Do Kinetico Water Softeners Need Maintenance
Darios Uclaray
Regular examinations of the sediment pre-filter, purchasing quality salt and inspecting brine tank float assembly are some key elements that should be added to your home maintenance list. How should an owner go about maintaining this system?
Manufacturers rinse the salt crystal before packing them for sale to remove this dirt, but some debris will remain in the crystals and make its way into the brine tank of the water softener. This small amount rarely causes problems with the system on a daily basis. Nevertheless, if the system runs low on salt, issues arise.
The dirt present in the salt crystals typically makes its way to the bottom of the tank where it remains. If the tank runs low on salt, however, the addition of more salt stirs up this dirt. It could then make its way into the brine float assembly and become lodged in the shut-off float.
Kinetico water softeners require very pure salt for proper operation. Manufacturers create solar salt by taking saltwater, allowing it to evaporate, and letting it re-crystallize. This reduces the amount of dirt present in the bag of salt crystals, although some particles will remain.
Pellet salt serves as an alternative to solar salt. Like solar salt, pellet salt comes free of debris and offers a higher level of purity. However, pellet salt contains a binder that allows the salt to hold its shape. This binder settles in the bottom of the brine tank as the salt in the pellet dissolves.
Clean the wall of the brine tank when adding salt. Never overlook this step, as you must remove the dirt and debris, or they will lead to system issues. Pay close attention to the waterline, as this is where the dirt and debris often accumulate.
If the floating dirt remains in the tank, it makes its way to the bottom of the tank. The system may then draw it into the water softener control valve, or the brine float shut off. This could lead to failure of the brine float shut-off or it might completely stop operation of the water softener. This happens when dirt becomes lodged in the gears of the control valve.
Manufacturers balance these gears before putting the system up for sale. If the gears and impellers cannot spin freely, the system cannot operate. This could cause damage to the water fixtures of the home because of hard water build up. In addition, the hot water heater could sustain damage because of a permanent build up in the heater. This brings about expensive repair bills.
Sediment pre-filters help to prevent debris from making its way into the control valve. When debris makes its way into the valves or gears, they malfunction, and the system stops working. The pre-filter helps to prevent this, saving the owner money on costly repairs or a replacement system.
The black two-handed Mach bypass offers a very reliable bypass for water softener owners. They can turn the handle to different positions with ease, and the system will display a green color in the window when the system is operating normally. When the system is set to bypass, it displays a yellow color, and the red position shuts the water off completely.
Owners need to rotate the handle a few times every year to ensure smooth operation when it needs to be activated. Using both hands, rotate the handle completely to the right and then completely to the left. Finally, return it to the green in-service position.
A Kinetico tank comes in a smaller size than standard water softener tanks. As a result, the company fills the resin tank almost to the top. A basket-type screen holds the resin in the tank, and this prevents the resin from fluffing up like it does in a standard water softener. Standard water filters fluff the resin to ensure the system uses it evenly.
When the Kinetico water softener sits in the finished area of the home, the owner should add an overflow line to the salt tank. A small white overflow fitting sits on the side of the tank. The fitting allows users to attach an overflow drain hose running to a drainage area.
Tank overflows and water leaks remain extremely rare with Kinetico water softeners, but they could happen. Water does a great deal of damage in very little time, and the home needs protection from a disaster of this type.
A water flood-detector allows the homeowner to know there is an issue when something goes wrong within the any plumbing issues. It also becomes of help with other water appliances near the softener. For this reason, every home needs a detector of this type, just as they need smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.
Regular maintenance of your Kinetico water softener extends its lifespan and ensures it operates properly at all times. If you run into a situation where you cannot fix the system or need assistance with regular maintenance tasks, call Aquarius Home Services for help.
Our team is ready to assist in any way necessary to keep the system up and running at all times. All you need to do is ask. The technicians undergo training to make certain they can address any issue that arises with the water softener system and educates users on how to keep their system running.
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Kinetico San Antonio is dedicated to providing your home with technology that boosts water quality. Our team keeps the needs of your South Texas home in mind during every single service. Read ahead to learn a few significant maintenance tips for your softening system.
A water softener is an investment that will benefit your home in numerous ways. When this system is in need of a little TLC, a few methods can help it operate efficiently! Ultimately, maintenance is the key to getting the most from this technology and your daily water use.
A salt bridge is a crusty, residual build-up of salt that can form anywhere in your brine tank. They are created when salt clumps together, causing it to not mix with the water. These bridges can form by using low-quality salt or when humidity is high.
Pour hot water into the tank and over the salt to break up this buildup. The water will loosen them and remove the bridges from the sides of your tank. If salt bridges occur frequently in your system, it may be a sign of an issue that requires professional attention.
The first step is to identify your brine tank (sometimes referred to as a brine drum). The brine tank for most water softeners, like the Kinetico Premier Series, will be located next to the resin tank(s). The brine tanks for Kinetico water softeners are usually gray with a black lid and will be cylindrical or hexagonal in shape. You could also have a brine tank that is all black. Salt or potassium chloride, for the regeneration process, is stored in the brine tank.
After you have had your water softener for a while, you will begin to learn how much salt you normally go through each month. This will help you determine how often and how much salt you should purchase and when you will need to add it. As an added convenience, some water treatment dealers offer salt delivery to make adding salt even easier. Many dealers also have regular or annual salt sales, making stocking up on salt more economical.
Kinetico recently introduced our latest smart home device: the Kinex Salt Monitor! When the Kinex Salt Monitor is installed with your water softener, you do not need to manually check the level of salt. The salt monitor measures your salt usage and the amount of salt left in the brine tank. The monitor, which is connected to the Kinetico App on your smartphone or tablet, will send you salt level notifications. In the Kinetico App, you can set the notifications to alert you when you need to add salt to the brine tank.
When you determine your system needs salt, how much should you add? It is important not to add too much salt. Filling the brine tank completely could cause the salt to bridge. A salt bridge is when the salt pellets or cubes harden together to form a solid clump of salt. To prevent salt from bridging, fill your brine tank with salt or potassium chloride based on these guidelines.
For those who live in hard water areas, water softeners can be used as a low maintenance method of removing hard water minerals. There are many benefits, such as promoting softer skin and hair, and preventing limescale.
Modern water softeners will benefit from a good clean anywhere between once a year or every five years. However, if you start noticing a funny smell, signs of hard water, or discolouration, you will need to clean the system as soon as possible.
Every water softener model works differently so always make sure you check the manual before you start adding any salt. The manual will guide you on whether the system runs on tablet, granular, or block salt.
Shut off the water supply before emptying. Pour the water out, discard it and then take out any remaining salt and discard that too. Use the previously mentioned methods to dissolve any salt bridges if need be.
Pour a generous amount of washing up liquid into hot water until it gets nice and soapy, then use a brush/sponge with a long handle so you can scrub the inside. Get rid of the soapy water and then rinse with plain water.
After cleaning the brine tank with soapy water and rinsing, mix around 2 ounces of bleach with 3 gallons of water. Leave the mixture alone for around 15 minutes to kill any harmful bacteria like mould.
Need further assistance with cleaning your water softener? Please do not hesitate to get in contact with a Kinetico water softener specialist or book a repair with our expert technicians, we are always here to help.
The brine tank can have dirt lodged into it or have salt blocked up which can cause damage in the long term. A professional can clean this out easily for you and provide you with advice to prevent issues with the brine tank.
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