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Modern water softeners automatically put water into the brine tank at the end of each regeneration. This water sits in the brine tank and dissolves some of the salt to create a very salty liquid called brine. This brine is sucked back into the water softener main tank during the next regeneration. The brine is used to "recharge" (sometimes called "regenerate") the water softener main tank. After the recharge, the softener can soften a set amount of water before it needs to be recharged again. Depending upon the size of the water softener, it can take between 2 and 8 gallons of brine per recharge. On most water softeners you can set the salt "dosage". Dosage is usually set in "lbs of salt". Each gallon of water will dissolve around 3 lbs of salt so if you set a dosage of 9 lbs, the softener will automatically add around 3 gallons of water to the brine tank after each regeneration.
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Why is there water in water softener brine tank?
Because it's needed to make the salt brine that is exchanged for hardness.
Water backing up into brine tank?
There are two main causes of water backing up into a water softener brine tank. The injector assembly may be defective and not draw all of the brine out of the tank and then the timed brine refill will put back a predetermined amount of water, causing the level of brine to increase in the tank after each regeneration. The other cause may be a defective brine valve which has a slow leak after it closes and causes the tank to overfill.
Why is there salt in water softener brine tank?
The sodium in the salt reacts with the zeolite in the softener stripping it of the calcium when you regenerate the softener. When the softener is in service the calcium more readily replaces the sodium on the zeolite resin beads softening the water.
Can you fix your own water softener The timer and cycling functions seem to work but the water does not get soft.?
If your water softener timer and cycling functions seem to be working correctly, there are at least three more items to check: salt in the brine tank, clogged eductor nozzles, old resin For the water softener to work correctly, it needs to regenerate. Typically a household softener is set to regenerate every 3 to 7 days and most units are designed to regenerate at night when no one is using water. During regeneration, the softener will pull brine (very salty water) from the brine tank and rinse this brine through the softener resin tank slowly to "refresh" the resin beads inside the tank. If this process doesn't happen, the softener will deliver hard water. This process will fail if: there is no salt in the brine tank for the softener to pull out or if there is no water in the brine tank to dissolve the salt. At the end of each regeneration, the softener pumps water back into the brine tank so it will dissolve salt for the next regeneration. Things to check: 1) is there salt in your brine tank? 2) is there water in the brine tank before the regeneration starts? (usually 5-10 inches of water, depends upon the model and size of brine tank) You might not see the top surface of the water if you have lots of salt in the brine tank. 3) during the regeneration process, which typically runs 60-120 minutes, watch to make sure that the level of water draws down (slowly) and later fills back up. If the level is not going down and back up during regeneration, it is possible that the "eductor nozzle" is blocked. This is a small plastic component with a tiny hole in it that can easily become clogged. On almost all softeners it is quick and easy to remove the eductor nozzle, flush it with water and replace it. consult your owners guide. If there is salt in the brine tank and the water level is going up and down, and this softener is 5-10 years old or older, it is likely that the "ion exchange resin beads" inside the softener tank are 'dead'. A typical household softener has 0.5 to 2 cubic feet of resin beads inside the tank depending upon the model and the hardness of the water that is being treated. The tiny plastic ion echange beads in the tank get regenerated every few days, but after hundreds of regenerations, and/or exposure to high levels of impurities and/or chlorine they can 'wear out'. Replacing the beads is a messy job and you need to be careful in the process so you don't accidentally end up filling the pipes in your home with loose beads. Unless you're particularly handy, strong and have a way to suck out and replace the beads, it is probably best to hire a water softener dealer to test your resin beads and replace them if needed.
Why does a water softener run water out for a period of time?
That is reject brine after cleaning of the settling tank. It's programmed for 3-4 times a week.
Why would the water softener tank fill up and overflow?
It could be that the softener has developed an internal mechanical fault so that it is not fully shutting-off the flow of water to the brine tank after the regeneration cycle has been completed for the softener's ion-exchange resin granules which are held in its "resin tank". A likely cause of the trouble could be that the softener's "brine valve" is now failing to completely shut off the flow of water. It might be caused by a component such as a valve sealing washer on the valve module that you may be able to access and repair as a D-I-Y job. A different cause of the problem could be that the internal "resin tank" - which contains the ion-exchange resin granules - has developed a crack or split which allows water to leak at high pressure into the brine tank. The resin tank is not usually repairable so, if that is the cause, a new resin tank is required. The cost of the work required to have a new tank fitted is unlikely to be worthwhile. It is usually much cheaper to buy a new water softener.
Why are large amounts of water collecting in the salt tank of my GE water softener?
It is normal for water softeners to pump water into the salt tank at the end of each regeneration. This water dissolves some of the salt and this dissolved salt (called brine) is rinsed through the resin tank of the softener during the next regeneration. The amount of water needed for the regeneration depends upon how hard the incoming water is and how big the water softener is. Typically a household softener regenerates once every 3 to 7 days. Each gallon of water added to the brine tank will dissolve 3 lbs of salt. A small softener will consume between 4 and 12 lbs of salt per regeneration and a large household softener will consumer 8 to 24 lbs of salt. The easiest way to see if your softener is putting the right amount of water into the brine tank is to see how much salt it is using during each regeneration: start by measuring how high the level of salt (not the water) in the tank is above the bottom of the tank. Next, add one 40 lbs bag of salt and see how many inches higher the level of salt is now. Say it is 4 inches higher after you add the salt. that means that every one inch of height is equal to 10 lbs of salt. Now wait until after the next regeneration happens and recheck the height of the salt. If the salt drops 2" they you know your softener used 20 lbs of salt. If it is a small softener and is using 20lbs or more salt per regeneration then the system is using too much water. It is worth investigating if a component called the "brine valve" can be adjusted to reduce the amount of water added after each regeneration. If this is not possible then it could be that the softener has developed an internal mechanical fault such that it is not fully shutting-off the flow of water to the brine tank after each regeneration cycle has been completed for the softener's ion-exchange resin granules which are held in its "resin tank". A likely cause of the trouble could be that the softener's "brine valve" is now failing to completely shut off the flow of water. It might be caused by a component such as a valve sealing washer on the valve module that you may be able to access and repair as a D-I-Y job. A different cause of the problem could be that the internal "resin tank" - which contains the ion-exchange resin granules - has developed a crack or split which allows water to leak at high pressure into the brine tank. The resin tank is not usually repairable so, if that is the cause, a new resin tank is required. The cost of the work required to have a new tank fitted is unlikely to be worthwhile. It is usually much cheaper to buy a new water softener.
Where is the brine valve on a rainsoft water softener?
The brine valve is located in the brine tank in the 3 inch tube. Systems with brass control valves prior to the year 2000 do not have a brine valve in the tank. the air check is performed by the tri guard. ( clear plastic thing with the ball in attached to the valve body)
Why does your water taste like salt if you have a water softener?
The answer is.... "it should NOT taste like salt".... While water softeners use salt to function correctly, they only use salt during a process called "regeneration" which is usually scheduled to occur once every 3-7 days in a household softener. During regeneration, the softener rinses salt water thru the resin tank - but during this time, it supplies the home with untreated water that is bypassing the resin tank so it should not be salty. After the softener rinses the resin with salt water it next removes any excess salt out of the resin beads by rinsing with fresh water. All of the salt water and rinse water during the regeneration process is supposed to go directly out to drain, not into the household water supply. By the end of the regeneration the resin tank should be free of salt and there should be no salt taste. If there is a salt taste, it is because the softener is not working properly. The likely causes are: a) the softener may be defective. It may have an internal leak that is allowing some brine (salt water) to escape into the household plumbing during regeneration. b) the controller may be set up (programmed) incorrectly. In particular, the rinse-out time maybe programmed to be too short. (typically a system rinses for 5-10 minutes.) c) there may be a brine-tank problem which is causing the softener to make too much salt water and then it does not have enough time to rinse all of this excess salt out of the brine tank. For a typical household softener, the system should be consuming between 4 and 20 lbs of salt per regeneration (depends on the size of the system and the hardness of the water). If it is using much more than this, there is probably a problem with the brine tank that will either require a service technician to check and fix, if possible, or, if it is not worth paying the cost of replacement parts and labor to fix, you may need a new water softener.
What would cause a water softener tank to overfill with water?
This question is answered already under the heading "Why are large amounts of water collecting in the salt tank of my GE water softener"?
Soften Up Your Hard Water?
Hard water will stain fixtures and reduce the efficiency of soap and laundry detergents. One way to combat these problems is to a install water softening system. This system is designed to release magnesium and calcium into the water supply prior to it entering your home. It's important that you regularly inspect the salt level in your system. Also, the water in the brine tank should completely cover the softener salt. If the level is too low, add water to the brine tank. Regular inspection and maintenance of your water softener system ensures that it remains in proper working order.
Using Water Softener Resin for Hard Water?
Water softener systems are essential to treating the hard water that eventually breaks appliances and stains sinks and drains. Although it is not necessary, using water softener systems prevent clogged pipes and water stains. Water softener resin is the main ingredient in one of these systems. The job of the softener resin is to filter impurities from the water, such as calcium and magnesium ions.The Three-Part Water Softening ProcessWater softener resin plays a vital role in each step of the three-part water softening process. This resin is usually made in a bead form. These negatively charged beads are stored inside the mineral tank found in the majority of water softeners.First, the resin beads are covered in sodium ions. Once the water in the pipes flows to the mineral tank and passes over the resin beads, the calcium and magnesium ions attach to the resin. While the resin collects these ions, the water softener resin's sodium combines with the hydrogen found in the water.During the second part of the process, the resin works towards removing the calcium and magnesium ions that it has collected. However, it will still retain the sodium ions. In the final phase, the water is sent to separate tank: the brine tank. In the brine tank, the water is rinsed and then, it is mixed with salt.Two Types of Water Softener ResinWater softener resin comes in two types. Fine-mesh resin traps minerals, such as iron, that tend to get past the other type of resin. This resin is best suited for well water. Hi-cap resin is the other kind of resin, which is better for municipal water.The Lifespan of Water Softener ResinThe usual lifespan of water softener resin is 20 years. In the event resin does not soften the water, the issue is probably caused by something other than the resin. It is recommended to first inspect the general softener mechanism for any problems. As a last resort, the water softener resin should be changed.
