Are you having trouble with your Novosoft Water Softener? Here’s an Ultimate Guide to help you troubleshoot those issues.
You can trust WaterSmart to service your Novosoft water softener, as we have been proudly servicing all brands of water softeners including Novosoft in the Waterloo Region for more than 25 years. Let us put our expertise to work for you.
This guide will give you solutions to some of the most common problems you might encounter, as well as maintenance and service tips. So, let's get started!
Learn DIY repairs on your Novosoft water softener or contact WaterSmart if you need expert help!
Part 1: YOU HAVE NO SOFT WATER
There are a number of reasons why you have no soft water. These include:
Your Softener Has a Salt Bridge
Your Softener Isn’t Getting Power
Your Manual Bypass Valve Is In the Wrong Position
You Need to Add More Salt
You Don't Have Enough Water Flowing Into the Brine Tank
You Have Problems With the Brine Line Flow Control
1. Your Softener has a salt bridge:
A salt bridge is probably one of the most common problems. A salt bridge occurs when your salt solidifies in an arc above your water level creating an empty cavity between the salt and the water. This can occur due to humidity or using the wrong kind of salt in your tank.
When this happens, the brine solution is not able to reach the salt in your tank, so your water softener cannot do its job.
Solution:
You can break up the salt bridge by softly tapping on the outside of the tank with a rubber mallet. Also, you can try pouring some warm water over the bridge to dissolve it. If this doesn't break up the bridge, then use a long tool, such as a broom handle to chop through the salt bridge.
Once you have broken up the bridge, you should use up the leftover salt and then clean out your brine tank. Before you begin to clean your tank, wait 4 hours until a brine solution has been produced and then manually regenerate your softener.
You can pour warm water over the bridge and then BREAK it UP WITH A BROOM HANDLE
How to do a Manual Regeneration:
Step 1: If the screen is locked, press the MENU for 3 seconds. This will unlock your screen.
Step 2: Press the SET /REGEN button for 3 seconds. You will see an option for "Delayed" or "Immediate" Regeneration.
Step 3: Press the SET / REGEN button again and “Delayed” will begin flashing.
Step 4: Press the down arrow so that "Immediate" will start flashing instead.
Step 5: Press the SET / REGEN button and then press the MENU button and the valve will immediately start to manually regenerate.
2. Your Softener Isn’t Getting Power
Your Novosoft water softener needs power to work. If it gets unplugged accidentally or if a fuse or circuit breaker has blown, then it won't be getting any power.
Solution:
Check to see if your softener is plugged securely into its outlet. If it is, then check your fuse/breaker box to make sure that you haven't blown a fuse or breaker for that outlet. If it has, then you need to replace the fuse or flip the breaker switch back on.
You can also test the outlet itself by plugging in a small lamp that you know is working in the outlet, if the lamp lights up, you know that the outlet is working properly. If the lamp does not light up then you know there is a problem with the outlet, in this case, it is best to contact a professional.
Check to see that you haven’t blown a fuse or tripped a breaker
3. Your Manual Bypass Valve Is in the Wrong Position
If your manual bypass valve is in the wrong position (if it is in the OPEN position), then your water softener will not be functioning properly.
Solution:
The bypass valve is located at the back of the control. In order to have soft water, your bypass valve needs to be open. To do this your ON/OFF knobs should be in line with the inlet and outlet pipes. If your valve is closed, you can open it by turning the knob counter-clockwise.
4. You Need to Add More Salt
If you don't have enough salt or if you have run out of salt then your water softener won't work properly.
Solution:
To prevent this issue, make sure that your softener is at least 1/3 full of salt at all times. The salt level should always be above the water level in your brine tank. It is a good idea to check your salt levels at least once a month.
If your salt level was too low, then press the RECHARGE button on your softener after you have replenished your salt supply to immediately recharge the system.
Make sure your salt level is always above your water level
5. You don't have enough water flowing into the brine tank
If you don’t have enough water flowing into your brine tank, you won’t have soft water.
Solution:
You may need to clean your brine line flow tank control if it is plugged. The brine line is connected to the safety float assembly of your brine tank.
Your brine tank fill time may have been changed. This time is a factory preset and if it has been changed then it needs to be reset. Contact a professional to adjust this properly.
6. You have Problems with the Brine Line Flow Control
If you get any debris in your brine line flow control, then this can prevent your softener from working properly.
Solution:
Disconnect the brine line and retainer clip. Remove the brine line flow control assembly and remove the flow washer retainer with pliers.
Clean off the washer with water to get rid of any debris. If the washer is worn, you should replace it. For more detailed instructions, consult your owner's manual.
Replacing your brine line flow control is a more complicated procedure than the previous problems. If you would like a professional to do this for you, contact us.
If you need help with more difficult repairs, contact a professional
Part 2: You sometimes have hard water
There are a few possible reasons why you sometimes have hard water. These include:
Your Water Softener Setting Is Too Low
Your Softener Is Regenerating When You Are Using Hot Water
You Have a Mechanical Defect
1. Your Water Softener Setting Is Too Low
The Waterloo region has extremely high levels of water hardness. In fact this area has some of the hardest water in all of Canada. If your softener has not been programmed properly to handle the high level of hardness in this area, or if the hardness setting has been adjusted too low on your Novosoft water softener, you won't have soft water.
Solution:
Reprogram the control to the proper regeneration type, inlet water hardness, capacity or flow meter size.
To do this press the button on your control panel that looks like four arrows in a circle until your screen displays a capital letter "H". Use the up and down arrows to adjust the level of water hardness to your desired level.
If you would like help determining what your water hardness level is and would like help programming your water softener, contact the local experts at WaterSmart.
Source: DanaMaps
Make sure your Novosoft water softener is programmed correctly for the hard water level in your area
2. You Are Using Hot Water While Your Softener Is Regenerating
If you use hot water at the same time as your water softener is regenerating, then your hot water tank will automatically fill up with water that hasn't had a chance to get soft. Your Novosoft water softener’s regeneration cycle lasts about 2 hours, after which time your soft water service will be restored.
Solution:
Try not to use hot water while your softener is regenerating. Set your softener to automatically regenerate at night when no one needs to use hot water. If you perform a manual regeneration make sure that you do this at a time when you don’t need hot water.
3. You Have a Mechanical Defect
Generally speaking, your water softener will function properly for many years, however, as with most appliances, you may eventually encounter a mechanical problem.
Solution:
Call a professional to repair your water softener.
If you notice that your water is hard sometimes, make sure that your softener is regenerating properly
Part 3: How to Clean Your Injector Assembly
If there is any salt, silt, or sediment build-up in your softener's injector, it will get clogged and prevent your system from working properly. Follow these simple steps to clean your injector assembly:
Step 1: Turn off the water supply to your softener.
Step 2: Release the water pressure by turning on a cold soft water faucet.
Step 3: Take a screwdriver and unscrew the two screws that hold the injector cover to the control valve body. (Page 12 of your owner's manual will show you a diagram displaying the location of all of these parts).
Step 4: Carefully remove the injector assembly and take it apart. Lay each part on a clean surface as you remove them in the order that you took them off so that it will be easier to reassemble.
Step 5: Remove the injector orifice and throat from the valve body with a large screwdriver.
Step 6: Gently rinse all of the parts including the screen to remove any debris. You can use a mild acid such as vinegar or Pro-Rust Out to clean out the tiny holes in the orifice and throat.
Step 7: Put the injector assembly back together in the reverse order that you took it apart.
*Note: Using pure water softener salt will help to keep it free from debris and will cut down on clogging.
Only use pure water softener salt in your Novosoft water softener
Part 4: How to Sanitize Your Softener
You may wish to sanitize your water softener from time to time. If so, here are the steps to follow:
Step 1: Pour 3/4 ounces of common 5.25% household bleach into the brine well.
Step 2: Start a manual regeneration. If the screen is locked, press the MENU for 3 seconds. This will unlock your screen.
Step 3: Press the SET /REGEN button for 3 seconds. You will see an option for "Delayed" or "Immediate" Regeneration.
Step 4: Press the SET / REGEN button again and “Delayed” will begin flashing.
Step 5: Press the down arrow so that "Immediate" will start flashing instead.
Step 6: Press the SET / REGEN button and then press the MENU button and the valve will immediately start to manually regenerate.
Note: This sanitizing regeneration will take about two hours to complete. Once the sanitizing has happened, you will have soft water again. It's best to do the sanitizing at a time when you aren't using your soft water.
You can sanitize your brine tank periodically using household bleach
Part 5: Water Softener Maintenance Tips and Tricks
Use only pure salt, specially designed for water softeners. Never use regular table salt; it has too many impurities.
Don't add more salt until almost all of the salt has been used up.
Don't add too much salt when you are refilling it. The salt level should come up about two-thirds in your tank.
Clean your brine tank once a year.
Before you replace a water softener, have it checked out to see if it can be repaired instead. Most water softener repairs are relatively inexpensive.
You should get the injector assembly cleaned or replaced every year depending on your inlet water quality and water usage.
The seals and spacer cartridges should be inspected/cleaned or replaced every year depending on how much water you use and the hardness of your water.
Your water softener needs to be cleaned periodically to work properly
Part 6: Novosoft WATER SOFTENER REPAIR Services
If you need your Novosoft water softener repaired, contact WaterSmart. Our fully trained technicians are highly experienced and are able to work on any make or model of water softener you may have. We will always try our best to repair your water softener before we would recommend replacing it.
If you do, however, need to replace your softener, we can recommend the right type and size of softener that you need for the size of your household.
Even if you didn't purchase your water softener from us, you can still rely on us to fix it for you at an affordable price. You can trust WaterSmart for your water softener repair, purchasing, and installation as well as all your plumbing needs.
WaterSmart has been serving the Kitchener region including Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, Brantford, and surrounding areas since 1994 with innovative water softening products and excellent service.
We are committed to helping you improve the quality of your home's water. We live and work in the Kitchener-Waterloo region so we understand the hard water challenges of this area. We know how to program your water softener for maximum efficiency and are familiar with the types of water softener repairs that you might need.
Contact WaterSmart today to book an appointment.
WaterSmart also offers a full range of plumbing services that include, but are not limited to:
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