Vertical pressure tank connected to a water pump outdoors

Orange/rust stains even with a working softener

Softeners handle hardness well but have limited ability to remove iron, especially iron that has already oxidized. Iron coats the resin, cuts capacity and passes through to stain fixtures. Test the water before recommending an iron filter or resin cleaning.

Single source ~40 min moderateBrands: All

Before you start

Follow the label for resin cleaner; some products are acidic.

Diagnostic steps

Unlock all 4 steps with expected values

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OnCall Tech is a reference tool for trained technicians and can make mistakes. Always disconnect power and confirm with the manufacturer's documentation before you work.

More water softeners & filters guides

Guide · Water Softener

Water tastes salty after the softener regenerates

Softened water should not taste salty. A salty taste means brine was not fully drawn and rinsed out of the resin: clogged injector or brine line, restricted drain line or drain flow control, low supply pressure during regeneration, or a regeneration interrupted by a power or pressure loss.

5 steps ~60 minmoderate

Guide · Water Softener

Water softener uses too much salt or regenerates every night

Excess salt use is almost always a settings problem: hardness programmed too high, a timer set to regenerate every day, wrong capacity or salt dose for the household, or a lost program. Mechanical causes include a leaking brine valve, iron-fouled resin and a brine tank that overfills.

4 steps ~40 mineasy

Guide · Water Softener

Softener regenerates at the wrong time (often after a power outage)

Most timer and metered controls schedule regeneration by the clock, typically in the middle of the night. After an outage the clock can be wrong or reset, so regenerations happen when people are using water. The softener still softens, but the clock and settings need checking.

4 steps ~20 mineasy