Hi ,I need help urgently.I have water softener beads in all the pipes of my house. About two weeks ago I installed a new Perrless water softener. I made the mistake of getting the supply and return lines crossed. When I turned on the water a gush of beads flowed through the faucets clogging the aerators. I realized what happened and corrected the flow. I can’t understand why I can’t get rid of those beads. I have to clean out the aerators twice daily and there is always a pile in the tub. I drained the hot water tank twice now and have put the softener on bypass but the beads persist. How can I flush those buggers out?
Thanks, John Keller
Replies
I'd remove the airators for a couple of months, let them work their own way out over time.
Remove the areators and let the water run.
Who ever invented work didn't know how to fish....
Try back flushing them.
You can get an adapter for filling waterbeds that goes from the spout threading to a hose threading.
I am guessing that a number of the beads for "stacked" up on the other side of the valve and only a few can get thru that a time.
When we moved into our house 18 years ago, we had to have a Culligan water system installed, which includes 2 tanks with those beads (they are actually resin beads, anion or cation, depending on your need.) Twice they crossed the gazinlet with the gazoutlet and siphoned two tanks worth of resin into the system. Pull all your aerators from the sinks, showers, tubs and hose bibs and flush liberally until none are left.
For the water heater, you MUST flush that thing out until not a single bead is left. This is really important. Those resin beads break down at temperatures of over 120 degrees, and when they do, they release chloride ions, which will pit your water heater. I had to replace my HWH within 2 years of the resin release. It was less than five years old and leaked in half a dozen spots on the bottom from chloride pitting due to the resin breakdown. (Culligan came out to flush the system, as they screwed up, but they didn't do a good job. The second time, I just did it myself.)
Another thing they might affect is your ballcock in the toilet. If you're using a FluidMaster type of fill valve, the clearances are small and they could clog it up. Not much you can do other than replace it.
Good luck.
If you're using a FluidMaster type of fill valve, the clearances are small and they could clog it up. Not much you can do other than replace it.
The washer in a fluidmaster is replaceable. I get $50.00 to repair a fm ballcock. takes all of 30 seconds. Lift up on the arm, twist.
Thanks guys,
I have replaced the flush valve on the toilets aleady. Ihave taken the aerators off and let the water many times. The beads are still in the system. They might be packed in behind the valves and only small amounts are released when the water comes on. I am considring hooking up a garden hose to the aerator and trying to force the water back through the system. I might have to cut the pipe in the basement where the main valve is to allow the water to drain. I don't have a way to operate the garden hose if I do that. Perhaps some kind of pump would work?
John Keller
If you have to cut the pipe then go ahead and put in a hose bib and another shutoff.
Simpler than rigging a pump.
And you the WH drain as one of the discharge points. But remove the valve so that you get full flow.