There are two ways that a water softener resin bed can begin to fail after prolonged use:
- The resin bed becomes damaged by high hardness or iron, and stops softening your water properly. In this case, you might see sand-like grains in your water, and the resin will be unable to completely soften your water.
- The resin bed starts to lose its capacity for holding sodium and calcium minerals. ...
How do I know if my softener resin is bad?
If your water softener stops putting out soft water, or if it ends up running out of soft water quickly, you likely have a damaged bed of resin beads. Resin beads in water softeners typically last about 10 to 15 years.
What is the shelf life of water softener resin?
If your water softener doesn't put out any soft water or it regenerates and runs out of soft water quickly (in just a day or so), you probably have a damaged “resin bed.” A water softener resin bed normally lasts 10 to 15 years.
Does water softener resin need to be replaced?
Some resin beds can last for the entire lifespan of the water softener, while others need to be replaced every 10 years or less. It all depends on your home's water quality and the amount of wear and tear that the bed goes through as your softener is running.
Can water softener resin dry out?
A lot of resin specification sheets warn about allowing resins to dry out. Again, this is way overrated. Yes, if resin is put in an oven and all the water is baked out of it, it will shrink to about half its regular size. When a user goes to re-wet it, the resin will swell suddenly and probably break.
How often should you change the resin in a water softener?
Water softener resin will usually need to be replaced every 10 years. Resin that's exposed to high levels of chlorine, iron, or water hardness will only last around 5 years.
How do I clean my water softener resin?
There are two ways to clean the tank: The first is to unplug the water softener unit and remove the resin tank by unscrewing the bolts and disconnecting the valve. You can then clean the tank using bleach and water before reinstalling the tank.
How do you recharge a water softener resin?
How to recharge the resin of a Water softener?The regeneration process is essentially a resin cleaning cycle! ... Recharging the resin_ ... 1: Fill. ... 2: Brining. ... 3: Brine Rinse. ... 4: Backwash. ... 5: Rinse quickly.
How do you replace resin in a water softener?
0:002:45On The Go Refill Kit Instructions - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt is the same for the double. Standard model and all of our data Nizer you start off by unscrewingMoreIt is the same for the double. Standard model and all of our data Nizer you start off by unscrewing the gray-head the distribution tube will be connected to it you pull the head. Off.
How much does it cost to Rebed a water softener?
Water softener repair costs $150 to $600 on average, depending on the size and complexity of the system. Small systems installed under the sink are more cost-effective to fix than larger whole-house units. Most problems are an empty brine tank, a jammed valve, or parts that need cleaning.
How do you know when your water softener needs to be replaced?
Signs Your Softener Isn't Working ProperlyScale buildup inside water-using appliances.Reddish/yellowish stains around drains and faucets.White crust buildup on faucets.Mineral spots in bathroom and on dishes.Clothes feel scratchy and the color is fading.Lower water pressure in the shower.More items...
What does water softener resin smell like?
Sulfur bacteria is attracted to the sodium in water softener tanks. As the bacteria grows, hydrogen sulfide gas is released as a waste product, hence the rotten egg odor.
What color are water softener resin beads?
amber-coloredIf you have a water softener connected to your home's plumbing system, you might notice amber-colored beads appearing in the toilet, sink and other fixtures at some point. These beads are called water softener resin, and while they're not toxic, they can clog up your plumbing system.
Does water softener resin breakdown?
Depending on these conditions, standard 8% resin will breakdown 2-10% each year. Besides removing chlorine or iron, you can also improve resin life by increasing the crosslink %. Studies show, a 10% crosslink bead will last 2x longer than an 8% bead (20 years vs. 10years).
Why does water softener resin leak?
A broken screen or failed seal in the upper distributor can allow water softener resin beads to escape into the water supply. A cracked upper distributor also can cause this problem. Unplug the water softener and shut off the water supply, then remove the valve assembly and inspect the upper distributor components.
Why does my resin tank go bad?
If your plumbing system has excessive water hammering, it can directly damage the resin bed every time that water shoots into your tank. If you start to notice that your water is not as soft as it typically is, there’s a good chance that your resin bed has gone bad.
How to protect resin bed from damage?
The best way to protect your resin bed from damage is to install a water filtration system that can remove problematic contaminants like chlorine and iron. This system should be installed before the water softener so that those contaminants can be remove before they get into the softener’s tank.
How long do water softeners last?
Some resin beds can last for the entire lifespan of the water softener, while others need to be replaced every 10 years or less. It all depends on your home’s water quality and the amount of wear and tear that the bed goes through as your softener is running. Some of the most common causes of resin bed damage include: 1 Chlorine. Chlorine is by far the biggest cause of resin bed degradation. That’s because chlorine breaks up the glue that holds resin beads together, which renders them ineffective. If your tap water contains chlorine, like most municipal water does, it can greatly reduce the lifespan of your softener’s resin bed. 2 Iron. If your home’s water contains iron, the iron can coat the outer layers of the beads that make up the resin bed. This makes it harder for hardness minerals to bind to the beads, which decreases the performance of your softener. 3 Water hammering. Water hammering is a term that’s used to describe the force behind water that flows through your pipes every time a faucet is turned on or off. If your plumbing system has excessive water hammering, it can directly damage the resin bed every time that water shoots into your tank.
What is resin bed?
What is a resin bed? Your water softener’s tank is filled with thousands of tiny beads called “resin beads.”. When hardness minerals come into contact with these beads, they bind to them and are removed from the water that leaves the tank.
What is the process of softening water?
This process, known as “ion exchange, ” is what makes it possible to soften your home’s water. The collection of beads in a water softener’s tank is known as the resin bed. It is a water softener’s version of the filtration media that’s found in other types of water treatment systems.
Does chlorine in water affect resin?
That’s because chlorine breaks up the glue that holds resin beads together, which renders them ineffective. If your tap water contains chlorine, like most municipal water does, it can greatly reduce the lifespan of your softener’s resin bed. Iron.
Do water softeners need to be replaced?
Water softeners do not require a whole lot of your attention. For the most part, they operate in the background while you enjoy the fruits of their labor. But under certain conditions, your water softener’s resin bed may stop working properly and a replacement will be required.
Why is my water softener yellow?
If you see yellow or reddish debris at the water softener drain or at faucet strainers & shower heads, the water softener resin may be deteriorated or an internal part in the water softener may need replacement.
What happens if a sofener is not regenerating?
If your sofener has not been regenerating properly or even if it has it might have accumulated debris over its years of service and its resin tank may need cleaning and new resin installed.
What is the gravel in a water softener tank?
You may know that at the bottom of a typical water softener resin tank is a layer of gravel intended to keep resin from being drawn into the plumbing system ; if the gravel in the top basket matches the softener gravel then either there's basket damage somewhere or you have very unusual water pressure and turbulence in the softener. (Or there's another source we've not considered.)
What does it mean when you see air discharge in a softener?
If you are seeing air discharge at the softener drain I suspect there is still an air leak problem in the softener's control head, valves, or regen and salt tank piping, OR indeed the resin is old and sending out fines.
What is a fine mesh water softener?
Fine mesh water softener resin can remove higher levels of iron in the water supply than the regular mesh.
Where is the distribution basket on a water softener?
Water softeners often have a top and a bottom distribution basket, found at the top and bottom of the distributor riser tube. That's the tube I was discussing below. If the distributor basket is broken (or left out by some idiot who worked on the unit before you did) resin may not be retained in the water softener.
Why is there orange slime in my water treatment?
When you see an orange slime coating in water treatment equipment there's a good chance that you're seeing a deposit caused by iron or magnesium-loving bacteria.
What to do if your water is not as soft?
If you begin to notice that your water is not as soft as it used to be, there is a chance that the resin bed has gone bad. At this stage, it is a good idea to have the resin bed checked out by a qualified local water treatment professional. There is a wide choice of water softeners/water conditioners and filtration systems on the market that can address water quality issues. Always ensure that your chosen water treatment professional is fully WQA certified to ensure that they meet and even exceed water industry standards.
What is the resin in a water softener?
Your water softeners/water conditioners tank is actually filled with thousands of tiny resin beads. When the minerals that cause hard water come into contact with these beads, they are bound to them and removed from the water that reaches your faucets. This process is commonly referred to as an ion exchange, and it is how your water is softened. Collectively, the resin beads housed in the softener tank are known as the resin bed.
Why is my resin bed hard?
Chlorine is the usual cause for a degradation in you resin bed; it breaks apart the glue that holds the resin beads together. This process makes the beads ineffective, and the water will become harder over time. If your home is supplied by a municipal supply, it will probably contain chlorine, and your resin bed is at risk.
What does hammering water mean?
Water hammering is a term that describes the force generated by water traveling through your pipes when the faucet is turned on. If your plumbing system has extensive water hammering it will cause damage to the water softeners/water conditioners resin bed.
Does a resin water softener go bad?
It is a fairly unusual occurrence for a resin bed to go bad . Some last the entire lifespan of the water softeners/water conditioners tank without incident. Other resin beds would typically be replaced every decade, but this is dependant on the quality of your water and the wear and tear on the unit. There are three main causes of damage to a resin bed, they are:
Who is Terry from EcoWater?
With more than 25 years experience in the residential and commercial water treatment space, Terry is a WQA (Water Quality Association) certified water specialist, LEVEL 3, as well as a WQA certified sales representative. Terry currently sits on EcoWater Systems (a Berkshire Hathaway Company) national Peers committee, as a water treatment expert advising other water professionals with less experience on best trade and technology practices. EcoWater Systems of Nebraska is one of the biggest water treatment and water delivery businesses in the state.