When you check to see if you need to refill the salt in your water softener, you notice that there isn’t any water in the brine tank. You are sure there was water in there. There has to be a simple explanation for this. So, why isn’t there any water in the tank?
The most common reason for no water in the brine tank is that the waterline isn’t connected correctly. The waterline is an important part of the water softener because it serves as a safety valve for draining water. Make sure the waterline is good and that it is connected to the water supply so water will flow smoothly.
If you checked your waterline and you don’t see anything wrong with it, you may still be wondering what is wrong. There are quite a few other reasons why your water softener tank doesn’t have any water in it. We have those answers for you as well! Keep on reading to learn about them and how to fix them!
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Table of Contents
Reasons Your Water Softener Has No Water
Along with the most common reason for there to be no water in the tank, there are quite a few other reasons why this can happen. The following are the other main reasons why you may not have water in your tank.
Valve Issue
One of the other reasons why it may not have water in it is because there is a valve issue. The valve is the part of the water softener that houses a meter that tracks the volume of water that enters the mineral tank.
If the valve is blocked or in the closed position, then you will need to open it or clear the blockage in the valve. It may seem like such a simple solution, but it is an easy thing to forget about.
Your Tank Floater Isn’t Set Properly
Look at the position that your tank floater is in. It isn’t set correctly if it is set too high or on the bottom. If it is too high, your water softener will end up regenerating a lot more than it needs to. This means that your tank is using so much more salt and water, which can end up with you spending more money than necessary. Setting it too high will not help the water become softer nor will it be good for your softener.
The tank floater being on the bottom can and will prevent the water from refilling. It will seem like there is a blockage or something similar. It seems like this because it will cut off the water supply completely making it impossible for the tank to have any water in it.
The best way to figure out how to fix this issue is to look at the manual that came with your tank. You can also just make sure that it is set halfway in the brine tank. This way it will help the water flow the way it is supposed to.
Brine Tube Kinks
One issue that may be more common than you think would be kinks in the brine tank tubes. Many people do not think about it when they casually set things next to their brine tanks. However, if it is on the tubes or bending them, they will end up with pinches or kinks.
Kinks will stop the water from flowing freely from the water softener to the brine tank. There is a way to fix it and it is simply to move the objects that you put close to your water softener and brine tank. This should let the kink come out of it and continue the proper water flow.
Loosely Packed Salt
If the salt you put into the brine tank is packed too loosely, it can turn into salt crystals. The crystals will start to bond together which can create salt masses at the bottom of the tank. This type of issue can also be known as salt mushing. This could keep your water from flowing as it should. It will eventually block the fill line for the water in the tank.
You can easily fix this issue by emptying and cleaning the brine tank completely. Then refill it with salt and water to the fill lines. Make sure to pack the salt as tightly as possible so you do not end up with the issue of salt mushing in your tank!
Old Water Softener
If there is too little water in your brine tank, then the regeneration part will not be sufficient enough, causing it to not work correctly. It will not reduce the hardness of your water properly.
This could be caused if your water softener is an old one. Every water softener will eventually start to slow down and become old. If this happens it is best to just go get a new water softener installed so your water can be softened again.
Older water softeners will come with quite a few problems that could cause them to not fill with water or even filter your water correctly. However, whether it is old or new, it shouldn’t ever be full of water. You should have from 6 to 12 inches of water in the brine tank.
Conclusion
It is ideal to make sure the waterline is connected, the valve is on and working, there is not any salt mush, etc. This will help keep your water softener in shape and working. Brine tanks are hard work and just like any machine, they will fail from time to time.
You can always call a professional if that is something that will make you feel better, however, most of these issues can be fixed pretty easily on your own. Also, remember to make sure the area around your water softener and the brine tank is clear of clutter so no kinks will, appear in your tubes.