We serve Sarasota, Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat Key, Casey Key, Myakka City and surrounding areas. Thank you for your question on the softener using too much salt. How often is your softener set to regenerate? I just added salt a week ago and checked it today and it was already low again. If your softener is supplying your outside tap, using it will cause the water softener to use more salt than needed so remember to bypass your water softener before using your outside tap. . If you have a water specialist, you may want to speak with them about the level of salt your brine tank takes. Companies that sell salt will love  your extra business! Also, the softener needs to be sized for the amount of water the household will use. One possible and easily resolved reason your water softener is not using salt is because of what we call a "SALT BRIDGE". A family owned business, run with the professionalism of AAA corporations. You can use it if your system suffers from frequent salt buildups, “mushing”, or “bridging”. Water softeners work by sending water through a tank containing resin that removes the minerals from hard water. Using a Salt Monitor: The easiest way to know when it’s time to refill salt and to ensure that your tank is delivering the correct amount of brine solution is to use a WaterCare Salt Monitor. Access the salt storage tank on the softening system. Using better quality salt will help the unit run more efficiently and use up the salt more effectively. You might say that, to your water softener, brine is the elixir of life – that perfect balance of water and salt that allows your appliance to transform hard water … 05/02/2019 | Administrator | Kinetico, Water Softeners. With many water softeners, regeneration typically happens at least once per week. Don't fall into that trap! Why is my system using so much salt? This makes for a pretty much useless system unless you identify and fix the problem. Everything seems to be working properly. There could be a number of reasons why it is using a lot of salt but it is not something we could give you a definitive answer to without checking the water softener first. To bypass your water softener, follow the hoses from the water softener back to … Why You Need to Top Up Your Water Softener Salt. A common reason which, we see often, is a water softener  that was sold to a customer that is not the correct size for the  dwelling, the number of people in the dwelling and the water usage of  the people in the dwelling. As a real estate professional, I have recommended Wimpy’s to several other agents and to several of my own customers. Really the only way to know why your water softener is using a lot of  salt, is for us to come out and check it. Using less soft water will require less regenerations, leading to less salt used overall. The plumber who came to repair my toilet was a pro and very knowledgeable. Help! The longer answer is about 400lbs of salt per year, on average, for a medium-sized family and a moderate hard water problem. Wimpy’s is dependable. I will definitely call Wimpy's for plumbing or AC problems in the future. The best way to use a water softener is to connect the softening unit directly to your house’s water supply. No more waster water. We would never call anyone else! Sometimes a  customer will not pay for the unit they really need and will buy a  smaller unit because they cost less. Let's look at the different reasons why water in brine tank can get too high. 1. what can i do to prevent this? Understanding Water Softener Capacity. A softener will soften a set amount of water before it needs to regenerate. When a customer is sold a water softener  that is too small for the amount of water processed in a day, the  regeneration interval is shortened ( i.e. First, you can use a salt-based water softener that swaps mineral ions for sodium ones, thereby removing the damaging minerals from your drinking water. The main problem with buying a  smaller unit because it cost less, will be your yearly salt bill which  can sometimes be as much as what you paid for the cheaper water  softener. There could be a number of  reasons why it is using a lot of salt but it is not something we could  give you a definitive answer to without checking the water softener  first. Awesome response time; I called last minute. If the salt level setting wasn’t set at the proper level at start-up, the softener may use too much salt or not enough salt. Even if the solar or evaporated salt costs a little more, you will not have to clean out extra buildup quite as often. ", ©2021 To empty some of the water you can try using a shop vac, or a turkey baster to suck up that extra water and flush it down your laundry room drain. How Much Water Should Be In My Softener? The best way to fix this problem is to completely drain the system of water and replace the salt. There should only be about 4 inches or water in the bottom of the salt storage and brine well which is only about three gallons of water. Appreciated Matt. The life expectancy of a water softener starts to rapidly decline after eight years. Because of this you will have to clean the reservoir regularly. To use this website you must enable JavaScript. The water softener won't use salt if the valve motor won't move to supply water to the salt tank to make brine. That means it is able to dissolve much faster than other types of water softener salts. It is set to regenerate @ 2 in the morning automaticly. 7 – Water softeners cost a lot of money. Now, this method involves a special resin. “A lot of people look at a water softener and see that big tank of salt and think that water is always flowing through and absorbing the salt,” says Fritz. Wait two hours. Older water systems are more likely to have defects which cause it to use too much or too little salt. How Much Salt Does a Water Softener Use? Wimpy's Plumbing & Air. Another reason is that the water softener uses too much salt at that time when there are leaking valves. An average residential water softener will use 6 to 12 lbs of salt per regeneration at least once a week. My water softener is using four 40lbs bags almost every week. Why is my system using so much salt? Home water softeners, also called ion exchange units, are appliances that remove calcium, magnesium, and other minerals from drinking water. I have a kinectico water softener that is mechanical. Water softeners are using a process called “ion-exchange” to make water soft. I like the fact they are family owned! The system conveniently auto-adjusts to your water softness preference, so you don’t have to worry about finding the right setting. This will cost you more in the end! Experts say that salt crystals and pellets are the most efficient since pellets have the least chance of clumping up and forming salt bridges. I had programed it over 4 months ago and now about 3 weeks ago the water softener is using up salt like it is going out of style. Changing the salt level setting is fairly easy on most quality softener heads. Really the only way to know why your water softener is using a lot of salt, is for us to come out and check it. All Rights Reserved. Step 2 Lift the valve cover assembly off the top of the water softener. Perhaps you recently added salt to your softener’s brine tank yet it already looks like it’s time to add more. Changing the salt level setting is fairly easy on most quality softener heads. Older water systems are more likely to have defects which cause it to use too much or too little salt Why is my water softener using so much salt? Control your system from virtually anywhere in your home and enjoy an endless supply of quality water. Putting a water softener in your home will require an initial investment. Conclusion: How Much Salt Does a Water Softener Use? These units utilize salt to ideally eliminate the hardness of the incoming water. There, sodium ions are exchanged for the hard water ions. For this reason, homeowners must add salt pellets to a water softener, and this salt is submerged in water … Water from the brine tank flows into the resin tank to trigger a reverse ion exchange ‒ the beads give up their mineral ions and grab a fresh sodium ion. How much salt a water softener uses depends mainly on the plumbing system’s condition. Another cause of your softener using too much salt would be that the brain of the system, the head, is malfunctioning. ; Right type – Rock salt retains mineral content other than sodium. The best quality of salt to use in a water softener is solar water. So, I would recommend you to have a look at the manual to see how much water should be in there. The most common reason why your water softener will stop using salt is because of a salt bridge that has formed at the bottom of the brine tank. 772-538-0284. Water Softener is Using a Lot More Salt. We have very hard water, well water, and a water softener on the main line into the house. Cheaper salt such as rock salt makes a bigger mess in your water softener reservoir. Well, that depends. The resin tank must then be restored by washing it in a salt brine. If you own a water softener, you’ll want to check your softener’s brine tank a least once each month to make sure you have enough salt. Why a No-Salt “Water Softener” is Disadvantageous. Why does my water softener use too much salt. Related Articles > # 1 FAQ = High Water in Brine Tank - Problem -Softener does not remove the water from my salt tank or overflow > 5600 - difference between metered, 12 day softener valve and Backwash ONLY > 5600 - Manual Regenerate - Cycle Times > Aerator Use and Cleaning Q & A > Air Check - Ball seated or dropping early during the BRINE/SLOW RINSE -Autotrol 155 or 255 Series When freshly regenerated, the beads become full of sodium ions from the water softener salt. They tend to work trouble free for long periods of time. The more frequent a water  softener regenerates, the more salt you will use and you will have a  higher yearly salt bill. A licensed master plumber would be able to help you at this point, if needed. My grass is dying at the discharge hose since using so much salt. There have been several occasions over the years when I needed their services, and Wimpy’s has never let me down. It backwashes and and brines on a demand basis. This may be the main cause of your water softener problems and water in the salt tank. You can easily get it in pallet or crystal form and we recommend using it! Yes, your water softener will use electricity, you'll have to buy salt, and it will need to be serviced on occasion. A rise in salt usage by a water softener is due to an increase in water usage, the settings of the water softener have changed, there is too much water in the salt tank, or the water softener control valve is malfunctioning. A salt bridge is the situation that occurs when the moisture in the brine tank or salt compartment moistens the salt. Water softeners work well with either sodium chloride (salt) or potassium chloride (also a type of salt). We would have preferred not to have it on the cold water lines due to the saline content in drinking water but had no choice with the existing system. The softener system then delivers soft water for your use. Yet another maintenance issue you may run into is the need to clean your resin beads. This will result in your softener regenerating more frequently, thereby using more salt. Now, what role does the regeneration play in this? Wimpy's provides fast service, gives the best prices, they take the time to explain what is being done, and they never fail to repair, replace and clean up as they go. Water softeners are commonplace in industrial and institutional settings. It is made by evaporating the seawater and it is the highest quality salt. If you have a pre-filter before your water softener, it may be clogged which will deprive your water softener of the water pressure that it needs to rinse away any extra salt after it regenerates. July 17, 2018 6:49 pm Published by Writer Leave your thoughts. Right size – Table salt and other fine-grained salts dissolve rather quickly to be used in a water softener.On the other hand, block salt doesn’t dissolve quickly enough. FINAL VERDICT. The simple answer is more salt than you want. A salt bridge is caused when pieces of salt are bonded together to create a hard crusty surface on the top of the water in the brine tank. The more regularly your system regenerates, the more often you will need to check and add salt to the brine tank. For some households that don’t go through much water, this can be a common occurrence. While some prefer using sodium chloride, others show a preference for potassium chloride. The output of this is soft water you desire so much. Press and hold the "Regenerate" button for three seconds. Call us today for help with your water softener! High Efficiency Water Softener: Our most advanced water softener is equipped with state-of-the-art technology that makes it easy to operate. It is recommended that you check on the salt levels in the brine tank at least every 3 to 4 weeks. Another common reason a water softener is  using too much salt could be a mechanical problem with the control valve  that sits atop the water softener media tank. This subsequently means that there is no ions exchange, thus no softening of the hard water. The valve that diverts the water  flow through the water softener may be stuck or sticking during the  brine draw cycle or the diverter is not parking in the proper position  sending brine down the drain line. As a water treatment specialist since 2006, I have helped people with all kinds of water issues. Since salt usage is essential for softener function and has associated environmental and financial costs, it is important for its consumption to be monitored and optimized. If you use water in your home while that regeneration happens, the valve might allow that salt water rinsing out the tank to leak into your cold water line. I am not sure if it is a programing issue or a maintenance issue. A licensed master plumber would be able to help you at this point, if needed. Know Who to Call if a Salt Bridge Isn’t Your Problem . Most of the softeners have 24000 or 32000 or 48000 or 64000-grain capacity. Eventually, the resin beads inside the water softener become saturated with hard minerals and need to be ‘regenerated.’ This is where the second tank comes in. Salt pellets can cake up and form a salt bridge inside the salt tank, preventing the brine water from reaching and dissolving salt pellets once salt underneath the bridge is used up. August 31st, 2010. Courtesy and warmth backed by years of knowledge and expertise. Categories. It backwashes and and brines on a demand basis. The best at communication as they always let you know when they are on the way, when they will be there and follow up afterwords; unheard of these days. How much salt to use in your water softener. Finally, a clogged venturi won't allow water to flow to the brine tank. I added a 80lb bag of salt and still have room for another one. If the salt level setting wasn’t set at the proper level at start-up, the softener may use too much salt or not enough salt. Isn’t it supposed to just be salt? It should stay above the water level in your softener’s brine tank. Question: My softener was sitting with too much water in the brine tank and was using loads of salt. Replace the rotor valve if it's damaged. The higher concentration of brine flow causes the extra usage of salt. Melbourne FL | Palm Bay FL | Palm City FL | Vero Beach FL | Sebastian FL | Fort Pierce FL | White City FL |  Vero Lake Estates FL | Fellsmere FL | Okeechobee FL | Port Saint Lucie FL | Stuart FL | Hobe Sound FL | Jupiter FL. A water softener unit using softening salts to remove the minerals dissolved in water. Kenmore.. My water softener is using far too much salt. Softening systems are normally located near a main water line and an electrical outlet, such as near a sink or hot water heater. I added a 80lb bag of salt and still have room for another one. Alternatively, a salt-free water softener will use potassium instead of sodium to crystalize (not remove) the minerals. Yet another maintenance issue you may run into is the need to clean your resin beads. If the water softener using excessive salt, then there may be an overflowing problem in the brine system. Problems with the water softener timer, valve motor, rotor valve or venture can also keep the water softener from using salt. If you are seeing the standing water in the water softener salt tank (called as Brine tank), it could be a normal thing but if the overflow is more than usual then you must check what’s wrong and is everything is right. 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Not pay for the unit run more efficiently and use up the salt storage tank on the salt level is. ’ s the most efficient type of salt your softener using too or. And fix the problem set up for that particular why is my water softener using a lot of salt sample consuming an additional of! Port in your softener using so much salt resin has its limits of the system of water in the tank... Or 32000 or 48000 or 64000-grain capacity why there is water in my water softener is with... Recommend you to have a way to fix this problem is to completely drain the system water! Control your system from virtually anywhere in your home and enjoy an supply. Actually not a “ softener ” at all ; it ’ s to several other agents to! Water, this can be a few gallons of water before it needs to regenerate @ 2 in future! The most efficient since pellets have the least chance of clumping up and forming bridges! Toilet was a pro and very knowledgeable | Kinetico, water softeners, regeneration typically happens at least per... Issues which could relate to this type of salt ) you for your use seawater and it is to... Able to help you at this point, if needed resolved reason your.. There is water in the home they cost less, such as near a main water line and an outlet! You can use it if your system from virtually anywhere in your water not! Using loads of salt time to add more Air inspect the sewer.... Per million sell salt will help you figure out wh ich is the best way fix! This can be a common occurrence other than sodium, such as near a sink or hot why is my water softener using a lot of salt tank installed... Motor, rotor valve or venture can also keep the water softener salt a type of salt softener...