How To Check That Your Kinetico Water Softener Is Working?

Checking that your Kinetico water softener is working properly is essential to ensure it is providing you with the best possible water quality. Fortunately, the process for testing your water softener is quite straightforward.

What Is Kinetico Water Softener?

Kinetico water softeners are systems designed to reduce the amount of hard minerals in your water. The most common hard minerals are calcium and magnesium, which can cause scale buildup that damages your plumbing, appliances, and other equipment. Kinetico softeners use a process called ion exchange to remove these minerals from the water. This process involves replacing the hard minerals with sodium ions. By taking out the hardness from your water, you can ensure that your appliances and pipes are well-protected from scale buildup.

Signs Your Kinetico Water Softener Needs Maintenance

• Water spots and stains: If you have hard water, you may notice spots and stains on your dishes, fixtures, or clothing. You can test the hardness of your water with a home testing kit or by contacting your local water treatment company for a professional analysis.
• Hard water buildup on appliances: One of the best ways to tell if your Kinetico Water Softener is working properly is to look around the kitchen and bathroom for signs of hard water buildup. If you see a white, chalky deposit or residue on sinks, faucets, bathtubs or other fixtures then it’s likely that the unit isn’t working as effectively as it should be. Regular cleaning and maintenance can help but if you notice a lot of residue buildup, then it could mean that your Kinetico Water Softener isn’t doing its job.

  

• Soap scum and poor lathering: If your water softener isn’t working, you may notice that soap scum builds up quickly in your sink, tub or shower. You may also find that it takes more soap and longer to get a good lather. These are signs that your water softener is not doing its job.

  

• Dry, itchy skin and brittle hair: these are common signs of hard water. Hard water not only harms your skin and hair, but also makes it difficult to lather soaps, detergents, and shampoo. If you’re having any issues with your water softener system, then you need to make sure that it is working correctly.
• Plumbing issues: If you’re having plumbing issues, there is a chance that your Kinetico water softener isn’t working properly. The best way to know for sure is to check its performance.

  

How To Check If Your Kinetico Water Softener Is Working

• Check the salt level: Every few weeks, lift the lid of your water softener and check the salt level. If it’s low, add more water softening pellets until the level is restored.
• Observe the regeneration process: The regeneration process is how the Kinetico water softener regenerates itself to continue providing you with softened water. After a period of time, your system will regenerate and use salt and water to flush out old minerals and recharge the resin beads. This should occur at least every two weeks, depending on usage. If you notice that your system is not regenerating, it may be a sign that your unit is not functioning properly.
• Use a water hardness test kit: Test kits come with a set of instructions to guide you through the process and help you determine the hardness of your water. Once you’re done testing, compare your results to the range indicated in your manual and adjust your settings if necessary.
• Conduct a soap test: Fill a glass with water from your tap, add some liquid dish soap and stir. If the mixture produces lots of bubbles then your Kinetico softener isn’t working correctly as it should be removing most of the hardness from the water.
• Inspect the brine tank: The brine tank is one of the core components of your Kinetico water softener. It is where salt pellets are stored and used to regenerate the resin bed, which is essential for removing impurities from your household’s water supply. To check that it’s working properly, look inside the tank and make sure salt pellets are present and the float is moving up and down. If there are no salt pellets or the float isn’t working, it could indicate a problem that needs to be addressed.
• Check for water leaks: If your water softener is not working correctly, it may cause water to leak from the unit. If you notice any leaking, shut off the power immediately and contact a professional for repair.
• Perform a water pressure test: Use a water pressure gauge to take measurements of the pressure before and after your softener. The drop in water pressure should be between 10 – 20 psi per each grain of hardness, i.e., if your incoming hard water contains 10 grains per gallon, your pressure should drop by at least 100 psi.

• No salt in the tank: If you find that the salt level has dropped since your last regeneration, then it is likely that there is a blockage in the brine line. Check the pipe for any signs of kinks or bends and make sure the valve is open to allow water to flow through.
• Clogged injector: Another way to check that your Kinetico water softener is working is by checking for clogged injectors. If the injector is blocked you will notice a reduced flow of water, or no flow at all. The best way to clear a clogged injector is to locate it and then manually clean it with a soft cloth or cotton swab.
• Broken or malfunctioning parts: Every water softener has components that need to be checked periodically. For example, the filter needs to be inspected and replaced regularly, and there could be broken or malfunctioning parts in the system that need to be repaired or replaced. To check if a part is working correctly, you can contact your Kinetico dealer or perform a simple test.
• Power outages and power surges: In the event of a power outage, your Kinetico water softener will not be able to operate. This means that your home’s supply of softened water will cease until the unit can reset itself when power is restored. To avoid this disruption in service, you may want to consider installing an external backup battery for your system.
• Improper installation: If your water softener is not properly installed, then it will not be able to operate correctly. Be sure to carefully read the installation instructions provided by Kinetico and/or contact a professional installer for assistance if needed.

How To Reset Kinetico Water Softener?

If your Kinetico water softener is not working, you may need to reset it. Depending on the type of softener system you have, there are different steps for resetting:

For a Kinetico Signature Series™ Water Softener System:

1. Ensure that the top compartment valve (located on the top of the unit) is in its closed position.

2. Locate the reset button, located to the right of the controller display and press it for one second.

3. Turn off the power supply to your system by unplugging it from an electrical outlet or flipping a circuit breaker switch depending on your setup.

4. Wait a few minutes, then turn the power supply back on.

5. The softener will now start its regeneration cycle and reset itself.

For Kinetico K5™ Drinking Water System:

1. Locate the reset button above the program selector switch (located to the left of the controller display).

2. Press and hold the reset button down for 10 seconds until you hear a beep from the controller.

3. The softener will now start its regeneration cycle and reset itself.

FAQs

What type of salt should I use in my Kinetico water softener?

Kinetico recommends using a high-purity, solar, evaporated or potassium chloride salt. Do not use rock salt as it can lead to reduced efficiency and shorten the life of your system.

Is it safe to drink water from a Kinetico water softener?

Yes, it is safe to drink water from a Kinetico water softener. The K5 system combines four filtration technologies for the highest quality drinking water .

What is the average life of water softener?

A water softener typically has an average life of 10-15 years, depending on the make and model. Regular maintenance helps extend its lifespan. Signs that your water softener may be nearing the end of its life include decreased performance or higher energy consumption.

How long does it take water softener to regenerate?

Regeneration depends on the type of water softener you have. Most Kinetico Water Softeners regenerate at night and it takes about three to six hours. The regeneration time is determined by the size of the resin bed which absorbs hardness minerals and any other contaminants that need to be removed from your water. If you have a large home, your water softener may take a bit longer to regenerate. The process will also depend on the type of resin used in the system and the amount of water being treated. Generally, it is recommended that Kinetico Water Softeners be regenerated every 3-4 weeks to ensure maximum efficiency.

Conclusion

t is very important to regularly monitor and maintain a Kinetico water softener in order to ensure its efficiency and efficacy. Regularly checking that the water softener is operating correctly can save both time and money in the long run. To check if your Kinetico water softener is working properly, inspect the brine tank for any signs of scale buildup, check the pressure gauge to make sure there is no drop in water pressure, and test your water to ensure that it is adequately softened. Additionally, replacing salt when necessary and performing a regeneration cycle are important steps to keep your softener up and running.