Water Softener Repair & Service
Water softener service is normally recommended annually as it is for most other water filtration equipment. These systems process thousands of gallons of water per month and remove significant amounts of minerals and contaminants. Consistent water softener service will significantly decrease the need for more expensive water softener repairs in the future. It is possible to have interim operational problems (identified later in this report) which can potentially be diagnosed and remedied by the homeowner.
High Efficiency Water Softener
There are various brands of water softeners, some more efficient than others in terms of water usage and salt requirements. Some models are capable of softening larger volumes of water, therefore estimating water usage is important. For higher levels of iron and/or manganese, an up-flow water softener (versus down-flow) is highly recommended. This will avoid damaging mineral build-up at the bottom of the tank. To ensure proper operation and to maximize the useful life of your equipment, annual service is typically recommended. For complicated problems, contacting your water treatment service technician is your best option. See some symptoms of potential problems with your water softener below.
WHAT TO CHECK IF WATER SOFTENER IS NOT WORKING
Assure that the water softener is actually “on”, that is, that the system has electric power, then:
- Check the water softener bypass valve: You want first to see that the water softener is not on “bypass” – is household water flowing through the unit? This valve is an option and may not be installed on your unit. However, there may be standard plumbing valves or globe valves that accomplish the same purpose.
- Check power to the water softener: If the unit uses electricity to run a timer, be sure it’s plugged in to a live outlet and has power. Some water conditioners use a low-voltage transformer for powering controls – be sure it is present, plugged in, working. Also, a power failure could cause the timer to be improperly set. Re-set the day of week and time of day on the water softener timer after any loss of power to the unit.
- Check salt tank: Is there salt in the salt tank? If not, add salt to the tank.
- Manually regen cycle: Then try a manual regeneration cycle – you’ll see on most units a lever you can push on the control box to start that regeneration process. Note: your home will not be delivered conditioned or softened water while the water softener is in the regeneration cycle. Therefore, its best not to use water (or use as little as possible- flushing toilets is OK, etc.) in the home until the regeneration process is complete. This is why most programmed regeneration is set for late at night when water usage is much less likely.
- Feel & test the water supply: if you can’t get a lather when bathing, water may be insufficiently treated.
OTHER POTENTIAL WATER SOFTENER REPAIR SYMPTOMS
Without fully diagnosing, it may be impossible to diagnose the problem and if a repair is even necessary. This is where a service technician will be able to trouble shoot the situation and come to a determination and solution to the problem. While there are many possible symptoms and problems a softener may experience, the following are possibilities.
- Loss of water pressure downstream from the softener
- Mineral discharge from the water softener and into the home’s water supply
- Staining on home fixtures even though the water softener seems to be running properly
- Excessive salt usage by the system, requiring higher than normal salt tank fill ups
- Hard water evidence observed right after a regeneration cycle.
