mengel
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We own a "General Ionics" brand salt softener, that's probably about 15 years old. We are the 3rd owners of the house, and it was here when we bought it. This is on a WELL, and the water is hard, and has some iron in it. When the softener is working, the water tastes better to drink than city water. It was working, but about 1 week ago, we noticed a lot of water had poured out of the brine tank. After looking it over, I noticed that the brine tank, had an overflow nozzle on the back side. So, what appears to have happened, is that the tank filled up with water, passed the overflow nozzle, and simply ran out on the floor.
So, in other words, the overflow nozzle did what it was supposed to do. The issue is that the tank filled with water, and didn't shut off before doing so. I don't know for sure how these work, but after looking it over, it seems to work a LOT like a toilet-tank. It's not really supposed to ever get so full that it will reach the overflow nozzle. There is a large plastic tube in the corner of the brine tank. The hose for input water, goes through a nozzle, into this tube. It then plugs into the top of a metal valve inside, and there's a float in there. It appears that the tube should fill with water, lift the float, which moves a lever, and should shut OFF the input water at a certain level. Is that correct?
If so, perhaps the lever that controls the valve to shut off the water, is corroded or stuck with built-up waterstone, or something, so it can't shut off. If anybody can give me an idea of whether they think this is fixable or not, I'd really appreciate that. I'm VERY handy with tools. Maybe I could take that valve apart and clean it with a fine scrub-pad? Now that we've had this bypassed for the last week, it's obvious it was actually still softening the water, as it's noticibly harder, and smells different now. I realise softeners aren't too expensive, but I can't afford to buy a complete new one at this time, and we can't do without it much longer.
Any help with ideas? Are my suppositions correct in the way I describe it's works? Thanks!!
So, in other words, the overflow nozzle did what it was supposed to do. The issue is that the tank filled with water, and didn't shut off before doing so. I don't know for sure how these work, but after looking it over, it seems to work a LOT like a toilet-tank. It's not really supposed to ever get so full that it will reach the overflow nozzle. There is a large plastic tube in the corner of the brine tank. The hose for input water, goes through a nozzle, into this tube. It then plugs into the top of a metal valve inside, and there's a float in there. It appears that the tube should fill with water, lift the float, which moves a lever, and should shut OFF the input water at a certain level. Is that correct?
If so, perhaps the lever that controls the valve to shut off the water, is corroded or stuck with built-up waterstone, or something, so it can't shut off. If anybody can give me an idea of whether they think this is fixable or not, I'd really appreciate that. I'm VERY handy with tools. Maybe I could take that valve apart and clean it with a fine scrub-pad? Now that we've had this bypassed for the last week, it's obvious it was actually still softening the water, as it's noticibly harder, and smells different now. I realise softeners aren't too expensive, but I can't afford to buy a complete new one at this time, and we can't do without it much longer.
Any help with ideas? Are my suppositions correct in the way I describe it's works? Thanks!!
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