Water Softener & RO FAQs + Troubleshooting
Softener care, salt, RO basics, buying questions & emergency shut-off steps
Licensed · Bonded · Workers' comp · Liability · 30+ years · Family-owned since 1996 · CSLB #811243
Owning your system
What do I need to do to care for my softener?
Keep salt in the brine tank at all times. Your system is automatic—it senses usage and only regenerates when necessary. Extra coarse salt is preferred.
What is a regeneration cycle?
The unit typically regenerates around 2 AM, flushing and adding water to the media tank. You may hear flowing water and a countdown on the display for about two hours—that’s normal.
How often will it regenerate?
It meters water and only runs when needed. Most family homes regenerate about once a week; smaller households may go two weeks. Timing can be adjusted.
Do I need to add salt? Which kind?
Yes. Most families use about 1–2 bags per month. We recommend extra coarse salt—not pellet or block salt (adhesives can cause bridging and clog valves).
What is salt bridging?
Bridging is when salt clumps into a shelf in the brine tank. Carefully run a hose along the inside edges to break it up; keep the tank no more than about halfway full when possible.
Is there supposed to be water in the brine tank?
Yes. After regeneration the unit refills the brine tank—usually about ¼ full.
Can I use water while it regenerates?
The unit goes into bypass during regeneration, so house water still flows (from the hard supply). We set regen for 2 AM to avoid pressure dips during showers or laundry.
How do I know the softener is working?
Watch steady salt consumption over a month or two, and notice the “slippery” soft-water feel in the shower compared with an outdoor hard-water hose bib.
I still see some spots. Is my conditioner working?
Yes. Conditioned water reduces scale buildup, but the minerals stay in the water, so you may still see some light spots that wipe off easily. Water that dries with no spots at all needs deionization, which isn’t practical for most homes.
Where can I buy salt?
Softener salt is easy to find at Home Depot, Lowe's, Ace, and other major hardware and grocery stores. We can also provide salt to existing customers upon request.
Do you service older Pentair or Fleck systems?
Yes. We service and repair existing Pentair and Fleck water treatment systems. Authorized Pentair True Blue dealer · independent and family-owned.
Should I protect an outdoor unit?
Yes—cover or shelter outdoor units from heat and cold to protect the circuit board and extend lifespan.
My RO gurgles under the sink—normal?
Yes. The RO is rinsing the membrane and refilling the tank. Gurgling down the drain during fill is expected.
How much water does the RO tank hold?
About 1 to 1½ gallons of drawdown (tank volume is larger; air/bladder take space). From empty, roughly an hour to refill.
What RO maintenance is required?
Filters typically change once a year. We sanitize and test the membrane and tank at service. Don’t stretch changes to two years—even with light use.
What is a membrane?
The membrane is the special filter that makes reverse osmosis work. After the water passes through the other filters, it is squeezed through the membrane—molecules small enough go into your storage tank; the rest goes down the drain. Membranes are not changed every year like the other filters.
Why is my new RO water a little cloudy?
Yes, that’s common. Cloudiness and tiny bubbles come from the purification process (a little oxygen) and a new holding tank stretching its bladder. It usually clears in two or three weeks. Call us if it lasts longer.
Can I wait two years between RO filter changes if I barely use it?
No—highly advised against. Taste usually changes after about a year as filters load up, and stretching changes puts major strain on the membrane and fittings even with light use. Stick to about once a year.
Can my RO leak? What do I do?
Leaks can happen over a long lifespan. Shut off the feed valve (often white/blue on the ¼″ line) and the tank valve, open the RO faucet briefly to relieve pressure, dry the cabinet, and call for service. New installs include a complimentary leak detector.
Buying questions
Emergency FAQs
There is nothing worse than a leaking piece of equipment. We close on weekends and do not have an emergency technician on call. Normal service hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. These steps stop the leak safely until we can get to you.
Reverse osmosis leak: how to turn the water off
Your RO unit is under the kitchen sink. To stop a leak you close two valves, then relieve the pressure. Newer valves are white with blue handles; older ones may be chrome or brass and look a little different from these pictures.
- Close the valve on top of the holding tank. It is usually white with a blue handle, turns only one direction, and shuts off with a ¼ turn. When it’s off, the handle sits crossways to the tubing instead of in line with it. Don’t force it; make sure you’re turning the right way.
- Close the feed valve. Follow the small ¼″ line (usually orange) from the RO unit to the white/blue valve on your cold water supply under the sink. It may sit up high under the faucet. Turn it ¼ turn the same way.
- Relieve the pressure. Turn on your RO drinking-water faucet for about three seconds, then turn it off.
If there’s no separate feed valve, turn off the cold angle stop under the sink instead. Mop up any water. It may keep dripping for 10–15 minutes while built-up pressure bleeds off. Then put a fan on the open cabinet; moving air dries it fast and keeps the particle board from swelling. Call (209) 523-5921 for a service appointment.
RO leak detector going off
New RO installs come with a complimentary leak detector that beeps and shuts off water to the RO when it senses moisture. To reset it, pick up the blue-and-white box, dry the two metal bars on the bottom, then hold the blue Check/Reset button until you hear a long beep. Water to the RO is restored.
Then find the source. If it’s the RO, shut it off with the steps above and call us. If it’s the disposal or another sink fixture, call your plumber, and flip the detector upside down (metal bars up) until it’s fixed so it won’t keep alarming. Don’t pull the battery unless you have to; the RO won’t make water again until the battery is back in and the detector is reset.
Water softener or conditioner leak: how to bypass it
Your unit is outside, in the garage, or wherever it was placed at install. Putting it in bypass stops the leak and keeps water flowing to the house until we can come out. Find the bypass where the pipes connect at the top and back of the control valve. Styles vary by valve:
- Two blue handles: they turn only one way; follow the small arrows on the plastic. Turn both ¼ turn so they sit crossways to the pipes.
- Two black knobs: insert a small screwdriver in the holes for leverage and turn both ¼ turn in the direction of the arrows.
- One red handle: turn it in the direction marked for bypass.
Don’t use too much force. If it keeps leaking for a bit, give the pressure in the tank time to bleed off. If you can’t figure it out, call (209) 523-5921. If you must, shut off your home’s main water valve: water will be off inside, but the leak will stop until someone can help. On units 20+ years old, avoid using the bypass unless absolutely necessary, since older bypass valves can break.
Older installs may use the two-blue-handle style on the left. Some newer installs use it too, since the industry has started using that style again.
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Call (209) 523-5921 (office / scheduling) or (209) 645-1151 (sales), text (209) 821-4777, or message us online.
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