OT-Water Softener Maintenance??

Re: OT-Water Softener Maintenance??

Jerry Nicholson

It has been about 30 years since I have had a water softener but I wasn't aware that anyone ever replaced the resin. I remember using resin cleaners and the name sodium hydrosulphite comes to mind - I am not make a recommendation, just dredging up a memory.

In the water softeners that I have had, replacing the resin would have involved completely removing the tank from the system and turning it upside down to dump the old resin.

Re: OT-Water Softener Maintenance??

Larry Clinton At Frankfort, (Central) Indiana

Tom, I was trained on them many years ago at the Calgon (Century / Bruning softeners) and have serviced and installed many - retired from that about 25 years ago.

The resin should not need to be replaced!

As far as I know all brands of Water softeners still use the same Epoxy resin beads. This can be cleaned to remove Iron coatings with chemicals purchased at a softener dealership or other places like Walmart, Amazon Home Depot etc.

However you may want to look at your brine tank. There is a screen or perforated plastic plate in there that the salt sits on that can become clogged. Also lift out the screen / perforated plate and check that there is no "Sludge" in the bottom of the tank. Some salt suppliers don't remove all the fine sand and /or rock and that can accumulate over the years. (Doesn't hurt anything until enough fills the bottom of the tank that it lets less brine be cycled into the softener. That can prevent the resin from being fully charged)

Re: OT-Water Softener Maintenance??

Tom Norton

Larry, thanks for the info! I also need to address the timer as it is making a lot of noise. Found a replacement/upgrade as the old timer motors are not available.

New timer should measure useage

Lee Schierer in McKean, PA

When we replaced our timer a few years ago, the new one measured how much water we used to determine when the unit needed to regenerate. If it is just the two of us, we go a month or more between recycles. If the kids/grandkids come home for a while it is sooner.

Since then we have use maybe 15% of the salt we were using previously and the water is still soft when the system cycles.

Lee.

Re: New timer should measure useage

Larry Clinton At Frankfort, (Central) Indiana

I don't see how a "timer" alone can measure water usage!

Your softener must have a flow meter built in that signals the timer. Normally (at least all the brands I have installed and serviced) the electrical timer has no connection or way to meter the water.

A quick home test which is quite accurate to determine if your water is soft is to obtain a bottle of Ivory Soap, NOT detergent. Fill a clean glass or jar about half full, add I to 2 drops of the soap. Cover the top of the glass with you hand and shake it briefly.

If your water is soft there will be soap bubbles on the top of the water and below that the water will be clear.

If the water is hard, there will be no bubbles and the water will be cloudy.

Re: New timer should measure useage

Lee Schierer in McKean, PA

Yes, my new control unit measures water flow. I think you will find that you have to replace the entire control unit, not just the timer.

Lee

Re: New timer should measure useage

Larry Clinton At Frankfort, (Central) Indiana

OK, yes I agree, but that is quite a bit more expensive than just a replacement timer. I'm also not sure that all of the different brands would accept that replacement.

Drill operated pump??

Tom Norton

The timer is on the way and the new resin is in the basement! Thinking of a small drill operated pump to empty the tank.

Suggestions??