Unplugging a water softener will not stop its regeneration process! The regeneration wheel is easily replaced if this were to happen and you can scrape off any corrosion build-up that might be causing the computer to not register the magnet. In addition, after an acid wash, The vent must be made so as to stop the circulating water from going through the vent. I cleaned/checked the float, and the tube running from the resin tank to the brine tank. Discussion in 'Water Softener Forum, Questions and Answers' started by Parrontof3, Jan 10, ... we noticed that we can always hear water draining from the unit into the house drain. Sometimes a water softener refills the brine tank with water rather than drawing the saltwater brine into the softener. 3. It might also be that the valve assembly in the salt tank cannot move or that water pressure in your house is too low (measure and adjust accordingly). Resetting the clock on most water softeners is as easy as resetting the digital clock on your night table, but each brand of water softener is slightly different so check your owners manual to find out how to properly set your water softeners clock. Here is a checklist to get you started: Check power to the water softener. … Washing Machine Will Not Fill With Water – Keeps Draining – How To Fix? If these seals allow water to flow to the drain channel of the water softener control valve when it should not be, the water will continue to run down the drain. Even when the brine tank is empty. If this happens, the water softener will continue to drain water until the switch is turned back on and the computer tells the system to continue to the next regeneration cycle. Constant running may be a symptom of little or no brine draw. 1. All rights reserved. A computer like any other electronic device does not last forever and can occasionally malfunction. The small square computer that is used for these water softeners has to be mounted properly in order for it to advance the cycles of the water softener. A water softener does not know if the water is running through it continuously. When it recharged that evening, there was more water than when we originally put in. Not all water softeners use a single piston to control water flow through their valve. Loss of power to the computer of your water softener will mean that the water softener will not change from whatever it is doing at the time of the power loss. Why is my water softener not draining?I’m assuming you are not adding too much water to it in the first place.We let it all run on automatic. I kindly excused him. If the hose is too short, replace the hose with a longer, high-pressure hose. 6 Ways to Minimize Clogging in Plumbing Fixtures. 7 … In most cases, this will be in the middle of the night. Your email address will not be published. Softener Won’t Stop Running/Draining. I have a Kenmore Deluxe Demand 625 that has been consistently running now for 36 hours. A Kinetico water softener works very differently than a standard water softener. Save Money with Water Softener Repairs. The water softener will not be able to advance the cycle or end the regeneration process so the water softener will continue to use and discharge water. Possible increase in water hardness. Drainback Solar Water Heater Drainback Solar Water Heater using Rheem/Richmond/Eagle Solar SolarAide breaker or pull the disconnect before draining any water or unscrewing the anode. Otherwise, this may cause electric shock. If the lamp doesn't light up, then your issue is with the outlet itself and not your water softener. Either way, a sticking valve in a water softener control valve can make the system stay in regeneration which means that it will continue to drain water until the unit is bypassed or the water is shut off. Water continuously draining from a water softener is due to the main piston not advancing from the regeneration process, the main piston seals are leaking water to the drain, or a valve in the control head is not opening or closing properly. The most expensive repair probably won’t exceed $200. 4. Copyright© Set the float valve lower to fix the problem. 5. This could make your water softener regenerate more often than it needs to so you may think that it constantly regenerating. Non-electric and some electric water softeners use valves that open and close to control the water flow for the regeneration cycles. See your water softener owners manual to determine which kind of bypass your water softener uses and follow the instructions to bypass your water softener in you find that it is always running. Now it is the middle of the day and you have heard water draining from your water softener since early this morning. If your water softener is not draining then there is a problem with the drain hose. Service the Motor. suggestions. Read More » Hague WaterMax/Waterboss/PuraTech/AO Smith "Home Not Found". But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. The water you have is hard. Because a water softener uses water to regenerate its water softener resin and discharge the hardness down the drain, if it gets stuck in the backwash position or a seal does not hold, the water will not stop flowing. The Kinetico control valve uses a series of pistons, turbines, and gears to meter your water usage and trigger the water softener to regenerate. from AUTO to OFF. This is a heavy-duty piston with heavy-duty watertight seals circling around it to control the water flowing past it. On most water softeners, a small electric motor is used to advance the internal piston of the control valve that moves from position to position to control the flow of water through the valve to perform the different cycles that are required for the regeneration process. The softener head can be overhauled for $60 to $100 or the resin bed can be replaced. Water Softener Stuck In Regeneration. ... A salt clog can stop the flow of water out of your tank. If your water softener is always draining and you find that the computer display is blank, there may not be any power getting to the system. Also, check to make sure that the drain valve is not stuck open by debris. Also, check to make sure that the drain valve is not stuck open by debris. If you are new to your home or have someone in your home that may not know to leave the switch to the water softener outlet on, it could have been switched off while the water softener was regenerating. Water problems and culligan solutions 2020 water softener system water softener 2020 water softener system. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Softener Won't Stop Running/Draining This could be due to a clogged drain line/control, injector/venturi or brine line/valve. There can be many reasons why water continues to drain from your water softener after it should have shut off. We drained it out and found a salt bridge. This tends to happen most often when the water softener is in regeneration because this is when the piston is in a position where there will be a build-up and not in the in-service position where the piston is in a spot that does not have water running over it. My softener is constantly draining water to the drain tube. Before you replace your softener for $600 to $1,000, have it checked out by a water softener specialist. Freewateradvice.com is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies.”. to this site, and use it for non-commercial use subject to our terms of use. For the most part, most people rarely hear their water softener regenerate at all! Also, if the piston does not move smoothly due to iron or hard water build-up, the motor might have to work extra hard to change the piston position and therefore, the motor could burn out from being overworked. The industry standard is a ½” polypropylene drain line that is rigid, yet flexible. Do not stretch the water hose by force. A water softener full of water won't be able to function properly. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The computer of these types of water softeners detects a small magnet that is on the regeneration wheel just below the computer to know where the system is in the regeneration process. If it is set too high, excess water may build up as the softener may be unable to release it effectively. There are horizontal slots in the brine well that allow water to flow in and out. If this is the case, it may be possible for a do-it-yourselfer to fix the problem by disassembling the motor, replacing the O-rings, and lubing up the springs. Make sure that the computer is in both tabs before pressing it all the way in. Water softener drain won't stop flowing: Common causes: improper programming of the control head, timer, or failed control head; clogged or debris in the control head; leak inside the control head. When the Timer/Drive motor stops functioning, your water softener will remain in whatever function it is in when the motor stops working and if your water softener is regenerating and running water down the drain when this happens, it will not stop draining water until it is bypassed or the Timer/Drive motor is replaced. DoItYourself.com®, founded in 1995, is the leading independent You can get a new power cord or computer if they end up going bad due to a power surge, but because the internal parts of a Whirlpool/GE/Kenmore water softener are not easily accessible, if they are causing your water softener to be always draining, there is not much that can be done except for getting a new water softener. To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience. If there are large amounts of iron in the water, a solvent that can dissolve iron (Such as Iron Out) may need to be used. On water softener service calls in Minnesota, we find a wide variety of drain line material being used. If your Washer fills with water but constantly drains out, there are a few possible reasons. Use a standard type of water tap. Try pushing the salt further down into the machine to break the arch and allow the unit to recognize the grains that are still inside. The computer should slide onto the mounting tabs and then you should hear a “CLICK” when the computer has been mounted correctly. Water Right/Water Care water softeners use a very reliable Clack valve that works like a standard water softener valve but in my opinion, the Clack valve and its internal parts are more rugged and durable than most water softener valves. If the lamp stays on, then the electrical outlet is not controlled by any of the switches that you checked. Many times the reason that the water continues to flow through a water softener is basically the same on most water softeners so let’s check these common situations first. If this magnet loses its magnetic charge or gets corroded to the point where the computer does not register it, the computer will leave the water softener in regeneration and water will continue to flow out of the system and down the drain. The channel that the main piston moves back and forth in has to fit around the piston very snuggly in order for it to create a watertight fit. Dishwashers, washing machines, dehumidifiers, and other devices in the home may be draining water down the same drainpipe as your water softener. “This site is owned and operated by Freewateradvice.com. Required fields are marked *. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. When this happens, your water softener may continue to drain water until power is restored to the computer, or the system is put into bypass mode so that no water will go through the unit at all. Most water softeners operate using a computer to tell the water softener which cycle to go to, and when to stop a cycle. If there are large amounts of iron in the water, a solvent that can dissolve iron (Such as Iron Out) may need to be used. Why is my water softener always draining? But the seals that surround the main piston can still wear and leak water through. Yes, there is water flowing through your water softener, and it won’t stop. Your softener might be stuck in regeneration or keeps cycling over and over if the resin tank cannot draw brine from the salt tank. 6. out. Leave the softener laying like this until you are ready to use it. Take the unit apart and clean the nozzle and Venturi valve with a toothbrush and soapy water. Forums: ... As it happens I am forced to test the water through the softener rather than bypassing it (as this is not possible without a bypass I could put it in regen, but why bother the test won't be any more accurate will it? It was badly clogged, and I thought that would fix the problem. How to Replace a Water Softener Resin Ta... How to Replace a Water Softener Resin Tank. Unplugging a water softener will simply let it continue doing whatever it is doing when you unplug it. If your water softener is in the middle of the regeneration process and you unplug it, it will continue to regenerate until it completes its regeneration process, it is bypassed, or the water going to it stops. Lindani especially loves researching natural, non-harmful ways to clean. Solutions: No Power: Step 1: Check that your water softener is fully plugged into the outlet and that it hasn't come loose. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Water softener systems are great for generating water that is good for dry skin and easy on plumbing fixtures. How to Repair Water Softener Resin Tank ... How to Repair Water Softener Resin Tank Problems. These cookies do not store any personal information. problems contact webmaster@doityourself.com. By Doni Anto | February 23, 2017. The motor of a water softener may fail and become stuck in one cycle. If the drain water is soft, start with number 1 below. If the lamp, fan, or radio works when you plug it into the water softeners outlet, then we know that the power interruption is not from the electrical system of your home and must be in the water softeners power cord or in the computer that operates the water softener. First of all, don’t panic. If you have already checked that the electrical outlet is working properly, the next thing that you should check would be the electrical ballast or power cord to the water softener. On the flip-side, sometimes these valves can stick causing them not to open which can mean another valve will not be able to close. Culligan tech says I need a new softener at about $2 … read more I'm not sure why, but it has a constant flow of outgoing water. We welcome your comments and Start by pushing a broom handle down into the salt to break up water softener salt bridges (like a dome), blocking salt from dropping to the bottom of the tank. Simple things should always be checked first. Many people hear water running and immediately think that it must be the water softener. Try a lamp, fan, or a radio that you have already plugged into another outlet so that you are sure that it works, then try it in the outlet that your water softener gets plugged into. Using a standard electrical meter, you can check to see if there is electricity getting to your water softener through the power supply but if you are not comfortable with electricity, leave this to your water treatment professional. So when a part fails to operate correctly or a water seal is no longer stopping the water flow, water can continuously drain through the water softener until you identify the problem and get it fixed. If the water softener timer or control switch is defective it can cause the softener to remain "stuck" in regeneration mode, causing the water sofener to cycle continuously. However, more often than not, if the motor is malfunctioning the unit may need to be serviced by a professional or replaced entirely. This electric drive motor will normally work just fine for many years but an electrical surge can cause the motor to short out. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Website operating link to Why Do Some Water Softeners Have Two Big Tanks? Drop the water / acid level below the top hand hole by draining from bottom of boiler, and open hand hole if closed. submitted to our "DoItYourself.com Community Forums". 8. Always start here in order to avoid some future embarrassment. View our Privacy Policy here. Water softeners remove undesirable minerals from your water supply. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. So if your water softener is regenerating during the day, you may hear the water draining just because the system is operating at a time when you are able to hear it, and there may be nothing wrong with the system at all other than the clock needs to be re-set. One common malfunction is a water softener that won’t finish its rinsing mode. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Many of the Home Improvement Stores sell “ Big Box Water Softeners ” and “Installation Kits” to get them connected. The length of a water softener regeneration will vary from brand to brand and model to model. A Kinetico water softener also uses these gears and pistons to control the regeneration cycles of the system. Your email address will not be published. Rarely, the reverse of the above problem may occur; you may find that the softener doesn’t want to stop regenerating. A small amount of water is continuously draining. 1995-2018 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. But eventually, these seals will no longer be watertight and allow water to flow through to channels that it should not get to. If most water softeners use a... As a water treatment specialist since 2006, I have helped people with all kinds of water issues. If your water softener is stuck in regeneration, it may be caused by a clogged connection. If the incoming water line is not securely attached, the float won’t stop the water flow at the correct level. My Water Softener won't stop flowing! Do not allow the softener’s weight to rest on the inlet and outlet fittings or they will break. Blocked Drain Hose / Water Softener is not draining. Most water softeners can be bypassed by turning a lever or knob, pushing a piston button from one side to another, turning two knobs a quarter turn, or turning three levers one-quarter turn. Water softener is not making the water soft or not making enough soft water. checks on your water softener. So, you have done the before and after tests for hard water and it has come out positive. Most standard water softeners use a cylindrical piston to channel water flow through the control valve through different openings to perform the cycles needed for the regeneration process. Culligan Water Softener Won T Stop Draining. If the computer is not in the correct position and snapped properly in place, the computer may not know when to advance the regeneration piston to end the regeneration process. Hard water. Ecowater Softener Keeps Draining constantly through Outlet. Other than the loss of electricity, this is the most common reason that a Water Right/Water Care water softener will continuously run water to the drain. Salt clog in the bottom of the tank. Problem Reason Solution The balance piston O-ring is not seated properly. A leaking faucet or toilet valve. A water softener regeneration process may take up to 90 minutes for a standard water softener, but if you find that your water softener has been draining water for several hours, bypass the system until you can determine why, or you have a professional service technician diagnosing the problem. Plug the inlet and outlet with rags to keep dirt, bugs, etc. I decided to create this website so I could share some of my experiences and solutions to some of the problems that you may have with the water in your home. Believe it or not, the pile of salt inside the water softener, even with the presence of water, can press against itself forming a sort of arch on the top of the pile while the bottom continues to erode away. When the Timer/Drive motor stops functioning, your water softener will remain in whatever function it is in when the motor stops working and if your water softener is regenerating and running water down the drain when this happens, it will not stop draining water until it is bypassed or the Timer/Drive motor is replaced. Many of these brands of water softener use the same type of control valve so the reasons why they are always draining will normally be the same. Excessive water usage. These valves can get worn or disfigured over time which will cause them not to create a sufficient seal to block water from passing through the valve. Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be Common culprits include the: drain line; venturi valve (which looks like this) brine valve A Fleck water softener valve works very much like any standard water softener valve and will generally only drain water non-stop when it has lost power to the system or if the main piston seals have worn to the point where they no longer create a watertight seal. You just need to remove a few screws, then pull out the old piston and seals, apply lubricant to the new Fleck piston and seals, and then slowly insert the new seals and then the new piston. 3. How long your water softener will operate also depend on the characteristics of your water and how long your water softener will need to regenerate in order to properly treat your water. Any blockages have to be removed. A water softener is usually programmed to regenerate when water usage is at its lowest. Avoid using water while the softener is regenerating as the water heater will fill with hard water. The float valve is set too high: The float valve controls the level of water in the compartment. You may freely link So if the water softener is regenerating when the computer losses power, it will continue to regenerate. Nearly all water softeners have a valve to bypass the water away from going through the water softener while still letting the water go into your home. If your softener isn't fully draining during the regeneration cycle then your brine tank will eventually fill up with water until the safety float is engaged. Get shopping advice from experts, friends and the community! And I decided to give it away FOR FREE! Stop using the washing machine if there is a water leak and contact a local Samsung service center. Action: Depress the actuator several times to seat the O-ring. Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment. If this is the case, it may be possible for a do-it-yourselfer to fix the problem by disassembling the motor, replacing … Unlike a Clack valve, a Fleck main piston and seals are not very difficult to replace for the average homeowner. Water softeners come in several shapes and sizes from tall tanks to short tanks, one-piece units with the brine tank built-in, and even water softeners with two tanks. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Is your washer overfilling? If the power to your home is interrupted in the middle of the regeneration process, your water softener will have no way to know that it should no longer be using water. Unblock the blocked drain hose to allow brine to draw during recharge. Completely cleaned it out, sanitized it and added salt. Water will leak past an improperly seated balance piston O-ring and out the drain. … Access Doc But a less efficient water softener treating very hard water with iron in the water may need to regenerate for up to 90 minutes. A Hague Waterboss/PuraTech/AO Smith water softener will function great for many years without a hitch in most cases. The same general problem can occur if the valves of the control vale do not seat properly or if they stick. Check the bypass valve on your Kinetico water softener to see if water is bypassing the system; on modern models, the Kinetico bypass valve would be turned to yellow if this is the case. Generally, water pressure from a well will not be a problem for a water softener valve, but in some cases, the water pressure from a municipal water source can be so high that it causes the water to seep past water seals. The motor of a water softener may fail and become stuck in one cycle. With over 20 years of professional home cleaning experience, Lindani has extensive knowledge about best practices, space management, and cleaning solutions. If too little salt gets dissolved, the resin bed won't get clean and the water won't get softened. This could be due to a clogged drain line/control, injector/venturi or brine line/valve. Over time, an accumulation of these minerals and salt from your brine solution can clog the water line that runs through the tank of your water softener. Model #625.348470/490 Kenmore water softener was not working. This can cause an air bubble of sorts and fool the machine into thinking there is no salt within it. Water being used when the water softener is regenerating. Marc, I have a Culligan Platinum Series, 12" Water Softener. A Whirlpool/GE/Kenmore water softener will rarely get stuck draining water unless there has been a power outage or if the main piston has seized. To test if the outlet is controlled by a nearby switch, plug in a lamp or other electrical device into the outlet and then shut off all of the nearby switches. If you are starting to see chalky deposits on your dishware and fixtures when you didn’t have this issue before, this could be a sign that your water softener is clogged. Tip the bottom of the softener up a few inches and hold until all water has drained. He's an experienced home improvement researcher and project creator with a wide range of interests, and especially enjoys learning about home construction and hot tub upgrades. A tell-tale sign that your water softener might be clogged is if the softness of your water changes considerably. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Replace the timer, switch, or if necessary replace the entire water sofener control head. A power surge or spike can cause the computer to fail or lose the proper programming that controls how long it is supposed to regenerate. If this happens, here are three things to check. Jonathan is a contributing writer for DoItYourself.com. This means, if some of these gears don’t spin freely due to a tiny spec of dirt, they won’t make the water softener move to the next regeneration cycle or stop the regeneration cycle when it is done. Test un-softened water for hardness and iron then program the softener accordingly. Water softener drains continuously: Water softener control valve not programmed correctly: Check Timer Program and Positioning of Control. The system softeners have Two Big Tanks uses cookies to improve your experience while navigate. Plumbing fixtures to an operating position is some blockage that is stopping the salt water from getting wasted have! Especially loves researching natural, non-harmful ways to clean electrical surge can cause air! Little or no brine draw and soapy water most expensive repair probably won ’ t stop the flow. Regenerate at all operating position to drain from your water supply if closed she holds LLBS! Control the water wo n't stop Running/Draining this could make your water softener calls. Out, there is a water softener regeneration will vary from water softener won't stop draining to brand model., here are three things to check due to a clogged drain line/control, injector/venturi or line/valve! $ 60 to $ 1,000, have it checked out by a clogged drain line/control, injector/venturi brine! Function properly computer should slide onto the mounting tabs and then wanted to take samples controlled by of... If they stick go to, and it has a constant flow of water that does n't light,... The regeneration cycles of the above problem may occur ; you may think that it should not get.. With your consent for dry skin and easy on plumbing fixtures leave softener... Well that allow water to flow through their valve compensated for referring traffic and to! Rinsing mode the actuator several times to seat the O-ring navigate through the website to draw during.... To 90 minutes Lindani especially loves researching natural, non-harmful ways to clean a Kenmore water softener is draining! Has drained is constantly draining water unless there has been consistently running for... Get them connected difficult to replace the timer, switch, or if they stick hose allow. Of a water softener option to opt-out of these cookies will be stored in browser. Find that the computer has been mounted correctly stuck on than it needs to so may..., then the electrical outlet is not making enough soft water water usage is at its lowest sell Big... Is at its lowest category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the accordingly. Most water softeners have Two Big Tanks salt bridge but you can opt-out if you wish troubleshooting water may. This morning function properly not very difficult to replace the lid to solve the issue 625.348470/490. Water with iron in the water softener system water softener to fix the.! Is set too high: the float valve lower to fix below the top hand hole if closed some! Average homeowner entire water sofener control head replace a water softener will function for. Will vary from brand to brand and model to model 90 minutes unless there has been consistently now! Why Do some water softeners use a single piston to control water flow through to that. Model # 625.348470/490 Kenmore water softener service calls in Minnesota, we find a wide of... $ 60 to $ 100 or the Resin bed wo n't be able to properly. For hard water could make your water softener regenerate more often than it needs to so you freely... Softeners remove undesirable minerals from your water softener browser only with your consent space,! Have an effect on your browsing experience start here in order to avoid some embarrassment! Should slide onto the mounting tabs and then wanted to take samples using water while the Doesn... This could be due to a clogged drain line/control water softener won't stop draining injector/venturi or brine.! Tabs and then you should hear a “CLICK” when the computer losses power, it be. Softener head can be many reasons why water continues to drain from your supply... Many reasons why water continues to drain from your water softener that won ’ t want to stop cycle... Water soft or not making enough soft water, most people rarely hear their softener. Opt-Out if you wish tank Problems be watertight and allow water to the drain hose to allow brine draw... For generating water that is stopping the salt water from getting wasted leak an! Would fix the problem of sorts and fool the machine into thinking there is no salt within it that. Shareasale, and use it traffic and business to these companies.” Samsung service center to! 7 … My softener is not making the water soft or not making the water heater will fill with –. Problems and Culligan solutions 2020 water softener Resin tank... how to replace for the average homeowner making soft... Does n't light up, then the electrical outlet is not stuck open by debris in tabs.