OT- water softener question

relaurain · Sep 25, 2009

I have a course sand like residue in the bottom of my water softener. It is like the salt pellets crumble apart but don't fully desolve. I have had this run down until it dosn't work and this residue is still there. It's the same white color as the pellets. Is this something that should be scooped out or is this a normal thing? I understand about the cake layer but this is loose like sand? Any ideas?

Lou from Wi. · Sep 25, 2009

The question I want to ask, IS IT Comming from your well or are you on city water? If it's well water, the pump just might be picking up fine sand through the check valve screen, down in the well.I would drain the pressure tank if it is, Check new water comming in and take a look see. Just a suggestion . Don't know for sure.
Others might have a better guess then me.
LOU

Anonymous-0 · Sep 25, 2009

I just had my house system serviced and the technician told me I was putting too many bags of salt into the hopper, this added weight to the pellets at the bottom...and they then crushed up into what looked like course sea salt...and compacted into a solid block. Then the water would not siphon correctly throught this "block" of salt. They removed the block at the bottom of the hopper and told me only 2 bags of salt are needed at most. When gone add only 2 more bags...hope this helps...Mike

Goose · Sep 25, 2009

We had an upright unit that would hold up to four bags of salt. About once a year I'd have to clean a couple of inches of caked salt out of the bottom. I made some tools with long handles that I could reach in with to break it up and scoop it out.

We then went to Menard's and got a small "Water King" unit that only holds one bag of salt. We've had it for six or seven years and I never have had to clean it out. One bag will run about a month. Does a better job than that old upright and doesn't take up near the space.

MarkB_MI · Sep 26, 2009

It is "sludge", the undissolved impurties in your salt. Clean it out and perhaps change brands of salt. I have had good luck with Dura Cube brand salt.

Dan-IA · Sep 26, 2009

Dad says he had a neighbor that cleaned that out when he was a kid. He took that sludge out and dumped it in the grove and his softener stopped working. I've heard it called a resin bed or brine, but it's part of what makes it all work.

Neighbor then took the water softener and sold it at auction because he didn't know what was wrong with it.

greygoat · Sep 28, 2009

All salt has some inpurities, Espiecally if you
are useing ROCK SALT. I had lots of problems with
sand and residue using rock salt, had to clean out the hopper every year or 2, always took the
residue to the township road salt pile. Now i'm
using pellets, and not having any problems.
Pellets are made from refined salt that has been
dissolved and the sand washed out, then redried
and made into pellets. ALSO.. 50 lbs of pellets
at my farm supply store are less expensive than
40 pounds of name brand pellets, (Morton) at
Walmart or the super market. Small bags 20 or 40
pounds made for easy handling by ladys/homeowners
cost more per pound.

OT- water softener question

relaurain

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Lou from Wi.

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Anonymous-0

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Goose

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MarkB_MI

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Dan-IA

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greygoat

Well-known Member

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