water softner not taking/using salt?

[Freakingstang]

I went ouf of town for a couple months and ever since I've been home my water softner doesn't seem to be working. I bought my place last fall and since I've been here i haven't had an issue with rust in toliets or anything.

Its a kinetico dual tank unit on a timer. its set for 1am regeneration, which I hear it every night, but even with manual regenerating the softner, its not using any salt. I'm kinda new to the water softners.

Any tips or pointers that I might try before calling someone out and paying a big service call?

Thanks

 

[Chooglin]

I will take a stab at this one.I know on my unit (Not the same as yours),the tank that holds the salt,must have
about 5 gallons of water in it ,at all times.this is what makes the brine to flush the unit out when it cycles.
If there is no water in the holding tank (for the salt) your screen is plugged up on the timer unit.this needs cleaned
or replaced.

 

[Otto Syracuse]

I will also add that iron deposits will build up on all the parts after a while and clog up the whole system. I add IRON OUT (I buy it at Ace Hardware) to every load of salt I put in. Haven't had a problem since then.

 

[RobertN]

Sometimes you can get a bridge of salt that solidifies in the salt bin. I had to clean my salt bin out once a couple years ago because of that. It just looked like it was not using any salt, but you could tell the water was not as soft.

 

[Stimw]

Just had problem with my Clear Water System not using salt.
After checking with the dealer he told me that there is a small filter on the head assembly and two plastic pieces with small orifice that can get stopped up. I cleaned some sugar sand from them and it is now working great!
There is a small plastic piece with two screws on the side of the head where I found the screen on mine.

 

[Concordriver]

Water softeners have a lifetime. I just had to replace mine...it was ~ 20 years old. New one cost ~ $1800. But, now I have peace of mind for many years to come.

 

[bcjmmac]

Probably not the issue, but have you confirmed that the bypass (if there is one) isn't open? On my unit, there is a bypass that we open when we are watering outside so that we don't condition that water.

 

[Scooby074]

+1 on the Iron Out.

I add 1/4 cup between bags when I fill the salt reservoir. I also add about a cup to the water in the bottom of the empty tank before I add new salt, then force a regen for that night.

 

[KYErik]

My unit first fills/tops off the salt tank using a water shut off float (like a toilet fill valve), then sucks at least half of the salt water out of the salt tank using a small venturi in the unit. When I notice that the water feels hard, I first check the salt tank, if the water is at the "high" level (I usually keep it only half full of salt so I can easily see the water level), then I know that it did not suck the salt water into the unit at the last recharge. This means that I need to take apart the little venturi mixing valve and clean it. I have also had a few salt bridges in the past.

 

[Egon]

After ensuring all the valves switch as required, are clear and screens/eductors are clear consider flushing out the salt tank and running several cycles back to back with no salt to flush out the system. Then blow air thought the resin filter to fluff up the bed and stop channelling. Next get a resin cleaner and use as per directions.