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\nIf your water softener seems to be running, but it isn\u2019t softening the water, it\u2019s natural to panic. But, it\u2019s important to approach this problem with a clear head because in many cases this is an easy fix. In this article, we will take a closer look at how an ion exchange water softener works, some common issues, and how you can fix them.<\/p>\n
Older systems may have two separate tanks and more modern softeners may have both tanks in a single housing. One tank contains a resin media bed and the other contains a brine solution. To keep the system running efficiently, the resin media needs to be clean and the brine tank must be topped up with special water softening salt. The resin media is charged with a coating of salt from the brine solution. When hard water passes through the tank, the dissolved mineral ions that make the water hard are attracted to the resin media surface. As they approach, ion exchange takes place and the mineral ions are exchanged with the salt (sodium or potassium) ions.<\/p>\n
Over time, repeated ion exchanges lead to a buildup of mineral ions on the surfaces of the resin media beads. This degrades the performance and efficiency and eventually, the system will be unable to soften the incoming hard water. To solve this problem, the water softener has a control valve which triggers a regeneration cycle.<\/p>\n
During regeneration, the media tank is flushed clean with brine which also recharges the resin beads for future softening. So, the water softener works in a cyclical manner as long as the tanks are clean and salt is added.<\/p>\n
If the control valve settings are incorrect this can place the system into a bypass mode to trigger the regeneration cycle when you need soft water. A regeneration cycle is typically run at night when the demand for soft water is unimportant for most people. To fix this problem, check the softener head to see if it\u2019s displaying the correct time and make an adjustment as required.<\/p>\n
This occurs when salt hardens which creates a gap between the salt and the water. This prevents the mixing to create the brine solution which is necessary to facilitate the regeneration cycle. To fix this problem, use a long blunt object such as a broom handle to break the salt bridge apart and mix the salt into the water.<\/p>\n
This is a thick layer of salt that has settled at the bottom of the brine tank which prevents regeneration. It may be possible to clean out isolated salt clogs that may have formed over certain components and valves. If there is a layer of sludge, it will be necessary to empty the water, clean the brine tank and then refill it with fresh water and a good quality water softening salt.<\/p>\n
A water softener is designed to work for a decade with regular essential maintenance, if your equipment is approaching or has passed this age, it\u2019s likely that the performance and efficiency have degraded. This means that you will use more salt and water to get water that is not softened to the desired standard. To fix this problem, consider an upgrade to a newer model with a demand-initiated control valve to improve efficiency.<\/p>\n