Water softener systems allow hardened water to become soft so that soap or shampoo can lather up when we’re washing dishes or taking a bath. However, there does come a time when a water softener tank starts overflowing. But why does even the best water softener overflow?
Water softener tanks start to overflow when the system’s brine water float shut off assembly doesn’t shut the water feed off, and either one or both of the other things occur. This is because the system probably continued adding water into the tank past its appropriate level, or the system didn’t get rid of all the tank’s brine before refilling it. A high water level in your water softeners brine tank could be a malfunction in the brine line, a damaged valve, or a stuck float.
So how do I do about the water softener full of water? Well, that’s what we are here to help you out with.
How to Fix an Overflowing Water Softener Tank
1. Inspect the Brine Line
One of the first things you have to do is ensure that the brine line is correctly attached to the float’s brine tank. Once the flow of water has come to a certain height, the float shuts off. If the brine line isn’t properly attached, it means the water will flow right into the tank and will make the water in the brine tank too high.
2. Unclog the Tank Overflow
Before you think about making any big part repairs or replacements, you’re going to need to consider looking into the simplest of solutions first. You’ll need to inspect whether there’s any salt buildup in the interior of the brine tank. If you must know, salt is capable of clogging up the inside of a tank.
The salt tends to bond together, which thereby obstructs the tank’s water pathway. As such, the water won’t enter the brine tank and instead absorb the salt. After that, the water will sit where it is, and then start overflowing. So if you see a buildup of salt deposits, you can clear the area to get rid of the salt and then have your water softener functioning as it was before. If you live somewhere in Phoenix, Arizona, click here for more information about water softeners.
3. Use the Control Valve for Regeneration
Another way to deal with a water softener brine tank overflow is by using the control valve for regeneration. This valve controls the flow of water in and out of the brine tank during the regeneration process. Regeneration is also known as cleaning out the resin beads that are saturated in the tank with minerals.
This is a thing with water softener systems that they need to regenerate periodically so that the resin bed remains clean. With regeneration, magnesium, and calcium mineral buildup from the resin bed can be flushed out. The valve gives the tank a backwash cycle where the water flow reverses and flushes the accumulated buildup out of the tank.
After that, the brine solution is immediately pumped into the mineral tank. The sodium ions fasten to hard water minerals on each of the resins, removing them from the beads. Upon doing so, water that’s rich with minerals is then flushed out of the softener tank and goes right down the drain.
The softener tank is then filled before being rinsed so the process can start over. Now covered in salt, the resin beads attract the magnesium and calcium minerals. A new regeneration cycle will start using the control valve – clearing out all of the hardened minerals and flushing them down the drain.
4. Look Into the Drain Line
The drain line could be another source of the water softener overflow if the line has any obstruction or blockage. This kind of thing is especially common in households with a bigger iron concentration, forcing homeowners to clean the tank to prevent it from continuously overflowing regularly. If upon cleaning the drain line, you find that the tank still overflows, then you’re going to have to be more rigorous with your cleaning.
If you don’t see anything clogging the line, inspect the valves to ensure that there isn’t a blockage anywhere by the line. This is when a blockage is either moved or gets stuck somewhere else. If there’s any blockage that needs cleaning, clear out the valves and the line. Clearing out a salt hangover float is relatively easy, but it would be better if you see the problem early to prevent long-term damage and save on repair costs as a result.
5. Check the Safety Float
Most water softener systems should come with a device called a safety float. This tool’s job is to shut the water that flows into the brine tank off if it gets too much water supply.
It is known as a safety float because it ensures that the water softener tank doesn’t overflow or lead to a flood. If you find that your tank is overflowing, it means the safety float isn’t correctly functioning as it won’t be able to shut the water flow off when it needs to.
Fortunately, there is a fix to your water flow if it sticks. Use the followings methods:
• Gently remove the float and then run it under some hot water for a couple of minutes.
• When doing this, carefully move the float up and down to ensure it’s freely moving.
• See if the small ball at the float’s bottom is also moving freely.
Be advised: only remove and clean the safety float if or when the water softener isn’t in regeneration mode.
