Water Softener Maintenance Schedule: What to Do Monthly and Yearly

A well-installed softener asks very little of you. Almost every failure we get called out for traces back to one of five things, and four of them take under ten minutes to check yourself.

Monthly

• Check the salt level and top up to roughly half full
• Look for a crust across the surface that would indicate a bridge
• Glance at the display for error codes or a stuck cycle
• Confirm the bypass valve is in service position, especially after any plumbing work

Every six months

• Test hardness at a cold tap to confirm the system is actually working
• Inspect the brine line and drain line for kinks or leaks
• Verify the hardness setting on the valve still matches your tested water

Annually

• Run the salt down and clean sediment out of the brine tank
• Clean or replace the brine well float assembly if it is sticking
• Replace sediment and carbon pre-filters if your system has them
• Have the injector and screen cleaned during a service visit

Every several years

Resin has a finite life. Chlorine in municipal water slowly oxidizes it, which is exactly why a carbon stage installed ahead of the softener is worth the money. When capacity drops even though salt use is normal and settings are right, resin is usually the answer.

Troubleshooting: hard water is back

• Bypass valve left open after service — the most common cause by far
• Salt bridge preventing brine from forming
• Hardness setting programmed too low for your water
• Plugged injector or restricted drain line
• Resin at end of life, or fouled by iron

When to call

Continuous water running to drain, salt use that doubled with no explanation, water in the brine tank rising above the salt, or hard water that persists after you have checked the list above. Those are service calls, not DIY afternoons.

BlueWell Water Co tests hardness, chlorine and TDS at your kitchen sink for free anywhere in the San Antonio area, then quotes only the equipment your house actually needs.