Softener not working?!?

[Claybe]

Yesterday, I scooped out 2 5 gallon buckets worth of salt out of my brine tank. It was mush and the softener was not softening the water so I figured there was bridge so decided to clean it all out. I cycled the softener last night and this morning the water was still hard. I did the Hach 5B hardness test and it was 14 drops to blue. What am I missing? Why is this thing not working?!?

I am running well water through a spin filter then a 20 micron then a 5 micron all before the softener. I am using resin cleaner as well.

Thanks

 

[Reach4]

3.4 year old softener. Fleck 5600SXT.
Does it draw the brine down during a regen?
Does the brine tank get filled back up with water?
Have you cleaned the injector screen screen and BLFC?

1 ppm iron and 28 grains of hardness.

... and one more thing: did you test cold water after letting it run for a while? Because if not, there could be perfectly soft water coming out of the softener that has not displaced the hard water in the WH yet.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Claybe]

Good idea. I will let the water run for a while and test again. Here is a link to another thread I had several months ago with all the answers to your questions.

https://terrylove.com/forums/index.php?threads/softener-just-need-some-advice-and-help.69019/

 

[Reach4]

Good idea. I will let the water run for a while and test again. Here is a link to another thread I had several months ago with all the answers to your questions.

https://terrylove.com/forums/index.php?threads/softener-just-need-some-advice-and-help.69019/

I had found that thread and edited the post above. There are still 3 questions that were not answered in that other thread.

 

[Claybe]

Rookie mistake! I let the water run for several minutes (on the cold side) and it tested at 1 drop to blue. Thanks for setting me straight!

 

[Claybe]

Another question....what should the soft water be testing at???

 

[ditttohead]

1-2 drops is normal especially if the softener is being used for iron reduction. The actual calculation is a bit more complex as we have to take into consideration hardness leakage/salt efficiency calcs but in general 1-2 grains is normal. Higher salting/less efficient settings will give you softer water.