Water softener problem

[attila]

I've had a GE watersoftener for about 2 years. It's one of the "Smart" softeners. It has worked fine until recently. I've been having a great deal of "sand" buildup in the filters on my faucets and I've noticed sand in the toilet tanks. To give you an idea how much sand, after just one bath, the filter in the tub faucet had at least 2 tablespoons of sand. We called the town water department. They sent an inspector to the house and he said it was the water softener. What causes the "sand" and what can I do to stop it and prevent it from happening again???
Thanks,
Attila

[Gary Slusser]

Softeners don't have any sand in them, but they have resin. It sounds as if you have resin in your plumbing. By-pass the unit and clean all the fixtures of resin if possible. This is a serious problem and can cause serious damage to fixtures and appliances requiring expensive replacement etc..

Gary
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Doug Aleshire, Super Moderator 2

[majakdragon]

Don't forget to flush the water heater as the resin/sand will be in there also.

instructions for flushing the water heater, click on or copy and paste link below.

http://forum.doityourself.com/showthread.php?t=134483


Good luck and post back

[attila]

Thanks. I've already bypassed the softener and cleaned all the fixtures. I don't have a water heater so I don't have to worry about that. My hot water comes from my oil heater. Seems to me that I would have to have the resin tank replaced...again. I had to replace it last year because the resin tank "blew". Too much water pressure I was told. I should get a pressure reducer. Is the water pressure damaging the resin tank causing the residue?
Thanks
Attila

[Gary Slusser]

You do too have a water heater, it is called a domestic coil (in your boiler) and the excessive pressure could be caused by the hot water expanding backwards into the softener if you don't have an expansion tank and need one. Or install a longer and higher outlet plumbing (10' is the minimum from a water heater) from the softener to the cold feed to the coil.

Gary
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Doug Aleshire, Super Moderator 2