Hey there! Are you experiencing low water pressure with your water softener? That's no fun. There are several causes of low water pressure in plumbing. Let's go through some steps together to figure out what's causing this.
Click each step below to expand directions.
Bypass the Softener & Check Faucets
1. First, you'll want to bypass the water softener by pushing the handle in on the back of your unit. This will stop water from coming in or out of the softener while you work:
If you have a 3-valve bypass (like pictured below), you'll need to make sure it's able to open all the way. If the valve's not opening all the way, this can lead to low water pressure.
2. Now, we'll check if that fixed the issue. Go to a few water faucets or shower heads in your home and turn them on to see if the pressure has returned or if it's still low.
Is the pressure still low?
- YES - the water softener is not the source of the problem, and you may want to have a plumber come take a took. Your instructions end here.
- NO - If you do see an increase in pressure when the softener is bypassed, you should run a cleanser through the softener to reduce contaminant, iron, and scale buildup. Purchasing and use instructions can be found in our Water Softener Cleanser article.
Extended Backwash
Running an extended backwash can clear up any potential clog in the system. Please note this process has a low risk that the bottom distributor may fail (especially on older units), letting resin beads escape into the plumbing.
1. To start this process, hold the Recharge button until the motor starts to turn, then let go. You should see a flashing recharge indicator on the screen.
2. When the motor stops, the tank will start filling. We are going to skip this by tapping the Recharge button one time.
3. When the motor stops, the tank will start brining. Press the Recharge button one more time to advance to the backwash cycle.
4. Once in backwash, you will hear a large flow of water through the system and out your drain hose. During the backwash, fresh water flows upwards through the media, moving it around and creating pathways for flow.
5. Now, go and unplug your unit from the outlet and set a timer for 20 minutes.
6. After the 20 minutes is up, plug your unit back in and let the softener automatically finish the recharge (about 10-15 minutes).
7. Once the recharge is over, check to see if the pressure returned in your home. Go to a faucet and turn the water on. If the pressure is still low, we recommend following the instructions in Cleaning the Sediment Screen. Some units won't have the screen. We still recommend following the steps in the article, as that process can help solve this issue. Once you've completed that last step, test a few faucets. If this water pressure has improved - Great! If not, we recommend you Contact Us for further troubleshooting help.
Make sure to pull your bypass back out when you've completed troubleshooting.
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