How to Test Water Softener Parts for Efficiency

The testing of water softener parts is essential in ensuring that they continue to work properly. It is important to have a water softener that is up and running in your home. If you find that your water is hard and your system seems to be off, here are a few ways to test the parts for efficiency.

Step 1 - Check Brine Tank

Begin by testing out the brine tank to make sure that everything is working properly. You will want to first check out the consistency of salt in the tank. Checking the manual can help to determine the amount of salt that should be present. Once you have checked the salt level, take a look to make sure that there is no wearing or breakage on the brine line.

Step 2 - Check Iron Levels

Checking the iron levels is another important step necessary to make sure that the water softener is working properly. You want to make sure that you aren't seeing any red or orange stains or spots in the tank. If you do, or there is an iron taste when you drink, you will want to replace or clean the filter. There are several cleaners that you can find to get the job done without having to replace the filter. If the iron level is bad however, a replacement might be necessary.

Step 3 - Check the Water Softener Resins

The water softener resins is going to be one of your biggest checks. Typically this will not need to be replaced, but it also needs to be maintained in order to keep it running. If you find that there is a high level of bacteria or debris getting in, you will need to replace or fix this part of the softener. Many times you will not experience a problem with this part of the softener, but it occurs when you do not use it for a long time. So keep it running to avoid any problems in the future.

Step 4 - Check Cycle Generator

The cycle generator helps to keep the right amount of water flowing through the system. You will have to set the actual cycle generator depending on how much water you think you will be using. In order to test to make sure that this is running properly, you may want to keep track of the water usage for a few days. This allows you to monitor how much is actually being used to set the cycle generator properly instead of just guessing. Many times the amount of water used is under estimated by water softener owners and the cycle generator is set too low. If the water is not being softened at all, or you are having problems with it moving through, this is a good hint that the cycle isn't set properly for the amount of water that you are actually using in your home.