WATER SOFTENERS - MOST BRANDS

TYPICAL QUESTIONS

How much salt do I keep in brine tank? 

What kind of salt do I use?

My unit is regenerating in the morning.

What does the bypass valve on back do?

What does my system remove and how does it work?

What small problems can I fix myself?  

How much salt do I keep in brine tank?    

Your new unit is fully charged and will soften water when the installer leaves, but you must add 2 to 4 bags of salt to the brine tank water within the first 24 to 48 hours. This will insure a good first brine solution. During the installation of the system we leave 3 to 4 gallons of water in the brine tank, this is enough to develop brine for the cycle. After the first regeneration the unit replaces the needed water for the next cycle and you will not add water again. 

Our recommendation is to keep the brine tank ¾ full of salt. For best results keep salt above the water level. The water level in brine tank should never be over ½ full .If there seems to be an unusual amount of water you may need a service call. Let the unit regenerate 1 more time, if it remains high or becomes higher please call us. Always make sure that the brine line overflow fitting coming off the side of the brine tank has a hose attached and that the hose would direct overflow water to a satisfactory spot.

Salt bridging, this is a hard crust on top while the salt underneath has been dissolved. Adding hot water or using something to break up the salt bridge can clear this up. If ignored this could create a service call. You will generally notice the presence of hard water and when checking the softener it seems to work and the salt tank seems full. 

What kind of salt do I use?                                                                             Return to Top

Any quality brand will work, the cleaner the better. NO rock salt or salt blocks. Pellets will work well but at times have a tendency to dissolve unevenly and will begin to form a build-up around the brine tank pick-up tube. This can eventually prevent the brine solution from being withdrawn during the regeneration cycle and lead to hard water and/or overflowing through the brine tank overflow fitting. Quality salt of any brand either in crystal or cube form seems to dissolve more evenly and thus minimizes this problem.

Salts with iron removers or those for “heavy iron water” can help the softener resin bed but generally the chemical cleaner added to the salt isn’t quite strong enough for many of our local iron water problems. For that reason we recommend using RUST OUT or IRON OUT or RED OUT at least twice a year. For those on high iron content water a more vigorous schedule of resin bed cleaning should be followed or an automatic REZ-UP feeder can be installed directly on the brine tank for continuous dosing. We stock both chemicals and feeders.

My unit is regenerating in the morning.                                                      Return to Top

Most all water softeners are programmed (when the time clock is set to read the current correct time) to begin regenerating around 1:30-2:00 am. The regeneration cycle lasts for about 2 hours. During that time the control valve automatically initiates an internal hard water by-pass. If water is used during this time it will be untreated or hard but not salty and you could introduce hard water into the hot water tank which may take 1 or 2 days to work it’s way out of the water lines. Your timer clock should always be on the correct time or close to it, if not, reset the clock. See manual.  Also, make sure the water softener is plugged in. If it’s plugged into a GFI breaker circuit be sure that the plug in box is working; storms can cause GFI breakers to be thrown and there will be no electricity to the softener.

What does the bypass valve on back do?                                                 Return to Top

Most units that we sell will have a bypass on the back of the control valve where the water lines hook to the system. The by-pass valve has a couple of purposes.#1. Should the softener ever break, leak, or overflow the brine tank the by-pass can be activated and water will flow past the unit and still feed your home. The water of course will be untreated and you will probably need to call for a service appointment to correct the problem.#2.When your home was built the plumber involved may not have had any instructions to isolate your outside faucets or plumb so that all outside hose bibs come off of the first entering cold water piping. With an isolated line configuration any treatment equipment installed in a home can be placed on the down stream side so that treatment will just affect the water used inside of the house. Soft water used in watering the grass and or outside plants can harm them as well as use up the capacity of the water treatment equipment. By simply moving your bypass valve from service to bypass you will have untreated water when doing those outside jobs. As a reminder once you bypass your softener you will not have soft water in your home either, so don’t do laundry and water your yard at the same time and be sure to move the by-pass back to service when finished. 

What does my system remove hardness and how does it work?      Return to Top

Remember water softeners or water conditioners (same thing) primary purpose is to remove hardness, minerals and some iron. They are not designed for removal of odors, excess iron, chemicals either organic or inorganic, bacteria and a variety of other contaminants in water. Additional equipment may be required for solving other specific problems. Basically your softener is like a large automatic filter for removing hardness. The resin beads exchange calcium ions (in your water) for sodium ions (on the beads). When this filter is full of calcium it can no longer remove hardness until it is regenerated with the salt water. The sodium re-coats the beads and the chloride and hardness minerals are flushed down the drain.

What small problems can I fix myself?                                                       Return to Top

Most equipment that we sell and install has a parts and operation manual and contained in the back of that manual is a very helpful trouble shooting section. If you have lost yours we have them available at the office for $5.00.

Thank you for your purchase of equipment or service from our Company. We are more than happy to answer questions or try to be of help so that you will remain a PLEASED AND SATISFIED CUSTOMER.