OT any Kinetico experts?

Dave H (MI) · Feb 6, 2017

I have an older Kinetico water softener. Not electric, operates off water use. Has a black head on a tank with a dial on top that tells you when it is cycling and at what stage in the cycle. You can manually trip it with a center screw.

It is sticking mid cycle and overflowing the tank. Once stuck the dial doesn't move and water keeps flowing into the salt tank until it comes out the overflow. Basement is half flooded. I can manually shut it off with the center screw but it will just do it again when it cycles. Anyone out there can tell me where to start. I can call service but if it is just a simple cleanup of a mechanism I hate to pay the service call.

Larry EC-OH · Feb 6, 2017

I'm not an expert, but I have a Kinetico and have had the head off a time or two.

The gaskets are very fragile, there are plastic gears and other small parts to get lost when you pull the head off. I suspect something is jammed between the gear teeth at that spot and preventing it to complete the cycle. There are parts available, but you need to know the exact model. I always keep an extra gasket on hand. Because we have low water pressure ours didn't want to end the rinse cycle. We have fixed that problem, so I haven't had to mess with it for about 5 years.

Good luck, Larry

James Babcock · Feb 6, 2017

There were lots of videos on youtube that show how to take the head apart if you decide to do that. The videos helped me a lot the last time I had to mess with our unit.

fixerupper · Feb 6, 2017

Dave I can't help on fixing it, but if your basement floor is cement flush it off with clear water really well. I have a flaky pitted area leading to a drain in my cement basement floor from when the brine tank ran over. I didn't think about rinsing till the top surface of the floor was popping up.

used red MN · Feb 7, 2017

I'm no expert on that brand either. I did take my Kenmore apart 5 or so years ago. I simply lubed up all the plastic valve mechanism with faucet lube and bingo no more sticking( recommendation of web). In this case the valve is powered by a small electric motor. I wonder in your case if water flow turns a small generator to keep a battery charged to run a similar system. I having trouble with mine not seeming to soften the water as well and for as long off time as the it once did. Thought about posting a question on here about that, but I thought I would research some first before I do that.

Larry EC-OH · Feb 7, 2017

Thanks for the reply. Faucet lube...never heard of it, but I'll check it out.

Larry

Russ from MN · Feb 7, 2017

That's what I was going to suggest, the ones we have are cam operated valves, and they get hard to turn in time.

used red MN · Feb 7, 2017

I'm no expert on that brand either. I did take my Kenmore apart 5 or so years ago. I simply lubed up all the plastic valve mechanism with faucet lube and bingo no more sticking( recommendation of web). In this case the valve is powered by a small electric motor. I wonder in your case if water flow turns a small generator to keep a battery charged to run a similar system. I having trouble with mine not seeming to soften the water as well and for as long off time as the it once did. Thought about posting a question on here about that, but I thought I would research some first before I do that.

Russ from MN · Feb 7, 2017

What we used to have at work was called stop-cock grease, then later started using Dow-Corning 111.

OT any Kinetico experts?

Dave H (MI)

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Larry EC-OH

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James Babcock

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fixerupper

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used red MN

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Larry EC-OH

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Russ from MN

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used red MN

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Russ from MN

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