With about 85% of homes in the United States dealing with hard water issues, many homeowners are turning to water softeners to make their daily lives more manageable. Water softening units reduce the hard minerals in a home’s tap water, thus eliminating many of the problems associated with hard water. Dull hair and skin, hard water stains, spots on dishes and surfaces, clogged pipes and high energy costs are just a few of the reasons people choose to invest in softened water. Just like any other appliance, however, water softeners won’t always function at their highest potential unless they’re properly maintained.
Troubleshooting your water softener problems
Many people may not realize the maintenance and time that is required to keep their water softener functioning properly. Here are some common water softener problems and potential fixes:
- Your water softener is not softening your water. This is one of the most frustrating issues for obvious reasons. Here’s what it could be caused by:
- No power to the water softener. Check before calling a professional.
- Leaking by-pass valve requiring o-rings. You’ll need to call for repairs unless you have experience with installing and fixing these.
- Check for salt in the tank. For salt-based water softeners, if you happen to run out of soft water before the regeneration cycle, you may have brine tank debris or salt at the bottom causing inadequate cycling. It could also be brine draw cycle defects.
- Your water softener does not regenerate. This problem could be caused by any of the following: no electrical power, a defective timer, or a power failure that caused the clock to set improperly.
- The regeneration cycle is always on. Possible causes include:
- A clogged brine tank float valve
- Clogged drain line flow control
- Clogged injector
- Very low water pressure
- Internal leak
- Broken switch or short circuit
- Improper programming of the control head
- The brine tank won’t empty. The most likely culprits are clogged injectors or drain lines, or damaged pistons.
- There is a loss of water pressure. This can be caused by iron build-up, resin loss, or a clogged control inlet from debris in the water supply.
- Your water is too salty. Are you using too much salt or is the drain hose clogged?
- Resin discharges into the water supply. There could be air inside the system.
- Your water smells. This can occur due to sulfates or hydrogen sulfide. A distiller may be required.
- The system is noisy. This could require checks on clogged tubes or valves, or be due to a worn out timer or broken air valves.
Here’s a solution to water softener problems you’ll love!
After reading the above list, you may be thinking, “Wow! That is a lot to manage and maintain.” Are you looking for an easier option that still has all the benefits that softened water has to offer? We offer portable exchange tank service, otherwise known as soft water delivery service – a hassle-free option with multiple benefits!
You will enjoy the very same outcome but without using salt in your home. Instead, regeneration takes place in a centralized regeneration facility by our trained technicians. The tanks are even maintained in our facilities resulting in less hassle for you! An added bonus? Your investment reduces salt discharge into the waste water system! In most cases, the discharge rate nears 0% and water usage decreases by two-thirds! How? The tanks do not require electricity in the home and there is no drain – our CalSoft technicians will exchange the tanks when needed depending on your household demands.
Water softener problems can easily disrupt your daily routine. Our portable exchange tank service is easy and convenient – and included in the fees are the maintenance and help you may need. Contact us today to set up your soft water system!
