:
I [saw] a video ... about how to fix the motor and the pump by a guy named Dee G. It’s a little rough video but it explained to be the exact same problem I have
a pin is broken that goes from the shaft to the gears and the pump won’t move up and down
I have gotten my motor off and gotten the broken pieces of pin out,
I have not replaced them yet and I’m getting ready to remove the white cap
That goes to the pump my pump does not go up and down like he explained in his video and he showed how to clean that up and get it working again.
...
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