An efficient water softener cuts costs on energy bills, extends the lifespan of appliances and clothing, and can reduce or eliminate feelings of dry skin and hair. For all they do for our quality of life, water softeners are fairly low maintenance. Like any machine, however, they are prone to certain hiccups. Luckily, most are easily addressed. Today we will discuss the water softener brine tank and how to troubleshoot potential issues.

What Is The Water Softener Brine Tank?

A water softener brine tank is an essential component of a water softening system. In water softening, hard water is treated to remove minerals like calcium and magnesium ions, which cause scaling and other issues. The water softener utilizes a process called ion exchange, where calcium and magnesium ions in the water are exchanged with sodium ions. 

To accomplish this exchange, a saltwater solution, a.k.a. brine, is channeled from the brine tank through a resin bed, where the sodium ions cling to hundreds of tiny resin beads. When hard water flows through this resin bed, the beads release the sodium ions and take up the calcium and magnesium ones instead. 

Eventually, the resin beads cannot take on any more hard water ions and need to be refreshed, or regenerated. When it is time for the regeneration process, the water softener brine tank will flush new brine into the resin beads, effectively “recharging” them so they are ready to soften your water. 

Recognizing Issues with your Water Softener Brine Tank

One of the main issues that arises with water softener brine tanks is that there is too much water in the well. This is known as “overflow’ and it can have several causes. 

In general, the brine tank should have between 8 and 14 inches of water (refer to your manufacturer’s instructions regarding specific capacity). Remember that when salt is added, the water will be displaced to a higher level (but there shouldn’t actually be more water). 

If there is too much water in the brine tank, your water softener is not performing optimally and you may begin to notice signs of hard water reappearing around the house: limescale build-up, rust, faded clothing, and skin irritation, to name a few. Use our checklist to help troubleshoot what might be causing the water to overflow. 

Troubleshoot Checklist For Too Much Water in Brine Tank

Check The Float Valve

The float valve is sensitive to water levels and is meant to trigger the machine to stop filling with water once a certain level has been reached. If it is broken, caught on something, or coated with mineral buildup, it may not be functioning correctly and allowing too much water to enter the tank. 

Start A Manual Regeneration

Initiate the regeneration process and observe how the tank refills. Is it still high, or is it back to normal? Check back in a couple of days to make sure the water level has stayed the same and not slowly climbed back up to overflow levels. If it has crept back up again, you have a leak somewhere. A water professional can perform an inspection, since the source of the leak will depend on whether or not you have a one or a two-piece system.

Check The Brine Line

This tubing is subject to clogging and may also become detached from the valve float inside the well. Make sure it is free of debris and that the connections at both ends are secure. If there is a leak somewhere, your water softener can’t adequately suck up the brine through the tubing. It just continues to add more water, which either leaks out or keeps rising until the float tells it to shut off. 

You can test the connection by starting a manual regeneration and skipping to the “fill” phase. If you see water spilling out during this cycle, there is an issue with the connection. 

Check For A Salt Clog

In general, it is recommended that you let your water softener brine tank completely run out of salt once or twice a year, so you can ensure any old “mushed” salt can be removed. Even if you do this, your tank can still become clogged with salt. Look for a hard layer or partial layer of salt at the bottom of the brine tank. You will need to break this up and remove it. 

Check The Drain Line

Start a regeneration cycle on your water softener and listen. The first stage is usually the backwash, which quickly pushes water out of the resin bed into the drain. In other words, you should hear water draining at this point. If you can’t hear anything, there could be an issue with the drain line. Look for kinks or clogs or, if it is cold, make sure the line hasn’t frozen.

Check The Injector

This is actually one of the most common causes of an overflowing water softener brine tank. If the injector hole becomes clogged with debris, it has the same effect as a clogged brine line: water continues to fill the brine tank but the unit cannot transport the brine out. 

While you can, technically, clean or replace an injector yourself, it is not recommended. You will want to speak to a qualified water professional who can do this for you. 

Other Common Brine Tank Issues

In addition to overflow, there are a few other issues that can arise with the water softener brine tank:

Salt Bridges

Sometimes, a crust or bridge of salt can form at the top of the salt in the brine tank, preventing proper water softening. This occurs when moisture causes the salt to clump together. Breaking up the salt bridge with a broom handle or similar tool can resolve the issue.

Low Salt Level

If the salt level in the brine tank is too low, the water softener may not be able to effectively regenerate the resin beads. Regularly checking and replenishing salt levels is important for optimal performance.

Improper or Incomplete Regeneration

If the water softener isn't regenerating properly, it could lead to hard water passing through the system and too much water left in the brine tank. The issue may be due to a damaged or old circuit board. A malfunctioning circuit board may complete the regeneration process out of order or even skip a step. The board will need to be repaired or replaced by a professional.

Preventing a Water Softener Malfunction

Regular inspections and maintenance, using the right type and amount of salt, and making sure that your brine tank remains clean and free of debris are great steps to take to ensure a functioning water brine tank. If you do start to have issues, we highly recommend consulting with a professional to help pinpoint and repair the problem.

In Colorado, The WaterPros installs the highest quality water softeners and whole home water filtration units all along the Front Range. If you need a new system or are having issues with your current one, please contact our office or go online today to see how we can help you.