water softener issues

[billconner]

A whirlpool softener. Not sure how old. Looks pretty generic based on YouTubes.

I know nothing of softeners. Seems to have worked for over the 5 years we have lived here. Went to add salt and tank was full of water - right to top. Bypassed, used compressor to blow out drain lines, and cleaned filter on venturi valve. Seemed to help, manually starting recharge frequently water level when way down, but back up today. Remember, I have no experience with water softeners.

Seems like I should replace gasket in ventuti valve and do a cleaning - iron out or equal in the "tube". But how do I know if the float valve (?) is working, and is it cleanable or just replace?

Or just **** it up and call plumber?

 

[BrandonV]

Find out how to manually put your unit into regeneration and watch what is happening throughout the cycle. This sounds like the brine tank isn't being pulled down or more likely the float valve assembly isn't working.

 

[billconner]

Thank you BrandonV!

I suspect float valve. But cleaning and venturi gasket seem worth doing anyways.

How do I check and clean float valve? Or is just replace? And how high in that brine tube should it be? Seems adjustable.

 

[billconner]

I guess I'll try this:

https://whirlpoolwatersolutions.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360061639314-Brine-Valve-Assembly-Cleaning

 

[kj_mustang]

Make sure the salt remaining in the tank hasn't melted together and formed a dam at the bottom of the intake tube.

I had a salt dam in mine a few months ago and had to empty the whole thing.

 

[BrandonV]

Make sure the salt remaining in the tank hasn't melted together and formed a dam at the bottom of the intake tube.

I had a salt dam in mine a few months ago and had to empty the whole thing.

I always tell people to fill the salt so you can still see the water level. The solution will still be super-saturated and it's less stress on the brine tank. Don't want that to crack!

 

[dcg9381]

I know nothing of softeners. Seems to have worked for over the 5 years we have lived here. Went to add salt and tank was full of water - right to top. Bypassed, used compressor to blow out drain lines, and cleaned filter on venturi valve. Seemed to help, manually starting recharge frequently water level when way down, but back up today. Remember, I have no experience with water softeners.

I have experience with Fleck and Clack valved softeners which are usually the "step up" from consumer grade softeners like you have. At about 5 years (with really hard water) the valves that control the internal flow need rebuilding. For Fleck and Clack, this means removing the valve body and replacing o-rings and other "wear" parts.

I suspect that Whirlpool has a similar set of parts... How "user serviceable" they are, dunno.. Clack and Fleck are pretty good about being serviced.

There is a float control on all of these, but I'm sure you can figure that out. However, a leaky valve could also do what you're experiencing, allowing water to leak during cycle where it shouldn't go.

Have a model number?

 

[loganb]

Make sure the salt remaining in the tank hasn't melted together and formed a dam at the bottom of the intake tube.

I had a salt dam in mine a few months ago and had to empty the whole thing.

I had similar happen to me. I vacuumed out the tank, rinsed off the float and cleaned up the valve assembly and put it back together. Stuck a couple bags back in and seems to be working better based on the quality of suds when shampooing hair

 

[Aileron]

I had a whirpool before I put my fleck system in. The whirplool control valve was about a tooth off. If would stop in a position it thought it was in and just wasnt quite there. Would not **** in the brine. I had to take a screwdriver on the gear and just bump it into position. i got rid of that all in one piece of ****. I had a full salt tank and had to empty it, while it was all connected to the water supply. Having a seperate brine tank is much nicer.

 

[billconner]

I always tell people to fill the salt so you can still see the water level. The solution will still be super-saturated and it's less stress on the brine tank. Don't want that to crack!

Brandon - I need explanation. It seemed water used to be only 6-8" deep. Now it's more than halfway. It has been near top. I don't understand "fill the salt so you can still see the water level"?

How high should water level be normally?

 

[billconner]

These may sound like stupid questions, which is because I don't know much about water dofterers. The tank looks dirty - I assume I should clean it. Internet says soap and water. I do I get the half tank of water out of it? Salt is gone.

I think I should:
-clean the tank with soap and water and maybe a mold cleaner. How do I get water out?
-clean venturi valve thingy. soap and water
-clean the float valve, float and all, remove and clean in sink
- do the cleaning with water softener cleaner - and that's every 4 months
-what order?

Or should I just call a plumber and have them do it all OR replace it?

 

[dcg9381]

I do I get the half tank of water out of it? Salt is gone.

Stick a tube or garden hose in there and the old fashioned "syphon" method maybe?
Tanks do get a little dirty over time.

-what order?

I don't know, whatever order makes sense for disassembly

Or should I just call a plumber and have them do it all OR replace it?

If you replace it get one with a clack or fleck valve. They can be serviced. They're made to be serviced.

I've bought from these guys before:

Water Softeners & Whole Home Water Filters | Discount Water Softeners

Shop the best water softeners and whole home water filters at Discount Water Softeners to keep your water pure, soft, and free from impurities.

www.discountwatersofteners.com

You'll need to size it correctly, so you need to know water hardness. They have a fee test kit.

 

[BrandonV]

Brandon - I need explanation. It seemed water used to be only 6-8" deep. Now it's more than halfway. It has been near top. I don't understand "fill the salt so you can still see the water level"?

How high should water level be normally?

The water level in the brine tank depends on the size of your unit. During the refill cycle, the system will automatically add the correct amount of water (check your manual for specifics) based on the control head programming.

What I meant earlier was to avoid adding so much salt that you can’t see the water level. In many cases where salt bridges form, it’s because the salt completely covers the water. When that happens, the salt can fuse together and create a bridge.

Somewhat silly but I view it like a mountain under water. As long as you see undissolved crystalline salt in the brine mixture, the solution is supersaturated and is good. So I keep adding bags until it just starts to poke out of the water. What I'm aiming NOT to do is to keep adding salt so you can't see any water in the brine tank.

 

[BrandonV]

These may sound like stupid questions, which is because I don't know much about water dofterers. The tank looks dirty - I assume I should clean it. Internet says soap and water. I do I get the half tank of water out of it? Salt is gone.

I think I should:
-clean the tank with soap and water and maybe a mold cleaner. How do I get water out?
-clean venturi valve thingy. soap and water
-clean the float valve, float and all, remove and clean in sink
- do the cleaning with water softener cleaner - and that's every 4 months
-what order?

Or should I just call a plumber and have them do it all OR replace it?

Soap and water is fine and might even be overkill. Realistically just cleaning out any sediment and debris in there is more than enough generally.

A cheap little drill pump works great for this.

 

[billconner]

The water level in the brine tank depends on the size of your unit. During the refill cycle, the system will automatically add the correct amount of water (check your manual for specifics) based on the control head programming.

What I meant earlier was to avoid adding so much salt that you can’t see the water level. In many cases where salt bridges form, it’s because the salt completely covers the water. When that happens, the salt can fuse together and create a bridge.

Somewhat silly but I view it like a mountain under water. As long as you see undissolved crystalline salt in the brine mixture, the solution is supersaturated and is good. So I keep adding bags until it just starts to poke out of the water. What I'm aiming NOT to do is to keep adding salt so you can't see any water in the brine tank.

So for the 5+ years I've lived here, I've filled it with salt to the "9" line, and I have only rarely seen the water - like when the salt is at the 1 or 2 line. I think you just told me I've been very wrong.

 

[BrandonV]

So for the 5+ years I've lived here, I've filled it with salt to the "9" line, and I have only rarely seen the water - like when the salt is at the 1 or 2 line. I think you just told me I've been very wrong.

Some people prefer to load up their brine tanks to avoid refilling them frequently, while others like me keep them on the lighter side. Ultimately, as long as there's undissolved salt in the tank, the solution remains supersaturated and functions the same. I just try to prevent salt bridges, which is why I don’t overfill.

There was a discussion at one point about stratification, but it's really a moot point. I also don't like overfilling the tank because it seems to stress the plastic out with all the weight which could cause a leak down the road.