Even though your water softener is likely out of sight, it’s important to know what to look for in case of maintenance issues.
Water softeners are used to reduce mineral build up in household pipes and plumbing fixtures and they can make the soaps you use work better. But when they go awry, they can waste a lot of water and money too.
So, even though your water softener is likely out of sight (in the garage), it’s important to know what to look for in case of maintenance issues.
- Regeneration valve stuck open due to debris or worn-out diaphragm. The regeneration cycle that removes hard water minerals can use up to 120 gallons of water per 1,000 gallons used. If the valve is stuck in the open position, water will run continuously into the softener drain.
- Hissing sound. This is an indicator that water is running. The regeneration cycle shouldn’t last more than a couple of hours, so if you hear hissing outside of that time there may be an issue.
- Flow meter or mechanical clock. Modern softeners have a flow meter that can be set for a specific number of gallons before regenerating, while older mechanical clock softeners will regenerate at a specific time, regardless how much water is used. (Many older models are set to run at 2 a.m.)
If you’re going on vacation or leaving for an extended period of time, it’s a good idea to either bypass the softener or just turn it off. This will save you water as well as money.
Other things to look for on any water softener are dripping pipes or connections, or water on the floor around the softener.
