Water softener repair
Most softener problems come down to a handful of causes, and many are fixable without replacing the whole unit.
If the hard water feel is back, the salt isn't going down, or there's water around the tanks, the softener is telling you something. A technician can usually narrow it down by checking the brine tank, the valve settings and whether the unit actually draws brine during a regeneration.
What usually goes wrong?
- Salt bridge. A hard crust forms in the brine tank and the salt underneath never dissolves. The tank looks full but the resin isn't getting recharged.
- Clogged injector or screen. The small part that pulls brine into the resin tank gets plugged with sediment, so the unit goes through the motions without softening anything.
- Wrong settings. A power outage can reset the clock, and hardness or household size may never have been set correctly in the first place.
- Worn seals and pistons. Leaks at the valve or water running to the drain all the time often point to internal valve parts.
- Tired resin. Resin breaks down over the years, and chlorine speeds that up.
- Freeze damage. Units in garages can crack fittings or the drain line in a hard cold snap.
Warning signs
- Salt level stays the same week after week
- Water in the brine tank keeps rising
- Constant trickle of water to the drain
- Puddles under the valve or bypass
- Display is blank or flashing after a power outage
What can I check before I call?
Push a broom handle gently into the salt to feel for a bridge. Make sure the bypass is in service position and the controller has power and the right time. If water is leaking, put the unit in bypass and unplug it, then call. Leave valve disassembly to the technician.
Repair or replace?
A single worn part on a decent unit is usually worth fixing. If the valve is obsolete, the resin is shot and the tank is cracked, a replacement may make more sense. Ask the technician to explain what failed and what each option costs.
The company you're connected with prices the job after testing your water and looking at the install spot. We don't quote prices, and a number given over the phone before anyone has seen your plumbing is only a rough starting point.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Why isn't my softener using salt?
The most common causes are a salt bridge in the brine tank, a plugged injector, or a valve that isn't regenerating because its settings or clock are wrong.
Is it safe to keep using water if the softener leaks?
Yes, once you put the softener in bypass. The house gets hard water until it's fixed, but the leak stops.
Related services
- Water softener installation
- Water softener replacement
- Whole-house filtration
- Reverse osmosis drinking water
More background: Cedar City hard water guide.
Crusty faucets, spotty dishes or a softener that quit?
Call now and a local water treatment company will help you figure out what your water needs.