Repair or replace your water softener?
When scale comes back or the salt stops going down, the softener usually isn't broken. Start with the simple checks, then decide whether it's a repair job or time for a new unit.
Five checks before calling for service
- Is there salt in the brine tank? It should be at least a third full, ideally above the water line.
- Is there a salt bridge? Press down gently with a broom handle. If there’s a hollow under a crust, break it up.
- Is it in bypass? The bypass valve behind the softener should be set to “service”.
- Is the clock right? Recharges are usually timed for the night. A power cut can reset the time.
- Is the hardness setting right for your city? See the hardness setting by city.
If all five check out and the water is still hard, force a manual recharge and test the water the next day.
Faults worth repairing
- A failed motor or timer on the control valve
- Worn seals and spacers inside the valve
- A blocked injector or brine line (the softener stops drawing brine)
- A cracked brine tank or a stuck float
These are parts jobs; a water softener service technician carries most of them.
When replacing makes more sense
- The control valve needs replacing and the softener is old.
- The resin needs replacing and the tank is old too.
- Your household has grown and the softener now recharges every few days. Check the water softener size chart for the size you need now.
- Parts for the model are no longer made.
Warning signs to watch for
- Scale returning on glass and faucets
- Salt level not going down over several weeks
- Water standing high in the brine tank
- Salty-tasting water after a recharge
- Low water pressure that started after the softener was fitted
Common questions
- How long do water softeners last in Arizona?
- It varies with the make, how hard the water is and how well it has been looked after. Resin and valves wear faster in harder water and with more frequent recharges, so an undersized softener tends to wear out sooner.
- Why is my softener using no salt?
- Most often a salt bridge (a hard crust above the water in the brine tank), or the softener isn't recharging because of a wrong clock, a power cut or a bypass valve left in bypass.
- Can I clean the resin instead of replacing it?
- Yes, resin cleaners are sold for this, and they help when the resin is fouled. Worn or broken-down resin has to be replaced.