At a glance
- Topic
- Resin, brine and a timer
- Reading time
- About 2 min
- Phone
- (365) 363-2754
- Matching repair
- Water Softener Installation in Ajax
Why it matters
A softener that runs out of salt, or regenerates too often, either lets scale back in or wastes salt and water. A little attention keeps it doing its job quietly.
The routine, in order
- Know your settings. The control head has a hardness number and a regeneration schedule or capacity. Write them down.
- Keep salt about half full. Check the brine tank every few weeks, topping up with clean pellets or crystals made for softeners.
- Break any bridge. If the salt looks full but the water tests hard, a crust may have formed above empty space. Push gently with a broom handle to collapse it.
- Watch for mush. A sludge layer at the bottom stops brine forming. Scoop it out and refill.
- Test now and then. Inexpensive hardness strips show whether softened water is actually soft.
Mistakes to avoid
- Using rock salt meant for driveways; it carries dirt.
- Setting hardness much higher than the Region's figure, which wastes salt.
- Running the outdoor spigot through the softener.
- Forgetting the bypass is closed after a repair, leaving the softener out of service.
Local tip Potassium chloride works in most softeners and is an option for people limiting sodium. It costs more.
Where a plumber takes over
New installs, a softener that keeps running or leaks, and a resin bed that has worn out. See softener installation and hard water in Durham.
Questions we hear on the phone
How much salt will we use?
That depends on hardness, household size and settings. A properly set unit uses less than many people expect.