SOFTENER TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE

Has the system Perform

Total Hardness <1 NO regenerated NO manual Total Hardness <1?
recently? regeneration

YES YES NO YES

Add salt to tank and

No Further Action Is there Salt in
allow at least 4 hours
Brine Tank?
NO to dissolve. Tell
(Check for
customer to maintain
bridging)
salt level in tank.

Perform an Check
YES
elution study Salt Quality

Is the Is water quality Reduce timer

regeneration or throughput settings. Take
Is the brine draw as
YES timer or Timer significantly NO resin sample
per expected?
throughput different to and send for
based? design? analysis

NO Throughput YES

Check the brine Is the capacity Is water quality or

system – e.g. Reset program
setting in the throughput
brine suction for NO NO to design
program as per different to
leaks, Brine valve parameters
design design?
or inductor
faulty, Has water
pressure
reduced? Ask for assistance from
CoRE / EPD / Local
YES resource to determine
YES
new timer settings

Is the flow meter

working and the Repair / replace the
Problem found and
YES cable connected NO flow meter and/or
repaired?
to the softener replace the cable.
head?

Min – 99% NaCl

NO YES CaSO4 <0.2%
Check CaCl2 <0.1%
Salt Quality MgCl2 <0.1%
Insolubles <0.1%
Iron <3ppm

NB To troubleshoot
Refer to Softener Manual / Call Twin Operating or Parallel
Supplier / Request Specialist softeners, checklist above
Advice must be done for each resin
vessel.
 HARDNESS UPSET CHEMISTRY
CONTINGENCY GUIDE

Calculate
product dose
What is the current
Tannin Nalco All-Polymer rate according
treatment program?
to CPP
guidelines

Consider adding Is dose rate manageable?

Convert to
phosphate/ (i.e. pumps are capable,
phosphate
dispersant. Phosphate residual No boiler limits not
residual
Request assistance exceeded and customer
program
from CoRE. is willing to pay)

Is there a dispersant
included in the YES
Included
phosphate product
or dosed separately?

Maintain filtered Increase dose

phosphate residual at accordingly.
Separate target, increase blowdown Monitor for
(preferably from bottom changes to
drum if present) hardness.

Maintain filtered phosphate residual at

target, increase dispersant dose rate
according to CPP guideline, increase
blowdown (preferably from bottom
drum if present)

COMMUNICATE changes to customer

including COSTS. Include cost of chemical,
blowdown energy loss, increased water
consumption. Contact CoRE for help, if
required.

STRONGLY RECOMMEND customer to

repair/replace softener as soon as
practicable.