Chasing a problem... Saw today that my 20 year old Culligan is constantly flowing a small stream of water out of the discharge hose, even when not regenerating. Am going to have Culligan come out to take a look - they said likely a seal pack needs replacing. Could this issue introduce brine into the water supply?
How do I test to see if my softener is leaking brine into the water supply?
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Why do you ask?
Leaks might possibly cause some salt not being sufficiently rinsed, so you could in theory get some salt taste for a little while after a regen.
Getting the seals replaced and things cleaned etc sounds good. If he instead suggests a new system, you might check back before committing to that.
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Recall I am chasing a hot side problem where my brass stop valves, etc. are "corroding" on the inside. I noticed today that my softener discharge pipe is constantly flowing - not full flow, but it is flowing when it should not be doing so. I boiled down some soft water on a pan and I can taste what appears to be salt residue on the bottom. Think maybe the softener is bleeding off brine into the plumbing?
What a softener does is to replace calcium and magnesium salts with sodium salts. It is normal to have salt in the softened water. However sodium salt (regular salt) is readily soluble in water.
You could try boiling down hard water and soft water. If the softener were adding salt beyond replacing the magnesium and calcium, the residue would be considerably more than from the hard.
I don't know how the volume should compare. There will be 2 sodium atoms replacing each magnesium or calcium atom, so there is probably some natural volume expansion anyway. The atomic weight of sodium is 22. For Mg and Ca the numbers are 24.3 and 40.
Bannerman
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A common problem when the control valve seals become worn and need to be replaced.
A constant flow to drain does not necessarily signify excessive sodium is being added to your water, unless the leakage flow is routed through the injector which then could result in brine from the brine tank being drawn into the softener resin tank.
Suggest rebuilding the softener control valve and then establish if that also resolves the angle stop sediment/corrosion issue.
As recommended in the other thread, the angle stops may easily be replaced.
Just wanted everyone to see, again, what is accumulating in my hot water valves (and behind them, as I recently removed one). This stuff is making a plug in the copper pipe where it is inserted into the brass fitting. Hot water side only. 20 year old Culligan softener, 2 year old water heater, city water. What is is? What is it happening? How to stop it?
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When wet, it is like wet drywall consistency, maybe a little firmer. Pasty for sure. It can get a little granular too - maybe as it ages??
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