admin Water softeners are known for their low maintenance. Sometimes, they work perfectly for years without anyone ever thinking about them. The brine tank is one of those things. It’s easy to forget about because it’s out of sight, yet it’s also one of the most important pieces of the puzzle.
It holds the water and salt that clean out the minerals that were trapped by the resin beads. If there’s a crack, a salt bridge, or a leaking fitting, it can affect your water quality and the safety of your appliances.
Some signs are obvious, like puddles forming around the base of the softener. Others come on slowly: hard-water spots, laundry that feels stiff and rough, less lather when you’re washing dishes, or salt that isn’t being consumed between cycles.
Understand the Brine Tank’s Role
During the regeneration process, the softener uses brine (a solution of salt and water) to flush the minerals from the resin beads (look at www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki if you want numbers). The brine tank’s job is to store salt, keep water levels where they should be, and dispense the brine through various tubes and valves.
When this piece of equipment stops working properly, it doesn’t necessarily mean the entire softener is broken. Here are a few possible causes of the problem:
- The tank itself is cracked, or the lid is damaged
- The brine well or float mechanism is clogged
- The brine line is split or disconnected
- There is salt bridging
- The injector, valve, or fitting is worn out
- The drain line is clogged, causing the regeneration cycle to fail
It’s important to identify the exact problem, since repairing the softener can be much cheaper than replacing the whole thing.
Check Salt, Leaks, and Water Levels
If the water level is too high in the tank, it’s a sign that something isn’t working right. While it’s normal to see some water in the tank after a regeneration cycle, if the level stays too high for too long, it could mean there’s a clog, the float isn’t working, or the valve is broken.
Salt bridging is another issue you’ll see. The salt can form a crust on top of a pocket of empty space, making it seem like there is still a lot of salt in the tank. But there really isn’t.
When you tap the salt gently with a broom handle, you might feel it become hollow, but don’t try to force anything or hammer at the inside of the tank because that can cause serious damage.
To make sure that you understand the situation, follow these three steps: Look at the level of salt, look for any signs of leaking, and ask yourself if you’ve noticed any of the symptoms mentioned above.
However, if the tank is cycling at night, how will you know whether it’s filling up, pulling brine, and draining?
Decide Whether to Repair or Replace
Not all brine tanks need to be replaced when there’s a problem. If there are loose fittings, a blocked tube, a clogged float, or even a small amount of salt bridging, it could be fixed instead; the practical side of Ionex Water LLC starts there.
Even if it turns out that the control valve is drawing the brine, you wouldn’t want to replace the tank. Your technician can help you figure out which step is causing the problem.
It’s more likely that the tank will need to be replaced if the plastic is cracked, the bottom is leaking, or the tank is warped badly enough to cause a problem with a fitting. Or maybe the tank is old, and the parts that aren’t broken are going to break soon.
This step can be skipped if you have a minor case of salt bridging, and the rest of the tank looks fine. Gently break up the salt bridge, add the correct amount of salt, and see if the next cycle runs properly. If the problem persists, there’s a leak, or water is spilling over the edge, you may need to do a more thorough inspection.
Prevent the Same Tank Issues From Returning
Depending on the type and condition of the salt, you may find that your brine tank performs better with clean pellet-style salt than with a brand that has a higher percentage of insolubles. It’s also important to avoid letting the tank sit dry for long periods of time.
Even if there’s plenty of room in the tank, don’t fill it to the brim. Less salt makes it easier to detect a salt bridge, reduces the stress on the tank, and makes it easier to clean out any residue that gathers at the bottom. Once in a while, you’ll probably need to give the tank a good scrub-down after shutting it down and removing the salt.
Run One Final Regeneration Check
Issues with the brine tank don’t usually start as a major problem. But a leaky tank or a failing regeneration cycle can disable your entire water softening system. Keep an eye out for changes in the feel of your water, salt usage, water level in the tank, and water around the base.
Rather than simply refilling the tank with salt or ordering a new part, check for cracks, confirm the water level, and note what happens during the next regeneration cycle.
