Standing Water in Water Softener Salt Tank – When using a water softening system, the salt from the water softener tank tends to accumulate over time. After some time, the salt will begin to dissolve and settle at the bottom of the tank, forming a thick layer of sediment on top of the remaining soft water salt. The solution below the salt layer contains high concentrations of sodium chloride, which reduces the efficiency of your water softener. You may notice a drop off in performance after a period of heavy rainfalls.
If you notice this condition, it’s best to drain the salt out of your tank and refill with fresh salt. Another option would be to use a sump pump to drain the salt from the tank. If you choose this route, make sure to remove the old salt before refilling the tank with new salt.
When using a saltwater solution for the watering system, make sure to keep standing water out of the solution to prevent mineral build-up. To do this, put a screen over the drain to catch any sediment before it goes down the drain. Also, if you have a water softener, make sure the salt container is drained; otherwise, it may become contaminated with bacteria causing discoloration of the water and possible harm to the plants. Standing Water in Water Softener Salt Tank
1. How does standing water affect the water softening system?
There are several ways that water can build up in the salt tank without causing damage to your equipment. First of all, if you use a water softener that uses ion exchange resin then the amount of sodium ions remaining in your water can increase over time due to the fact that some of those ions may have been exchanged with chloride ions. The other way that chlorine can build up in the tank is if you leave a valve open while the machine is running. Then, any dissolved air in the water will react with the chlorine in the salt tank and form chlorine gas (Cl2). Chlorine gas can cause damage to the internal parts of the machine and should only be allowed to escape via the vent port located at the top of the salt tank. If you do not allow the chlorine to escape, you could have a buildup of chlorine inside the salt tank that might eventually leak out if not properly vented.
2. What causes the valves to stick closed?
The first thing that comes to mind is sediment building up on the valve seat. A good rule of thumb is to check the valves regularly and clean them as often as necessary. Another possibility is that the float level switch fails to close the valve completely. You want to keep the valve closed until the water level gets low enough so that the valve won’t get stuck closed if left open accidentally.
3. Why should I flush my salt tank?
Flushing the salt tank helps prevent contamination of the salt in the tank by removing any residual salt crystals that may have settled on the floor or bottom of the tank. Salt crystals can easily scratch the surface of the salt tank which would cause premature wear of the tank’s rubber seals. Flushing will also help remove any leftover chlorine that may remain after using the water softener.
4. When is it safe to run the water softener again?
It is safe to run the system again within three days of flushing the tank. Once the tank has been flushed, wait about 24 hours before starting the water softener again. After that, it is recommended that you schedule regular maintenance checks of the entire unit.
