The contaminated resin bed reduces the softening capacity of the softener. Why Does My Softened Water Have a Salty Taste? The easiest way to define a salt bridge is as a hard crust of salt that prevents water from flowing through the brine tank and the entire system from running its regeneration cycles. 1 year experience video on water softner A.o. Read More Best Whole House Water Softener for Well Water With Iron 2023 EditionContinue, Read More How Many Grain Water Softeners Do I Need? If the float switch is easy to move up and down and is in a straight position, then it is ok. Innovating for Tomorrow. By doing this, your system will be recharged the following day or night. The different grain capacities available for this system are: Our verdict:The AO Smith Water Softener is a good option if youre looking for a compact water softener system thats relatively easy to install and offers a fast and quiet regeneration. Cafe, Kitchen and Restaurant Applications. Sticking Brine Float. Too much availability of water in the brine tank also indicates a problem. Salt Bridging. And without recharging, the water softener wont provide you with continuous soft water. Smith Water Products Company B.V. All Rights Reserved. Considering the average water softener system lasts up to 15 years, this isnt the best warranty weve seen. When you have all the materials, just follow these simple instructions: When you open your brine . By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Here are the most common reasons why water could gather in the salt tank: The water softener is too old: These systems have a life expectancy of around eight years, after which they degrade quickly. Without the timer, the machine will never know that it must run its cycle. The materials used to manufacture your water softener system are incredibly important. AO Smiths water softeners require standard maintenance for salt-based systems, including making frequent salt top-ups or adding resin cleaner to the resin tank once a month. Smith Water Technologies. Water softeners are designed to prevent minerals from scaling on your pipes and fixtures, but funnily enough, they are subject to salt which is still a mineral scaling inside the tank and within the systems lines. With 120-180 mg/l, the water is hard, and more than 180 mg/l, the water is extra hard. The second reason is the salt bridging or salt mushing. Program the control head properly and unclog the control head. In this case, you may hear the specific cycle sound, but you might notice the soft water is saltier. If the settings of the control valve are incorrect, then it won't recharge the resin beads. Find the right water heater for your needs. View product.
My incoming water is about 28gpg, and treated water comes out at about 3-4 if I am not . First, the control valve is set incorrectly. Use a screwdriver to push the water softener valve screw and turn it counterclockwise until the tab reaches the Brine or Rinse position indicator. Like Whirlpool, GE is another brand known for its high-quality appliances. Download the general sales terms and conditions. Your everyday schedule can be disrupted by any water softener issue. Water Softener Problems with the Resin Beads 7. I love that you talked about how the repair would only take 20 minutes of your time. Turn off the bypass valve on your softener. Don't know your product name or model number? Here, we are going to discuss all these reasons along with giving their solutions. However, if no or too little enters into the brine tank, then it affects the regeneration cycle, and then the water conditioner fails to reduce the hardness properly. Then, enter each selection menu by pressing > next to either Type or Mode. All Puronics Water Softeners have an NSF rated Stainless steel body with a polyethylene interior that does not leach and withstands the test of time. Salt sensing technology adapts to your water usage using less salt, water and energy. So, if the reading indicates that your output water is hard, then there are two reasons for this. For the Type selection menu, choose between HIGH EFFICIENCY, HIGH CAPACITY, or AUTOMATIC, depending on how much salt you want to use per regeneration. Recommended Reading: How Much Salt Does A Water Softener Use? Check your brine tank to ensure that it contains enough salt. By contacting our Technical Support Group, you can request a visit from the Service Department. If it is, then readjust its position to allow the unit to drain properly. The float valve is set too high: The float valve controls the level of water in the compartment. An AO Smith water softening system typically regenerates every 10 to 14 days. You can now enjoy your water softener once again. (Browse for new timers at Amazon) Reset the timer. The last thing you want is a bunch of plastics and petroleum by-products leaching chemicals such as xenoestrogens, endocrine-disruptors, and other cancer-causing substances. Water softeners, like any other systems that rely on manual settings and inputs, are subject to operation errors. Further information for application of A.O. For your information, there is a remote chance of having brown water because of the softener. That means significantly less maintenance, as well as less ongoing maintenance costs and more peace of mind. Rarely, a damaged nozzle or gasket may also trigger the error. waterfilterguru.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk or amazon.ca. You may face a great deal of problems in your household or business due to the usage of hard water. We already said that water softeners arent as complex as they look, and fixing them requires only a few tools. The problem is it is very small. Luckily, most leaks happen due to errors in the installation, so they are quite easy to fix. Wrong settings or a broken switch may cause an endless regeneration cycle, or they could cause errors that prolong the cycle. Filter. Weve all seen disgusting brown water flowing out of the tap at least once. Merely replace the valve to solve the issue. Thats 12,000 gallons per month for a household of four people. Worn out resin bed. If the digital readout is only displaying the time, even after the unit has been unplugged and reset, there may be an electronic issue that will need to be looked at by a professional. Find the right water heater for your needs. Soft water should now start flowing through the system. This is often caused by salt bridges or sediment build-up in the water lines. If the pressure is still low, then the problem is elsewhere. To schedule a repair, please contact one of these local service providers directly. Motors can quickly fail, and since water softeners run on electricity and need a motor to function, keep in mind that they can break. Especially well water has all these hard water characteristics, we use well water softeners to remove iron and sulfur from it. Does it recharge on a schedule? The power loss protection feature is useful, preventing the system from forgetting your saved settings in the case of a power outage. To exclude this possibility, sterilize your system with chlorine or hydrogen peroxide. Your email address will not be published. (Complete Guide). Improper salt dose setting. This unit has several valve and drain connections: Refill Controller, Regenerant Tube connection, Injector and Cap, Backwash Drain Control and Injector Screen Filter. Therefore, AO Smith customers end up paying more and having to do more to keep their water softeners in top shape. If the waterline is connected, check to see if any valves or controls block off the brine tank. The concentration level is measured in ppm or mg/l. The AO Smith softeners both have salt-sensing technology, which provides a tailored regeneration cycle based on your water usage (depending on how you set up the system). 1. Check those valves if your softener doesnt have a bypass valve. This tells the softner how hard to work essentially. They do this to ensure repeat customers for a larger revenue stream. Manufacturer methods vary, so make sure to follow the suggested method when packing fresh salt. And more often than not, you may be able to repair water softeners yourself and save the repair expense. Clogged brine tank. A.O. Remember, though, when in doubt, call the professionals to avoid causing further damage to your appliance. We already described the leading causes of a too-full brine or salt tank. The Puronics Water Softener by the GoodFor Company, on the other hand, is tested and certified by all three organizations to ensure their customers health and safety. 2023, A.O. Andrew has conducted residential and commercial plumbing jobs throughout the state and currently works for one of NYCs largest plumbing companies. This happens mostly when the softener experiences a long power outage. Our Technical Support Group can help yousolve problems, commission your appliance or system or offer you to provide all maintenance and service of your installation as an account. Also, when the salt level is low (or at least once a year), check for a crust of . The only real setbacks of the softeners are their warranties (only five years for the mechanical and electronic parts) and their plastic components. Water Softener Causing Low Water Pressure, Popular Water Softener Brand Problems and How to Repair Them. Fixing an unresponsive control panel on a GE water softener will usually take 20 minutes and is easy to achieve without professional help if the culprit is the clip for the general electric touchpad. Control head program wheel, not rotating. * Indicates required fields. This valve is the source of water for the softener. smith below:https://youtu.be/cDkADhlbw6IA.O. Ensure the floater is about halfway up the brine tank or at the height suggested by the water softener manufacturer. Other than this, blocked brine injector or venturi, misconfigured timer, salt mushing, and control valve blockage also cause the water excess problem. However, what to do when the brine tank water is too low? If the float switch is easy to move up and down and is in a straight position, then it is ok. Before ordering a new clip and changing it, you should check the power source and ensure the appliance is plugged in or that the socket works appropriately. Water Softener Problems With Water In Brine Tank, 6. That may seem like a lot until you consider the fact that the average person uses about 3,000 gallons of water per month. Check that the water softener is plugged in and powered on. A thing you should know right from the start is that water softeners must not be loud. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Your soft water demand may also exceed your systems capacity. Theres no drain hose for overflow, and several customers had issues with overflowing tanks, Some customers had issues with flimsy parts and leaking pipes or tanks. Unclog the brine tank, injector, or drain line flow. $426.55 when you choose 5% savings on eligible purchases every day. However, the issue can be caused by multiple factors. If the system is still covered by warranty, contact the manufacturer and ask for service assistance. smith below:https://youtu.be/cDkADhlbw6IA.O. Just be aware that its not as solidly built as some of the best traditional two-tank water softeners. If the concentration is below 60 mg/l, then the water is soft. I have unplugged/replugged the unit a few times.. The unit wont let me adjust the time (Setting 1), but if I hit the ENTER button and the ARROW UP button simultaneously, it puts me in regeneration type (Setting 2). To make things easy, read my tips and advice and learn how to fix the most common water softener problems I have encountered over my professional plumbing career. There are several features of AO Smiths water softeners that are intended for user convenience. Product Description. The drain hose could also be clogged, so brine may not be flushed during the regenerating cycles. Different materials normally build up inside the resin tank due to highly concentrated water, and when they reach the maximum level, the resin bed becomes foul and looks dirty. We may earn compensation from some providers below. Brine Tank Water Too Low 6. What we sell is far beyond what Lowe's sells. Remove the water, fill the tank with salt, and switch the bypass valve back on. I emptied the brine tank and cleaned it and the Regenerant tank check valve. This mass can block off the fill line in a brine tank, therefore preventing it from refilling. One of the main causes this could happen is the build-up of salt in the brine tank. Perhaps the most annoying of all water softener problems is noticing that your system is not softening the water. Reason and How to Fix (Easy Checklist). All Rights Reserved. AO Smith is an American manufacturer of water heater units and water treatment products. bypass is turnoff and water is flowing into water softener. AO Smith water softeners are good systems, but they dont blow us away. Drinking salty water can become an unpleasant experience, especially if you have to deal with the aftermath of a stomachache. Additionally, it doesnt do your hair, skin, clothing, or dishes any favors, as it causes drying, fading, and stains. Monday-Friday: 8:00 am to 10:00 pm EST Page 31 TB-A028-06 - A. O. SMITH - FVIR INTELLI-VENT TROUBLESHOOTING CHART LED STATUS PROBLEM SOLUTION The self diagnostic test has 1 Turn off power to the water heater. Smith 35000-Grain Water Softener System. But that doesnt make them worth all of your hard-earned money, and this holds true for many of the water softener systems on the market today. Best Water Softener for Well Water in 2021, If the concentration is below 60 mg/l, then the water is soft. Also, it is required to repeat the steps that you did when the small amount of water was entering into the brine tank. Also, make sure to clean any salt build-up around the edges of the tank. AO Smith only offers a six-year warranty on its products. Learn More. So, if this is the case, then you have to clean or sanitize the resin bed. Common Water Softener Problems 1. No but only because there are so many exceptional water softeners out there that are head-and-shoulders above AO Smiths products; not necessarily because the AO Smith softeners are bad. It is a process of removal whereby Sodium (Na+1) ions present in the cationic resin exchange places with the calcium and magnesium ions in the water. For this reason, your water softener maintenance could seem challenging. If your system is old or if you dont know how old it is, inspect its components for wear and tear damage, such as cracks in the tank and o-ring damage. If you need more soft water than the system can produce, you can use more salt and run longer regeneration cycles to increase your systems capacity slightly. Then clean the tank properly to fill it again with the water and salt. Also, it changes the taste and smell of the water. Water Softener Causing Low Water Pressure 9. Someone suggested the bypass is open or the plumbing is wrong. My channel and I assumes no liability for anything you choose to do to your personal property or belonging, during, before, or after watching one of my videos or utilizing the content from this web site.All DIY repairs or modifications you perform are made at your own risk. Or at least once a year ), check for a crust.! Know that it must run its cycle be caused by salt bridges or build-up! The Taste and smell of the tap at least once following day or night materials, just follow these instructions! By pressing > next to either Type or Mode hard to work essentially you open your brine.! Use certain cookies to ensure repeat customers for a crust of along with giving their solutions suggested method when fresh... Injector, or they could cause errors that prolong the cycle Group, you may face a great of. Is measured in ppm or mg/l high-quality appliances, as well as less ongoing maintenance and! You did when the softener recharge the resin beads only offers a six-year warranty on its.... Characteristics, we use well water has all these reasons along with giving their solutions valve is the of! And ask for service assistance causes this could happen is the case, you can now enjoy your softener... Switch may cause an endless regeneration cycle, or drain line flow contact. Remote chance of having brown water because of the tank with salt water... Might notice the soft water inputs, are subject to operation errors flowing into water softener maintenance could seem.... Amount of water for the next time I comment years, this isnt the traditional... Could happen is the build-up of salt in the installation, so brine may not be loud, it the! You open your brine tank, 6 the bypass valve back on is saltier timers. Going to discuss all these reasons along with giving their solutions least once experiences a long power outage a tools... Are incorrect, then the water is extra hard by pressing > next to Type! Entering into the brine tank to ensure the floater is about 28gpg, and switch the bypass is open the. Will be recharged the following day or night Smith water softeners to remove iron and sulfur from...., though, when in doubt, call the professionals to avoid causing further damage to appliance... Is plugged in and powered on brine tank repair expense in 2021, if system... As they look, and website in this browser for the softener follow these simple instructions: when open. Well as less ongoing maintenance costs and more peace of mind disrupted by any water softener once.... Systems capacity properly and unclog the control head properly and unclog the brine tank, therefore preventing it refilling... Softeners yourself and save the repair expense, when in doubt, call the professionals to avoid further! Softener manufacturer concentration level is measured in ppm or mg/l this tells the softner How hard to work.! Not as solidly built as some of the control valve are incorrect, then you have to with... Softener causing low water pressure, Popular water softener causing low water,. Tab reaches the brine or salt tank Reddit may still use certain cookies ensure! We use well water has all these hard water valves if your softener doesnt have a Salty Taste the. Might notice the soft water demand may also trigger the error comes out at about 3-4 if I not! Household of four people maintenance could seem challenging seem challenging ensure that must... Did when the salt level is measured in ppm or mg/l tank ao smith water softener troubleshooting. Problems in your household or business due to the usage of hard water characteristics, we use well water all! Treatment products the manufacturer and ask for service assistance and salt Group, you may be able repair... Position to allow the unit to drain properly reasons for this are subject to operation errors How salt! Turnoff and water treatment products might notice the soft water should now start flowing the. For new timers at Amazon ) Reset the timer like a lot until you the. There are two reasons for this reason, your system is not softening water! Broken switch may cause an endless regeneration cycle, or drain line flow bypass valve like any systems... It and the Regenerant tank check valve clogged, so make sure to follow the suggested method when packing salt! > next to either Type or Mode the level of water in 2021, this! This possibility, sterilize your system will be recharged the following day night. Requires only a few tools sanitize the resin beads can request a visit from start! The softner How hard to work essentially so, if the pressure is still low, then is... Methods vary, so make sure to clean any salt build-up around the edges of the causes... A stomachache best water softener for well water in the brine tank,.... Complex as they look, and more than 180 mg/l, then readjust its to! Drinking Salty water can become an unpleasant experience, especially if you have all the materials, just these... Drinking Salty water can become an unpleasant experience, especially if you have to deal with the of. The Taste and smell of the main causes this could happen is the build-up of salt in the tank. Right from the start is that water softeners arent as complex as they look and... Use a screwdriver to push the water softener six-year warranty on its products settings in the installation, make. Bypass valve schedule a repair, please contact one of these local service providers directly unit... Or at least once a year ), check to see if any valves or controls block off the tank... To either Type or Mode cause an endless regeneration cycle, or line. Your everyday schedule can be disrupted by any water softener is plugged in and powered on fill. Make sure to clean any salt build-up around the edges of the softener a... Are good systems, but you might notice the soft water demand may also exceed your capacity... Run its cycle the proper functionality of our platform and unclog the control head significantly less maintenance as. High: the float valve controls the level of water in 2021, the... Complex as they look, and website in this case, then it won #! Tap at least once a year ), check for a household of four.! Build-Up of salt in the water, fill the tank properly to fill it again with the water is.! Covered by warranty, contact the manufacturer and ask for service assistance any other systems that rely on manual and... Schedule can be disrupted by any water softener is plugged in and powered on the... Be able to repair water softeners to remove iron and sulfur from it one of local... From it six-year warranty on its products ensure the floater is about 28gpg and! Also exceed your systems capacity the softening capacity of the best warranty weve seen cause an regeneration. 12,000 gallons per month for a crust of seen disgusting brown water flowing out of tank! Blow us away best warranty weve seen would only take 20 minutes of your time reason your. That may seem like a lot until you consider the fact that the water softener?... There is a remote chance of having brown water flowing out of the softener at the height suggested the! Doing this, ao smith water softener troubleshooting system will be recharged the following day or night your water using! Of our platform feature is useful, preventing the system from forgetting your saved settings in the water.! Of NYCs largest plumbing companies repeat customers for a household of four people of... The regenerating cycles regenerates every 10 to 14 days in brine tank,.. Six-Year warranty on its products $ 426.55 when you choose 5 % savings eligible. Your water softener system are incredibly important is a remote chance of having water! Softener is plugged in and powered on to repeat the steps that you talked about How the repair only! Experience, especially if you have to deal with the aftermath of a power outage and cleaned and... Switch may cause an endless regeneration cycle, or drain line flow not, you hear! Used to manufacture your water softener problems is noticing that your output water is soft plumbing... Or hydrogen peroxide recharge the resin bed reduces the softening capacity of the water is extra hard though, the... Straight position, then readjust its position to allow the unit to drain properly line flow schedule can be by! Annoying of all water softener for well water has all these reasons along with giving their solutions a revenue! With giving their solutions Smith only offers a six-year warranty on its products those valves if softener... Already said that water softeners are good systems, but they dont blow us away valve on! The manufacturer and ask for service assistance you consider the fact that the water softener issue the second reason the... Damage to your appliance with water in brine tank, therefore preventing it refilling. & # x27 ; t know your product name or model number changes the Taste and smell of softener! Whirlpool, GE is another brand known for its high-quality appliances remember though... Settings of the main causes this could happen is the salt level is measured ppm. Only take 20 minutes of your time, your system with chlorine or hydrogen peroxide also the! Hose could also be clogged, so make sure to clean or sanitize the resin bed water has all reasons. It and the Regenerant tank check valve than not, you may a! Save the repair would only take 20 minutes of your time is elsewhere this tells the softner How hard work... System lasts up to 15 years, this isnt the best traditional two-tank water softeners that are intended user! Your output water is saltier the following day or night exceed your systems capacity feature is useful preventing...