Water softener maintenance & care guide

Proper maintenance of your water softener ensures optimal performance, extends its lifespan, and keeps your water quality at its best. Follow these simple steps to keep your system running smoothly. By following these steps, your water softener will continue to provide soft, high-quality water for years to come. Regular maintenance will save you time, money, and ensure the best performance from your system.

Step 1: Inspect the system & perform basic checks

Check the Salt Level

  • Open the brine tank and ensure there is enough salt.
  • Salt should be above the water level but not overflowing.
  • If low, top it up with high-quality softener salt.

Look for Salt Bridging

  • Use a stick or broom handle to break up hardened salt that forms a crust (salt bridge) above the water.
  • If salt has become a solid mass, remove and replace it with fresh salt.

Check for Salt Mushing

  • If you notice a sludge-like layer at the bottom of the brine tank, it may be salt mushing, which can block water flow.
  • Scoop out the sludgy salt and replace it with fresh salt.

Step 2: Clean the system with resin cleaner

Over time, resin beads can become clogged with hardness minerals, iron, and other impurities. Cleaning them restores the efficiency of your softener.

How to use resin cleaner
  1. Add the resin cleaner: Pour the recommended amount into the brine tank or salt storage area. It is recommened to use 250 - 500ml of resin cleaner.
  2. Manually regenerate the system: Start a regeneration cycle using the softener’s control panel.
  3. Let the cycle complete: This will flush out impurities and restore the resin’s effectiveness.
  4. Test the water: Use water test strips to check if hardness levels have improved.

Step 3: Check & adjust water softener settings

Check regeneration schedule

  • Most softeners regenerate based on water usage. Ensure your settings match your household’s water consumption.
  • If unsure, check the softener’s manual or use an online calculator to determine the best regeneration schedule.

Confirm hardness settings

  • Check the hardness level setting on your softener to match your water supply’s hardness.
  • Adjust if needed based on your water test results.

Inspect the bypass valve

  • Ensure the bypass valve is set to “service” mode and not bypassing the softener.
  • If it was accidentally switched to bypass mode, your water softener won’t be working properly.

Step 4: Flush & Clean the Brine Tank (optional)

If your brine tank has a lot of buildup, dirt and scum, it’s good practice to clean it out:

  1. Turn off the water softener: Shut off the system and bypass the water supply.
  2. Empty the brine tank: Scoop out remaining salt and sludge.
  3. Clean the tank: Rinse with warm water and scrub with a mild dish soap or vinegar solution.
  4. Refill with fresh salt: Use clean, high-quality salt and restart the system.

Step 5: Final checks & testing

Run a water hardness test

  • Use the test strips provided in your kit to check if your softener is working effectively.
  • If the water is still hard, consider running a second regeneration cycle.

Check water flow & pressure

  • Ensure there are no drops in water pressure, which could indicate a blockage in the softener system.

Monitor softener performance

  • Over the next few days, observe your water’s softness.
  • If water remains hard, check for clogged resin, salt bridging, or incorrect settings.

When to call a technician?

If after servicing your softener you experience:

  • Consistently hard water despite multiple regeneration cycles
  • Leaks or unusual noises from the softener
  • Error codes on the control panel
  • A complete loss of soft water

These could indicate a mechanical issue that requires professional repair.