Kinetico makes some of the highest-quality, most varied water softeners on the market, but they’re still machines at the end of the day. And like all other machines, water softeners are susceptible to their own set of problems.
So, how do you tell what’s causing the issue, and how do you resolve it? In this guide, we’ll take you through all of the most common Kinetico water softener problems and troubleshoot the solutions.
The most common Kinetico water softener problems are:
- Kinetico water softener not working
- Kinetico water softener not using salt
- Kinetico water softener brine tank blocked
- Kinetico water softener not regenerating automatically
- Kinetico water softener constantly draining
- Kinetico water softener producing hard water
Kinetico Water Softener Not Working
If your Kinetico water softener isn’t working (turning on), it’s often because a faulty power cable is not sending electricity to the system.
So, check that all of the cables are connected and intact. Also, make sure that none of the breakers are down and that nothing has short-circuited.
If the problem isn’t electric, then it’s probably the motor. This can be caused by a number of different things, like a dislodged mechanism, a cog with broken teeth, or other mechanical issues. Usually, you can’t fix the motor by yourself, so the best idea is to either call a plumber who knows how to fix water softeners or call Kinetico themselves for assistance.
However, some motor issues can easily be solved. For instance, if the problem is caused by a broken component that needs to be replaced, you may be able to replace it yourself. But if several components have failed, a complete motor replacement is usually necessary.
Luckily, some Kinetico water softener models come with a 10-year warranty on items like the filtration media, the ion exchange resin, and the bypass valves or at least a 5-year warranty on most parts. Always check to see what your product's warranty covers before you take action.
Related article: How to know if water softener is working
Kinetico Water Softener Not Using Salt
During the regeneration process, the softener’s salt tank is filled with water to create a brine solution. This solution then flows into the main tank to help replenish the beads and charge them back up with sodium molecules.
If you notice that the salt in the tank isn’t being used, it probably means the system is clogged. The issue can be two-fold: either the hose that takes the water into the salt tank is clogged, or the float at the bottom of the tank that’s meant to take in the collected brine isn’t working properly.
This issue is remarkably easy to fix. All you need to do is remove the hose and wash it out to clear any potential blockage. As for the float valve, you’ll want to run a quick visual inspection and check to see that the entry point isn’t blocked with crystallized salt.
If you see some crystallization on the bottom, the easiest way to get rid of it is to remove the float from the brine tank, disconnect the hose, and put the float in a bucket of hot water. The water will naturally break down the crystals, and all you need to do is rinse out the valve, connect it back to the main tank, and put it back in the brine tank.
Kinetico Water Softener Brine Tank Blocked
If there’s a blockage in the softener’s brine tank it often indicates the formation of a salt bridge.
Salt bridges form when leftover salt in the brine tank crystallizes over time and sticks together to create salt crusts.
The salt bridge acts as a barrier between the water entering the brine tank and the salt at the bottom, preventing them from mixing together to form the brine solution.
To resolve this issue, open the brine tank and see if there’s a salt bridge inside. If there is, use a blunt instrument and gently break it apart.
Just be careful not to use too much force. It doesn’t take a lot of strength to break the salt bridge; if you’re too heavy-handed, you might accidentally damage the tank.
Keep in mind that salt can also crystallize on the bottom of the tank. This creates something called salt mush. This mush is no longer usable, so the best thing to do is to get rid of it.
Take out the top layer of salt that can still be used and place it in a bucket or another container. Then remove the salt mush and throw it away, remove the float and the cylinder that it’s housed in, rinse out the tank, and finally, put all of the components and the salt back into the tank.
Kinetico Water Softener Not Regenerating Automatically
If your Kinetico water softener is not regenerating automatically, it often indicates a problem with the valves and hoses. Or the regeneration timer may not be properly set.
The regeneration process in a water softener can occur in one of two ways.
- You use the timer to set a specific time for the process to begin. When the internal clock reaches this time, the process starts automatically.
- A sensor inside the softener measures how many gallons of water have passed through the system. The process is automatically started when the specified gallon limit has been reached.
Regardless of which type of water softener you have, the regeneration process should happen automatically. If it doesn’t, there’s most likely a problem with the valves or the hoses.
To fix this, detach the connectors that lead from the main tank into the brine tank and vice versa and check for anything blocking the passages. Wash out the hoses to make sure they’re clear, and check for any mineral buildup around the float at the bottom that might be blocking the water from passing through.
However, it may just be that you haven’t adjusted the settings properly. Ensure that your regeneration timer is properly set and that it wasn’t reset for any reason. Reset the regeneration timer and let the process run through at least once to see if anything changes.
If you’ve reset the timer or if your regeneration process only activates after a certain amount of water has passed through the tank, then there might be a bigger issue with your water softener computer. In this case, the best thing to do is call a professional.
Kinetico Water Softener Constantly Draining
The only time a Kinetico water softener should be draining is during the regeneration process, and it’s certainly not normal for the water to constantly be draining without stopping.
If this draining lasts more than 4 hours, something might be wrong with the intake valves or the system itself, and you may want to call a professional.
However, since the regeneration process usually lasts for around 2-3 hours, what you’re hearing might just be the salt tank filling with water and the brine solution passing through the main tank. There are also rinse cycles at the start and the end of the regeneration process, so it’s normal for there to be water passing through the unit even when you’re not using the faucets.
As for how often the water regeneration process will activate, it depends on how much water you use. As we’ve already mentioned, some water softeners use a timer that activates the regeneration at a certain time every day. In contrast, others measure the amount of water that’s passed through and start the regeneration once a set gallon limit has been reached.
Households that use a lot of water will naturally hear the regeneration process start up a lot more frequently. Additionally, if you’re concerned that the water is draining due to a leak in the pipes or the hoses somewhere, check for any puddles that have accumulated around the tank.
Kinetico Water Softener Still Produces Hard Water
If your Kinetico water softener produces hard water, it most likely indicates a faulty water softener resin that needs immediate replacement.
With proper maintenance, water softeners can last you for many years or even decades. Yet, the same cannot be said about the resin inside.
This resin is responsible for removing the calcium and magnesium molecules from the hard water and softening it in the process. It does this by replacing the aforementioned molecules with sodium molecules. This replacement can only occur if the salt in the brine tank keeps replenishing the sodium molecules in the resin through the regeneration process.
Regeneration can keep the resin charged with sodium molecules for a very long time, but it’s not permanent. The exact lifetime of the resin depends on the amount of hard water processed and the number of regeneration cycles it’s undergone.
You should realistically get at least 3-5 years of use out of the resin unless you live in a household that uses a lot of water, in which case the more realistic timeframe is around 2-3 years.
The good news is that resin isn’t all that expensive, and replacing it is easy.
The process for doing so varies between different Kinetico models. So, you’ll need to read the instruction manual carefully before you replace the resin. Typically, it’s just a case of turning the softener off, detaching the old resin, and attaching the new one.
Final Thoughts
Most of the issues you’ll likely experience when owning a Kinetico water softener come from clogged pipes and valves. Fortunately, both are easy to unclog (valves more than pipes) if you simply run a bit of water through them and make sure that you scrub off any mineral buildup that might have accumulated.
If the brine tank is the issue, you’ll usually either have to break up any salt bridges, clean out and rinse off any salt mush, or put the floater in some hot water to get rid of any crystals blocking the intake valve.
As for the regeneration process, if the issue isn’t related to the water hoses or the electric cables, then there’s probably a problem with the computer or motor. Computer and motor issues will only become worse if an inexperienced hand tries to fix them and fails, so for these issues in particular, it’s best to call a professional.
I have a 6 month old Kinetico WS. A few times now I’ve had salty water in the house. After the second time, I had a Kinetico service rep work on the system. They found a grease pack blocking the filter that wasn’t properly removed during installation. The system worked normally for 3 weeks. Now a third time, salty water.
My previous system (23 yrs in a previous system/old house) never had this problem.