Water softener brine tank full of water?
A brine tank holds a little water over the salt, but if the level keeps rising or never drops after a regeneration, something is stopping the brine from being drawn or the water from draining. A clogged injector, a kinked line or a stuck float are the usual suspects.
Not sure which one it is? Snap your water softener and we’ll narrow it down.
Is the water still hard, with spots on glasses?
That's a different problem, and it has its own causes. Water softener not softening
Clogged injector or venturi
Most commonCall a proThe tank stays full after a regeneration and the water is hard. The injector or venturi that draws brine is blocked, so the water never gets pulled out.
Kinked or clogged brine line
CommonModerate DIYThe line that runs from the brine tank to the control head is bent, pinched or blocked, so brine can't be drawn out. Look along its length for a kink.
Stuck float or safety valve
CommonModerate DIYThe tank fills past its normal level. The float or safety valve inside the tank isn't shutting off the incoming water.
Kinked, clogged or frozen drain line
CommonModerate DIYWater backs up during regeneration. The drain line is bent, blocked or frozen, so the unit can't empty. Check where it ends.
Power lost mid-regeneration
Less commonEasy DIYThe unit lost power partway through a cycle, so it stopped with the tank still filling. The display may be blinking or show the wrong time.
Mushy salt sludge at the bottom
Less commonModerate DIYThe salt has turned to a mushy sludge, and water sits above it. Sludge can block the draw of brine and clog the lines.
Low risk. Unplug the unit before opening the control head. Put the valve in bypass before you disconnect anything. Break up a salt bridge gently and don't puncture the tank. Salt bags are heavy, so lift carefully.
- Unplug the unit and put the valve in bypass before you disconnect anything.
- Look at the brine line and the drain line for kinks, pinches or ice, and straighten any you find.
- Lift the lid and check the float and safety valve move freely.
- Look at the control head display. If it's blinking or the time is wrong, reset it after a power outage.
- Press a broom handle gently into the salt to feel for sludge or a hard crust, and don't puncture the tank. If the water is still hard, see water softener not softening.
Diagnose your water softener in seconds, for free
No account, no phone number. Fixology’s AI reads your photo and tells you what’s likely wrong, how worried to be, and whether it’s a DIY fix.
Snap one of these:
- the brine tank with its lid off, showing the salt and water level
- the control head display
- the bypass valve
- the drain line
Add a note or more photos next. Nobody calls you.
The tank stays full after you've cleared the lines and checked the float, the injector looks blocked, or water keeps backing up. For hard water with a tank that isn't flooded, see water softener not softening. For upkeep, see the water softener guide.
Typical cost: HomeAdvisor puts water softener repair at an average of $553 ($162–978). Work on the brine tank is $125–700. A softener lasts 10 to 15 years.
Sources: HomeAdvisor: Water softener repair cost (no update date shown)
After a scan, Fixology can also help you find pros near you.
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