Common water softener problems can leave your water untreated, allowing calcium and magnesium to run rampant in your plumbing. This can lead to lime scale, rust stains and even corrosion and build ups in your pipes that can eventually clog them completely. Most common water softener problems are caused by a lack of preventative maintenance and neglect. Water softeners are easy to take for granted as 99% of the time they work like they are supposed to.
Preventative maintenance can eliminate many of the most common problems with water softeners before they ever happen. Water softeners can be expensive to repair and replace. Following the instructions for maintenance included with your water softener can help you avoid the biggest pitfalls associated with owning a water softener.
If the motor is not running on your water softener, you will need to check the power supply where the motor is connected. This can be done using a standard volt meter ($10 at home depot). Checking the wires where they connect the main power distribution unit as well as the receptacle where the water softener is plugged in can help to eliminate the possibility of a power failure.
If the power is fine and the motor is running, yet the water is not being softened, or softened enough, you might just need to add some salt. Flushing the tank and adding salt is the first step to take if your water isn’t being softened. You can also try to adjust the timer which controls how often the resin exchanger is being regenerated. The salt water brine in the main tank is used to recharge the resin exchange with sodium ions that are exchange for trace minerals such as calcium and magnesium.
If your tank is full of salt, you will want to next check your brine line. You should also check and replace the filter screen and injector that control the flow of brine. Make sure the brine line is intact and unobstructed. You can also adjust the pressure setting of the brine line, which is described in the owner’s manual.