Did you walk into your bathroom, turned on the tap and found black sediment in your water? Black sediment in a water softener can be pretty disgusting. And it’s ideal to fix it.
What to do about water softener black sediment?
There are a couple of reasons for black sediment in your water softener. It could be a breakdown of resin beads or mineral traces. Cleaning the brine or the resin tanks can be the damage control of the situation. Using a sediment filter and Iron removing products helps to get rid of sediments as well.
What are we waiting for, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty of this problem and find a solution?
Why Is There Black Sediment in The Water Softener?
You probably want answers behind these black sediments in your water right now. Behind this incident, there are certain reasons in the line:
Resin Beads
The resin beads in a water softener occasionally break or stop operating at full capacity. Natural resin beads that come from water softeners can appear black in some circumstances. As they break down, they can result in black sediments in the water.
Mineral Traces
Iron or manganese in the water system is frequently the cause of black sediments. These particles are similarly non-digestible. They give your water a cloudy look and might discolor your clean dishes, clothes, and plumbing fixtures.
Silt or sand
If your water is drawn from a private well, you might find these black/brown-colored silts.
Although the water is not dangerous to your health, it may harm your equipment. The water may cause harm to your home water filtering systems.
How to Fix The Black Sediment Problem?
Black sediments are just as harmful as black soot on toilets. But the good news is, it’s possible for you to solve the issue at home all by yourself. We have broken down the solutions for each of the reasons. Let’s get a detailed overview on them-
For Resin Beads
If the beads are completely broken, you need to replace them as soon as possible. But if the resin tank only needs cleaning, you’ll have two options in hand to choose from –
Option 1: Bleach & Water solution
Clean the resins with a bleach and water solution and replace the tank. Run a regeneration cycle to clear the system of any leftover bleach.
Make sure the water softener is disconnected before removing the resin tank. The tank may then be removed by removing the bolts and the valve. While removing it be careful not to break the handle of the valve.
Option 2: Iron Removing Product
You may also buy a specifically developed iron-removing product to clean your resin tank. Pour some of the product into the tank according to the package directions.
Begin a regeneration cycle once the product has had time to operate to eliminate any effluent. Now you might wonder which is the best product for cleaning.
Well, we’ve got some suggestions for you right here-
| Product 1 | |
| Product 2 |
For Mineral Traces
Normally water softener gets rid of a small amount of manganese. But if the level is surpassed, a sediment filter in the form of a cartridge will suffice. Any backwashing filter can get rid of the manganese as well.
For Silt or Sands
Let the water run for many days in the case of a new well. For sand and gravel, well-screen installation or replacement is a good choice. It can also be prevented by lining a sandstone well.
4 Tips to Maintain Your Water Softener
Water softeners do need to be checked regularly. These four easy tips will be your guiding light to get you all ready for your water softener maintenance.
Check the Salt Regularly
A brine tank of water softener normally needs to be refilled every two months. But checking them regularly is a good idea.
From time to time open and check if the salt is moist. Cover the water with the lid of the brine tank. You need to replace the brine tank if the water level is low and there’s dry salt.
Use Good Salt
Make sure you use high-quality salt when you refill your water softener’s brine tank. Fortunately, water softener salt is reasonably priced.
Choose evaporated salt pellets, which are the purest on the market. But Be careful because some salt of water softener salt may kill the grass around the area.
Beware of Salt Bridges
A salt bridge is a crusty coating that forms in your tank and separates the water and salt. The system is unable to function correctly as a result of this.
Keeping an eye out for salt bridges now and again is a must. If you come across one, simply poke it with a broom.
Cleaning the Brine Tank
Check regularly if the brine tank needs to be cleaned. It needs to be completely empty before scooping out any leftover rocks. If your softener is unclean, the salt will resemble sludge. Clean the tank using water and detergent. once the sludge has been removed.
When it comes to water softener maintenance, the ability to detect issues before they occur is arguably the best preventative method.
FAQs
Question: Is it possible to use water during the softener regeneration process?
Answer: We wouldn’t really suggest that you do so. While your softener is regenerating, untreated water will pass through your faucet which isn’t going to be feasible for you.
Question: How can I tell whether my water softener is properly working?
Answer: The soap test is a good way to learn if your water softener is working or not. Soaps lather and make bubbles with soft water but with hard water, it doesn’t work the same way.
Question: Why is the water in my softener tank so high?
Answer: Air or water leaks will create an issue for you. Your water softening system is most likely to fail which will cause an overflow of water in the tank. Other reasons for brine tank overflow include obstacles.
EndNote
That’s all we had regarding the water softener black sediment issue. Try out our instructions for troubleshooting.
If the issue still isn’t solved, it’s better to call a professional for help.
Until then good luck fixing the problem and staying safe!