how do i service my water softener

Here’s a quick rundown on cleaning your water softener:

• 1. Dump out existing water and salt
• 2. Remove the brine grid or mesh platform from the base of the tank
• 3. Scrub with dish soap—temperature doesn’t matter
• 4. Rinse out soap

Full Answer

How do you setup a water softener?

• Plug it in. Most softeners plug into a standard electrical outlet.
• Open the bypass.
• Put salt in the tank.
• Make sure the time of day on the softener is set correctly.
• Schedule the softener to regenerate.

Do I need a water softener service plan?

Without routine service, a water softener can lose its ability to properly treat your water, bringing back the hard water problems homeowners likely experienced before installation, like dry skin, slimy hair, and housecleaning headaches. Regular visits ensure everything is doing what it’s supposed to do.

How to clean and sanitize a water softener?

Steps for Sanitizing a Water Softener With Bleach

• Turn off any other water treatment systems you have before this procedure.
• Start a regular or “extra” regeneration cycle.
• Add approximately 3 gallons of water into the salt tank if it is empty. ...
• Add the bleach to the brine tank according to the dosages outlined above.
• NOTE: Don’t pour the bleach directly on the salts. ...

More items...

What is the best water softener for a well?

What type of well water softener salt is best?

• Salt crystals. A salt crystal makes by releasing a mixture of salt, brine, and water into the air. ...
• Solar sea salt. The evaporation of seawater produces solar sea salt, hence its name. ...
• Rock salt. Rock salt includes irregularly shaped pieces of salt similar to rock. ...
• Evaporated salt pellets. ...
• Potassium chloride. ...

What kind of maintenance needs to be done on a water softener?

You should only really need to refill your water softener's brine tank (which is where the salt goes) every two months. However, it's still a good idea to check more frequently than that. Open the brine tank lid every now and again and make sure the salt is wet and covered in water.

Do water softeners need to be serviced?

How Often Does a Water Softener System Need Service? A good water softener system can last anywhere from 10 to 15 years with proper care and maintenance. Ideally, you'll have a professional like Aquarius Water Conditioning service your unit at least once a year.

How do you service a water softener unit?

3:505:42Water Softener Maintenance 101 - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOne of the maintenance steps there is to make sure you use a resin cleaner. The read out salt forMoreOne of the maintenance steps there is to make sure you use a resin cleaner. The read out salt for example or a liquid resin cleaner helps keep the resin beads from becoming iron foul.

How do you know when your water softener needs to be cleaned?

How often should you clean a water softener brine tank? It's wise to clean the brine tank every time you refill it. This means cleaning it about once a month. Particularly, inspect for mold and sludge in the tank.

What is the lifespan of a water softener?

10 to 20 yearsWater softeners can last 10 to 20 years, depending on the type and quality you buy. On average, a single tank electric water softener could last you up to 12 years, while a Kinetico system can last as many as 20 years. However, no appliance lasts forever.

How do I clean my water softener brine tank?

0:383:36Water Softener Maintenance Cleaning Out Your Brine Tank - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou clean it inside the brine tank and you can use dishwashing soap or if the the mould stains areMoreYou clean it inside the brine tank and you can use dishwashing soap or if the the mould stains are quite significant you can use something like this the ultimate mold Eliminator.

Should there be water in my water softener salt tank?

Your water softener brine tank should never be full of water. Even if your water softener brine tank is half full of water, then you have a problem.

How expensive is it to maintain a water softener?

Monetary costs – Prices for water softeners can range from $400 to $6,000 but there are many extraneous costs to owning one. One such cost is maintenance which is an additional $500 to $700 a year to replace the salt in the system.

How much water should be in my water softener brine tank?

There will usually be several gallons of water in the bottom of the brine tank, but usually is never more than twelve inches high. We recommend that you check the salt level in your brine tank at least monthly. The more often your system regenerates, the more you'll need to check and add salt to the tank.

What happens if you don't put salt in water softener?

The absence of salt means that the water will no longer be softened, and the control valve will be filled with hard water. The water can't be softened without salt. That means hard water will build-up your pipes and cause less efficiency in your water heating system.

How often do you change water softener filter?

Plumbers recommend swapping out the filter in your water softener for a new one every 3 to 6 months. The exact amount of time between filter replacements will vary depending on the mineral content in your water – the harder your water is, the more frequently you will need to replace the filter.

Can you put too much salt in a water softener?

Don't Add Too Much Salt Adding too much salt to your water quality softener can cause salt “bridging,” or a buildup and solidification of regenerant. This buildup can prevent your system from regenerating properly.

How often does a water softener need to be replaced?

10 to 15 yearsA water softener should last 10 to 15 years. If your unit is facing more wear and tear, it could be due to improper maintenance or particularly hard water. If you'd like to extend the lifespan of your water softener, one option is to add a pre-filter.

How often should I change the salt in my water softener?

So How Often Should I Add Salt To My Water Softener? In general, we recommend adding a bag of salt every month.

How often should you change water softener filter?

Plumbers recommend swapping out the filter in your water softener for a new one every 3 to 6 months. The exact amount of time between filter replacements will vary depending on the mineral content in your water – the harder your water is, the more frequently you will need to replace the filter.

How often does water softener need salt?

Salt should be added to the softener two times a month. Probably you said salt in the softener recently, and it seems like you would need to add more. However, if you own a water softener, it is advisable to check the salt level twice a month to ensure enough salt.

What happens if my water softener runs out of salt?

If your water softener runs out of salt, the system simply won’t work. Thankfully, this isn’t damaging to the system -- but it does mean that it wi...

How to replace resin in a water softener?

Exactly how to replace resin in a water softener will depend on your specific system; refer to the manual. Generally, though, the process requires...

Do water softeners need to be serviced?

A good water softener system can last years without professional attention. Eventually, you may need to hire a professional to replace the resin be...

Can bacteria grow in a water softener?

Bacteria can indeed grow inside a water softener. It is important to check the brine tank’s cleanliness frequently and clean out mold or bacteria w...

How long does a water softener last for?

While a water softener’s resin beads will start to lose efficiency after seven years, the system itself should last you upwards of 20 years granted...

What happens if I don’t clean my water softener?

Most likely, the system would eventually lose its ability to perform a proper regeneration cycle, which would mean the resin would be unable to rem...

How does dirt get into my brine tank?

Most likely, the dirt has come from your softening salt, which naturally contains sediment that can’t dissolve into your water. That’s how the grit...

Is there any other water softener maintenance to remember?

Aside from cleaning out the resin beads and softener tank, you should also give the full system a once-over. When inspecting your water softener, c...

Why is regeneration important?

Regeration is technically considered an aspect of water softener maintenance, though the majority of high-quality systems nowadays will automatical...

Do I need to clean the brine injector valve?

Yes. You should clean the brine injector valve at least every 1 year; preferably every 6 months. Otherwise called the venturi valve, the brine inje...

Does mixing bleach with resin cleaner make it work better?

No. If you’re just looking to clean your water softener rein beads, use the resin cleaning solution alone. Combining bleach with other chemicals is...

My water softener has limescale – is this normal?

Yes! Though limescale – caused by calcium and magnesium minerals – is the very thing that water softeners tackle, you’ll still likely notice hard w...

Will I ever need to change my softener’s resin beads?

Yes. Typically, the softening resin needs to be changed every 10 years. If your resin has been exposed to particularly high levels of hard water, c...

How to make your water softener last longer?

#2. Use Good Salt. When you do refill your water softener’s brine tank, make sure you use quality salt. Thankfully, water softener salt is fairly cheap. For the best of the best, go with evaporated salt pellets, which are the purest out there.

How to clean sludge off of brine?

If your softener is particularly dirty, the salt will look more like sludge. If the sludge is caked onto the bottom of the brine tank, light prodding with a stick or broom handle should pry it free. Once you’ve gotten the sludge free, clean the tank with detergent, water and a brush.

How long does it take for a water softener to work?

Thankfully, this isn’t damaging to the system — but it does mean that it will take a couple days to resume softening water properly throughout your home. Just refill it as you normally would and then allow it to regenerate.

How to tell if water softener is working?

One telltale sign of water softener is soap that won’t lather properly.

What is salt bridge?

A salt bridge is a layer of crust that builds up and separates the water and salt in your tank. This prevents the system from running properly. By sticking to quality salt, as outlined in tip #2, you’ll avoid this. Still, it’s good to check for salt bridges occasionally.

How much does it cost to replace beads?

This can be somewhat costly, with beads and a professional’s time running between the ballparks of $100 and $300.

Do you have to open a water softener to see if it is awry?

However, you don’t even necessarily need to open the softener to notice something is awry. Hard water interacts with soap in a way that prevents it from lathering up properly. This is a very simple, easy way to monitor your water softener’s status on a daily basis. Some other things to look out for:

Can I Put Bleach in My Water Softener?

We all know that household bleach is one of the best cleaners out there, and most of us have got a batch of the stuff in our cupboards. Water softeners can become contaminated with harmful pathogens, such as bacteria, even if your home receives a disinfected municipal water supply.

Is there any other water softener maintenance to remember?

When inspecting your water softener, check that the connections don’t leak and the O-rings aren’t worn. It’s a good idea to replace any faulty or worn parts to improve the efficiency of your softening system.

How does dirt get into my brine tank?

Most likely, the dirt has come from your softening salt, which naturally contains sediment that can’t dissolve into your water. That’s how the grit and grime is able to accumulate over time – you add more and more salt, which dissolves, while the sediment is left in the tank. Some salt is dirtier than other types – for instance, rock salt is notoriously dirty.

Why is regeneration important?

Regeneration is technically considered an aspect of water softener maintenance, though the majority of high-quality systems nowadays will automatically regenerate, so it’s not something you need to be concerned about.

Do I need to clean the brine injector valve?

Yes. You should clean the brine injector valve at least every 1 year; preferably every 6 months. Otherwise called the venturi valve, the brine injector has a mesh screen that prevents dirt from getting into the brine tank. This screen clogs up over time and requires cleaning out. You’ll usually need to bypass the softener then run it through a regeneration cycle before you open the cap or cover to reach the valve. Check your user manual if you’re not sure of the location of this valve within your water softener.

Does mixing bleach with resin cleaner make it work better?

No. If you’re just looking to clean your water softener rein beads, use the resin cleaning solution alone. Combining bleach with other chemicals is dangerous and can produce harmful fumes. If you’ve just cleaned out the brine tank with bleach, disconnect the brine line and remove the bleach before cleaning the resin beads.

Will I ever need to change my softener’s resin beads?

Yes. Typically, the softening resin needs to be changed every 10 years. If your resin has been exposed to particularly high levels of hard water, chlorine, iron or sulfur, it may need to be replaced even more regularly. The frequency of the resin changes depends purely on the quality of your water supply and the quality of the original resin beads. When replacing your resin, consider 10% resin over 8% resin, which has a greater number of “links” in the beads and will therefore have a longer lifespan.

What is done on a typical water softener service that would make a difference in how often I should have it serviced?

A water softener relies on water flow to control a large part of the functions required for it to do its regeneration process properly. When the parts of the water softener that control the water flowing through it get clogged, worn or out of alignment, the water may not get used properly.

What kind of water softener do you have?

Although different brands of water softeners may soften your water in the same way, some may require servicing more often than others.

Does your water softener have a pre-filter?

Although a water pre-filter is not actually part of a water softener, it can play an important role in the functioning of a water softener.

How much water do you use?

Naturally, the amount of water that you use will determine how often your water softener will have to work and will make a difference in how often your water softener will need to be serviced.

Has your water usage changed?

As your water usage changes, so will the need to service your water softener. A growing family will put more demand on your water softener so you may at one time serviced your water softener once every few years but now find that it needs to be once a year.

What would happen if I don’t have my water softener serviced often enough?

If the injector in a water softener gets clogged or restricted, it will not create the correct amount of draw in which to pull the brine from the salt tank.

How to determine how often to get water softener serviced?

The simplest way to determine if you should increase or decrease how often you get your water softener serviced is to check that the water coming from your water softener is soft.

Maintaining your water softener can be easy if you know what to do

Maintaining your water softener can be easy if you know what to do. You’ll want to make sure that you have a plan for when things go wrong, and be prepared with the information needed to get your system back into service quickly.

Plan ahead for an emergency by having the number of a reputable water softener repair professional

If your water softener breaks down, it can be frustrating to figure out how to fix it. A good approach is to plan ahead for an emergency by having the number of a reputable water softener repair professional on hand.

How to Maintain Your Water Softener

To maintain your water softener and keep it running smoothly, there are a few steps you can take. The first step is to remove the bypass valve from the system. This will allow you to drain any excess water that has built up in your softener tank when it was not being used.

The first step is to switch off the water supply

The first step is to switch off the water supply. You’ll want to make sure that your water supply is turned off before starting any maintenance, so that you can safely work around it during that time. If you have a tankless or well-less water heater, this will be especially important if it has shut-off valves on the top of its housing.

Remove the bypass valve

Use a wrench to loosen the valve in your water line about 1/4 inch (6 mm) from its base, then pull out with pliers or other suitable tool until you hear it pop free of its mounting hole in the wall of your home’s plumbing system.

Let the tank dry for about 24 hours and then refill it with water

After you’ve run your water softener, let it dry for about 24 hours. This allows the resin to completely settle out of the tank and back into its original form, which will make it easier to clean later on.

Be sure to do a thorough flush of the system every six months

Use a clean bucket to fill your tank with water, then let it sit for 24 hours. This will allow any mineral deposits to settle out and make it easier for you to empty later on.

How to break up salt in brine?

Salt can form a solid layer or "bridge" in the brine tank. This prevents the loose salt on top from mixing with the water down below, preventing the softener from working. Push a long broom handle several times around the center of the tank, all the way to the bottom, to break up any solid layers that have formed.

How to clean a water softener?

To maintain your water softening system, you’ll need to routinely check its salt levels, flush it with a cleaner, and clean the tank. About once a year, empty your water tank and scrub it with soapy water. Then, rinse it out and soak the tank in ¼ cup household bleach and 2 gallons of water. Once every few months, pour water softener cleaner into the brine tank and set the system to regenerate to keep it clean. Every month, you should also check the brine tank to make sure it’s about half-full of salt. If you notice a solid layer of salt or mush at the bottom of the brine tank, use a broom handle to break up the salt. At the same time as you check the brine tank, close and open the bypass valve that cuts off the softener from your water supply to prevent it from getting stiff. For more tips, including how to choose salt for your brine tank, read on!

How to fix bridging problems?

If you have repeated problems with bridging, use less salt, and let the salt drop lower between refills. Cleaning the brine tank should also help.

How high should salt be in a tank?

High salt levels (within 4 in/15 cm of the tank top) may improve efficiency, but reduce this to a lower level if you notice old salt clinging to the sides. If you use block salt, it may be best to have a technician raise your water level to submerge the block completely. Know what kind of salt to add.

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Why do you need to keep salt in your tank?

If you live in an area of high humidity, it's advisable to keep lower levels of salt in the tank and refill little and often. Warm, close conditions can contribute to the formation of a salt bridge, which prevents your system from working optimally because it prevents the salt from coming into contact with the water.

What to do if a valve leaks?

If a valve leaks or drips, disassemble it and replace any damaged washers or seals.

How much does it cost for a professional to service to my water softener?

Typically, an annual service costs between $40-$100; however, that number does not include repairs, if necessary. Water softener repairs, depending on the issue, can cost between $150-$600 on average. Most problems that lead to repairs are ones that you can prevent with regular maintenance: an empty brine tank, a jammed valve, or parts that need cleaned.

What kind of salt is used in a water softener?

This is also the time to talk about quality salt. There are three types of water softener salt: rock, solar, and evaporated. Standard rock salt may be less expensive, but it is not the best choice because it contains more insoluble minerals that can result in not only decreased softening capabilities but a muddy tank that you will need to clean more often than you like.

Why is my water softener turning brown?

This signifies excessive iron buildup that manifests in your resin bed. Over time, you will need to rinse the iron out. You can use a resin cleaner like Rust Out to help flush out the iron and other contaminants. Following the cleaner’s labeling instructions for specific details.

How to check salt level in water softener?

To check your water softener’s salt levels, lift the lid to the brine tank. The salt pellets should be high enough to cover any visible water in the tank. If the salt is low, refill the tank to no more than 2/3 full . Make sure not to overfill the tank with salt.

How long does a water softener last?

For some people, a water softener is a vital household appliance that removes the minerals causing water hardness. Water softeners can last up to 20 years, but to keep them working efficiently, regular maintenance is required. Thankfully, water softeners are relatively low-key after they are installed and working.

How to clean a salt water tank?

Once the tank is empty, disassemble the tank to clean it. You can remove the salt plate and clean it with cold water and dish detergent. Then, make a few liters of dishwashing soap and water, pour it in the tank, and scrub it with a long-handled brush. Use a water hose to rinse the inside of the tank.

Why does salt bridging occur?

Common causes of bridging include high humidity, temperature changes , or the wrong type of salt.

What should my water softener hardness be set at?

Your softener hardness should be set at whatever hardness your water is. It’s essential to have the proper settings for hard water treatment. If your hardness is set too low or too high, you might not get the proper soft water output for your household needs.

How often should I set my water softener to regenerate?

Most people let their unit regenerate every three days to once a week. This typically depends on your hard water setting, the system capacity, and your water usage.

What happens if water softener is set too high?

If your hard water setting is too high, the softening system will regenerate too frequently, increasing operating costs and wasting salt and water.

Do softeners run constantly?

Yes, water softening systems are constantly in operation, delivering soft water to your water heater, faucets, showerheads, and other plumbing fixtures. However, softeners only regenerate every 3-7 days on average, so if you can hear constantly running water, you may have an internal problem that you need to troubleshoot.

What if You Have a Salt-Free Water Softener?

While salt-free water softeners have their advantages, they aren’t true water soften ers and are considered water conditioners. Salt-free water softeners won’t require as much water softener maintenance, but you’ll still need to schedule regular cleanings to ensure nothing becomes corroded.

What minerals are needed to make a water softener?

Salt is the necessary mineral needed for the resin beads within a water softener to perform their job. The resin beads are responsible for the regeneration process of removing the magnesium and calcium and replacing it with sodium and potassium.

Why is it important to keep water softener running?

Because of the constant use of water throughout your home , water softener maintenance is extremely important to keep your water fresh. Here are nine tips to make sure your water softener is always up and running.

How to break up salt bridges?

To break up salt bridges, pour hot water into the tank over the salt. This will loosen it up, making your life easier. From there, simply take a broom handle and push the salt down into the water.

What does it mean when salt levels never go down?

If you notice your salt levels never going down, this is a sign of a salt bridge.

How long to wait before regenerating a tank?

7. Refill tank with water and salt—wait two to three hours before doing a regenerating cycle

Does a water softener make water soft?

While technically the “hard” version of water is ice, a water softener doesn’t actually make your water “soft” and into water. Instead, it focuses on removing specific minerals, such as magnesium and calcium, which provide benefits for your home and your skin .

Common Problems with Water Softeners

Water softener systems can develop the following issues, most of which can be mitigated with our water softener repair service:

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Water Softener Maintenance & Repairs

From the first phone call or email, you are connecting with a person that has direct knowledge of water softening equipment and repair issues. Our service manager will guide your scheduling process to ensure your service is a success.