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Clean, pure, soft, and healthy water is everyone’s choice of water that affects not only their external health, such as good skin, shiny and soft hair, laundry as good as new, and stain-free kitchen utensils and bathroom fixtures.
In addition, your body’s internal health will significantly improve if you consume water with balanced minerals and nutrients that are good for your health.
A water softener is one such device that fulfills your goals of providing you with soft water free from excessive amounts of hard minerals such as calcium and magnesium that deteriorate your health or your household items in any way.
If your water softener is experiencing regeneration issues, learn how to troubleshoot the problem in our article on what to do if your Water Softener Does Not Regenerate.
But what happens if you notice changes in your water softener, like it just stopped suddenly, or you notice that it is working but not softening the water?
Often, the malfunctioning of the water softener depends on how you maintain it, and other times it depends on the frequency of its usage or even the quality of the softened water.
The water softeners are usually designed to go for long periods of time if the maintenance is done right. Also, if you continue to use the salt properly, the water softener will have fewer chances to create problems for you if you keep it in check periodically.
This article is specifically designed to highlight the five most common problems and will answer your queries about water softeners not working in any way.
Is Your Water Softener Not Working Properly? – 5 Common Problems
Following are some ways to identify problems in a water softener that you consider as non-functional;
Test It Out
The first step to determine whether the water softener works is to conduct a water hardness test. It is very simple, and you only need to invest in an affordable water hardness test kit that you can easily find anywhere and online. You must remember that you are checking the water for calcium carbonate levels measured in grains per gallon.
Make sure that all of the settings have been checked before jumping into the water hardness testing procedure, and check that the water softener is not giving you soft water at all or is it giving the soft water in small amounts.
If your water softener is not working properly, you might also be interested in learning about what to do if your water softener is not using salt. Check out our guide for troubleshooting tips.
Regeneration Issues
Next is the regeneration cycle, which a water softener is supposed to do once every week, which usually happens at night. But if you notice something fishy, you must stay up to test your water softener’s regeneration cycle.
You have to check for certain things; first, check the timer. Do you suspect that it is not functioning at all? An easy way to test it out is to set the regeneration cycle to every night; this way, you will find out if it works. If it does not work as it should, replace it.
There could also be a possible blockage in the drainage hose, so ensure you remove all the blockages and debris before running the regeneration process. If there is a problem with a motor, again, getting a new way is the only way out.
If you’re facing issues with your water softener, such as improper functioning, check out our guide on How To Drain Brine Tank On Water Softener to ensure optimal performance.
Problems with Salt Usage
If you do not maintain the optimal level of salt usage, the water softener will probably cause numerous problems for you. An optimal amount of salt means that the salt level should be at least 4 inches above the water level, ensuring proper water softening.
Also, make sure you are using the correct softening salt that is ideal for your water softener; in case of using the wrong salt, you will end up clogging the water softener causing salt bridges which will cause problems in softening the water.
If you feel like your water has too much of a salty taste, that either means you have added an excessive amount of salt, or there is a possibility of the brine tank malfunctioning, as in not draining out the brine water.
Resin Bed Is Overused
The entire functioning of the water softener depends on the resin beads that trap all the debris and impurities from the hard water. But if it is depleted and contains a build-up of all the harmful contaminants and sediments, it will cause hindrance for the water softener to perform smoothly. Another possible cause can be the highly chlorinated water that enters your house water supply may cause the resin bed to deplete over time.
Softener Gives Discoloured Water
If you notice that your water color has turned from crystal clear transparent to brown muddy, the water softener has stopped working. A worn-out resin bed may cause the problem, impure salt pellets and water with excessive iron.
FAQS
What can I do if I notice the softener is not working?
First, check. Have you topped it up with enough salt? Have you checked if the brine tank is filled with too much water? If you have already done so, you can call your manufacturer for additional assistance on the matter; you can find their contact details in their provided manual.
How do I solve the clogging issue in the water softener?
If you use water softener daily and if your water hardness is comparatively high, the hard minerals will block your pipeline system. You should check your valve injector and the brine line for possible debris blocking your water flow and pipes or have a professional inspect the issue.
Learn about proper water softener maintenance and salt usage in our article on How Much Salt to Put in a Water Softener, ensuring your system functions effectively.
Final Thoughts
While issues with water softeners are often a problem, there are always effective solutions present at hand that you can follow and resolve your issue with the water softener not working.
This article provided you with common issues with the water softener and what you can do to solve them by yourself, or you will need professionals to help you. Overall, a water softener is an essential need of the times, and it is better if it functions properly.