Water softeners remove minerals like calcium and magnesium, which makes your water "hard." Hard water requires more soap to clean dishes and clothes. It also leaves residue on your sinks, tubs and in your toilet. A Sears water softener removes the hard minerals from your water and replaces them with sodium.
If your Sears water softener doesn't seem to be operating correctly, it may be time to have it serviced. Before you call a professional, however, there are a few things you can do to troubleshoot your Sears water softener. Does this Spark an idea?
No Soft Water
If your water is not soft, it could be for several reasons. First, make sure that you have salt in the tank. Replace salt, as necessary, and start the regeneration system. If the salt level was fine, make sure you do not have a salt "bridge." To remove a salt bridge, use a broom handle and break up the salt in several places. If there was a bridge, be sure to run a regeneration cycle.
If neither of these were the issue, check the nozzle and venturi. Make sure they are clean, and that there are no obstructions. Locate these parts with the help of you owner's manual. Clean them with a soft toothbrush with a soap and water mixture. Rinse them thoroughly before reinstalling.
Water Is Harder
Make sure that the water hardness selector is set correctly. If it seems too hard, adjust it to a softer level. Check again for salt "bridges" in your tank. Sometimes bridges will form and it will appear that you have more salt than you actually do. Use the handle of a broom to break bridges down.
Using hot water while the softener is in the regeneration mode will cause your water to be harder. If your water heater is filling up while the regeneration is going, it is filling with hard water. This is why most people set the regeneration timer for early in the morning while they are still asleep.
Tank Full Of Water
Make sure that the drain line is not plugged up anywhere. Follow the line from the tank to the outside of the house. During the winter, if part of your drain line is exposed outside, cover it with old blankets, or attach pipe insulating foam around it to keep water from freezing.
Check the nozzle and venturi just as you would if the water is not soft. If these parts are obstructed, it will cause the tank to fill with water and not drain properly.
Tags: your water, Sears water, sure that, drain line, have salt, Make sure, make sure
