"Water softeners operate on a simple principle: Calcium and magnesium ions in the water switch places with more desirable ions, usually sodium. The exchange eliminates both of the problems of hard water because sodium doesn't precipitate out in pipes or react badly with soap. The amount of sodium this process adds to your water is quite small -- less than 12.5 milligrams per 8-ounce (237-milliliter) glass, well below the standard set by the Food and Drug Administration for "very low sodium" [sources: Shep, U.S. Food and Drug Administration]. If you have health concerns, discuss them with your doctor, or consider either using a different kind of softener or only softening wash water.
The ion replacement takes place within a tank full of small polystyrene beads, also known as resin or zeolite. The negatively charged beads are bonded to positively charged sodium ions. As the water flows past the beads, the sodium ions swap places with the calcium and magnesium ions, which carry a stronger positive charge.
So why do you load up water softeners with salt if the plastic beads do all the work? Over several cycles, calcium and magnesium replace all of the sodium in the beads, after which the unit can no longer soften water. To fix this problem, the softener enters a regeneration cycle during which it soaks the beads in a strong solution of water and salt, or sodium chloride. The sheer amount of sodium in the brine solution causes the calcium and magnesium ions in the beads to give way, and the beads are recharged with sodium. After regeneration, the water softener flushes the remaining brine, plus all of the calcium and magnesium, through a drainpipe. Regeneration creates a lot of salty water -- around 25 gallons (95 liters)."
So this is how your softener works. Now the problem. It would seem that your softener is not flushing the tank correctly after regeneration. This can be caused by several things.
1) The drain line could be plugged. Remember the flushed water is full of salt at the first so the drain line could just be scaled up on the inside.
2) The supply line to the softener have a restriction in it. So that the flush cycle does not run enough water through the system when it flushes.
3) The controller malfunctioning and not flushing the brine water out of the ion beads. Make your softener cycle with the drain line off. See how much water it is using to flush with. Catch the water if you want so you can tell how much it is flushing. The bad news is that if the controller is acting up it is usually just about the same cost to just place the system.
Now there are several types systems. The two most common ones are single or double tank ones.
The single tank softener is more than likely what you currently have. These are set to cycle based on time not water usage. The installer usually test your water and then guess about how much you are using. He then sets when it regenerates. This is usually at night when water usage is low.
The two tank systems usually regenerate based on the gallons of water you use. They can be regenerating the one tank while you still are using treated water from the other tank. These systems usually are more efficient but cost much more. They use less salt because they do not regenerate until they need to based on water usage not time. The Kinetico system are this type. Another nice thing about this type system is that they do not need electric power. They use a metering valve control that uses the water flow/pressure to operate the softener.
As far as there being water in the salt/brine tank. Mine always has water in it. You may not notice it if the salt level is high but if it is half or 1/3 full then you will see the water. It usually is not pretty looking water either. Remember it is salt water so it is not going to be clear. Your brine tank water level being higher could just be the drain line just being restricted.
You should have a separate faucet plumbed on the kitchen sink for drinking water. This is usually unsoftened water. The minerals usually make the water taste better. Also it takes very little salt to make water taste terrible.
I usually do not get much over 8-10 years out of a softener. So yours could just need some repair but more than likely it is shot. Time for a new one.
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