Would you like some help troubleshooting and maintaining your Vitapur Water Softener? Well, then this guide is for you.
You can trust WaterSmart to service your Vitapur water softener, as we have been proudly servicing all brands of water softeners, including Vitapur, in the Waterloo Region for more than 25 years. Let us put our expertise to work for you.
This guide will give you solutions to some of the most common problems you might encounter with your softener, as well as maintenance and service tips. So, let's get started!
Learn how to troubleshoot issues with your Vitapur water softener or contact WaterSmart if you need expert help!
Part 1: Your water is not softening
There are a number of reasons why you may not be getting soft water. These include:
1. There’s No Power Going to Your Softener
Your Vitapur water softener needs power to work. If it gets unplugged by mistake, is not plugged securely into the socket, or if a fuse or circuit breaker has blown, then it won't be getting any power.
Solution:
Check to see if your softener is plugged securely into its outlet. If it is, then check your fuse/breaker box to make sure that you haven't blown a fuse or breaker for that outlet. If it has, then you need to replace the fuse or flip the breaker switch back on.
You can also test the outlet itself by plugging in a small lamp that you know is working in the outlet, if the lamp lights up, you know that the outlet is working properly. If the lamp does not light up then you know there is a problem with the outlet, in this case, it is best to contact a professional.
*Note: If your softener is without power for more than 72 hours, your clock will need to be reset. When you restore power to your unit the clock will flicker letting you know that it needs to be reset. All other options will not need to be reset.
This video will demonstrate how to fix your circuit breaker
2. You have a Salt Bridge in Your Softener
A salt bridge is one of the biggest reasons why you may not be getting soft water. A salt bridge occurs when the salt in your tank solidifies in an arc above the water level creating an empty cavity between the salt and the water. This can take place due to humidity or using the wrong kind of salt in your tank.
When this happens, the brine solution is not able to reach the salt in your tank, so your water softener cannot do its job.
Solution:
You can get rid of a salt bridge by breaking it up. Start by softly tapping on the outside of the tank with a rubber mallet to loosen the bridge. You can also try pouring some warm water over the bridge to dissolve it. If this doesn't break up the bridge, then use a long tool, such as a broom handle to chop through the salt bridge.
Once you have broken up the bridge, you should use up the leftover salt and then clean out your brine tank. Before you begin to clean your tank, wait 4 hours until a brine solution has been produced and then manually regenerate your softener.
You can pour warm water over the bridge and then BREAK it UP WITH A BROOM HANDLE
How to do a Manual Regeneration:
Press the Manual/Return key on the control panel. You should then see the control valve cycling through the following regeneration cycles:
Backwash -> Brine Draw & Slow Rinse -> Fast Rinse -> Fill Brine Tank -> Back to in-Service
The entire regeneration cycle will take about 54 minutes to finish.
When the regeneration cycle is done, the valve will return to the in-service mode.
*Note: The only way that you can cancel a manual regeneration is by cycling quickly through all of the above steps by repeatedly pressing the Manual/Return key until the valve returns back to the service mode.
3. Your Softener is in “Bypass mode” not “service mode”
If your manual bypass valve is in the wrong position (if it has been pushed in), then your water softener will not be functioning properly.
Solution:
In order for you to have soft water, you need to make sure that the piston plunger at the back of your water softener is pulled out. If it has been pushed in, then your softener is in bypass mode which means that no water is going into your softener. Bypass mode is used for servicing and maintenance of your softener when you don't want it to be filling up with water.
In an emergency situation such as your brine tank was overflowing, you could cut off the water supply to your softener by pushing in this plunger.
4. You Don’t Have Enough Salt
If you don't have enough salt in your water softener or if you have run out of salt then it won't work properly.
Solution:
The salt tank should never be empty. To add salt to your Vitapur water softener, slide off the cabinet lid and pour the salt directly into the brine well.
There are red lines inside the brine well which indicate the minimum and maximum salt levels. You should always keep your salt levels between these two lines.
Make sure your salt level is always above your water level
5. YouR Water Pressure is low
Your water pressure may be low due to iron or scale buildup in the water supply line that lets water into your softener or you may have an iron buildup inside your valve or tank.
Solution:
If the buildup is in your water supply line, you can try cleaning it with a solution of vinegar and water to get rid of the scale or you may have to replace it.
If the buildup is inside your tank, then you can add a resin cleaner to clean it out. Follow the instructions on the resin cleaner package.
6. YouR Water Softener Cycles continuously
Your water softener should only cycle during the scheduled regenerations, not all the time. If this happens, then you may have a faulty circuit board.
Solution:
You will need to contact a professional to replace your circuit board.
If you need help with more difficult repairs, contact a professional
Part 2: You sometimes have hard water
There are a few possible reasons why you sometimes have hard water. These include:
1. Your Water Softener Is Set Incorrectly
The Kitchener-Waterloo region has extremely high levels of water hardness. In fact, this area has some of the hardest water in all of Canada. This is because most of the area’s water supply comes from groundwater that absorbs minerals like calcium and magnesium.
These minerals cause your water to be hard which can:
Cause mineral buildups on your hot water appliances
Cause buildups in your pipes
Leave your hair and skin dry after you bathe
Leave a nasty scum on your kitchen and bathroom fixtures
If your softener has not been programmed properly to handle the high level of hardness in this area, or if the hardness setting has been adjusted too low on your Vitapur water softener, you won't have soft water.
Hard water leaves a nasty scum on hot water appliances like kettles
Solution:
It may not be easy to determine the best setting for your water softener. It will depend on the amount of hardness in your water and the amount of water that your household uses. You can check the water hardness levels for the Waterloo region here.
If you would like help determining what your water hardness level is and would like help programming your water softener, contact the local experts at WaterSmart.
Source: DanaMaps
The Kw Region has some of the hardest water in all of canada
2. Your softener is regenerating when you are using hot water
If you use hot water at the same time as your water softener is regenerating, then your hot water tank will automatically fill up with water that hasn't had a chance to get soft. Your Vitapur water softener’s regeneration cycle lasts about 2 hours, after this time, your soft water service will be restored.
Solution:
Try not to use hot water while your softener is regenerating. Set your softener to automatically regenerate at night when no one needs to use hot water. If you perform a manual regeneration make sure that you do this at a time when you don’t need hot water.
3. You Have a Mechanical Defect
Generally speaking, your water softener will function properly for many years, however, as with most small appliances, you may eventually encounter a mechanical problem.
Solution:
Call a professional to repair your water softener.
If you notice that your water is only hard sometimes, make sure that your softener is regenerating at the right time
Part 3: Error codes and What They Mean
Here are the different error codes that you might see displayed on your screen and what they mean.
Error Code 1 (E1):
Reason #1: The line between the locating board and main control board is damaged.
Solution: You will need to replace the cable between the locating board and main control board.
Reason #2: Your motor has been damaged.
Solution: You will need to replace your motor.
Error Code 2 (E2):
The cable between the locating board and main control board has got damaged.
Solution: You will need to replace the wiring harness.
Error Code 3 or 4 (E3 or E4):
Your control board is faulty.
Solution: You will need to replace the control board.
The above problems are more difficult to solve on your own. If you would like help with any of these, contact us. We repair all makes of water softeners and we will even repair a unit that we haven’t installed.
How to Clean Your Water Softener
Your Vitapur water softener will need to be cleaned from time to time to keep it running properly and well maintained. If you use salt pellets in your water softener, then it is recommended that you clean your brine tank every six months.
You can take the following steps to clean your softener yourself:
Step 1: Unplug your water softener.
Step 2: Push in your bypass plunger to put it into “Bypass Mode” and re-direct the water so that it doesn't go into your softener.
Step 3: Remove the lid of your softener.
Step 4: Remove the nozzle and take it apart to clean all of the pieces in warm, soapy water. You can remove and replace the 2 flow plugs with a toothpick to clean them as well.
Step 5: Put all of the pieces of your nozzle back together again, replace the lid and plug in your softener.
Tip: As you are taking the various components apart, lay them out in the order that you took them out so that you can easily remember how to put them back together.
The following video will show you how to clean out your brine tank.
You can sanitize your brine tank periodically using household bleach
Part 5: Water Softener Maintenance Tips and Tricks
Use only pure salt, specially designed for water softeners. Never use regular table salt; it has too many impurities. You can also use Potassium Chloride if you prefer. It is 99% sodium-free so it reduces the levels of sodium in your softened water and the chloride discharges into the environment.
Don't add more salt until almost all of the salt has been used up and the salt level has almost reached the bottom red line in the brine well.
Don't add too much salt when you are refilling it. The salt level should come up to just below the top red line in the brine well.
Clean your brine tank once a year with mild soap. Avoid abrasive cleaners.
Before you replace a water softener, have it checked out to see if it can be repaired instead. Most water softener repairs are relatively inexpensive.
You should get the injector assembly cleaned or replaced every year depending on your inlet water quality and water usage.
Learn the do’s and don’ts of adding salt to your water softener
Part 6: Vitapur WATER SOFTENER REPAIR Services
If you need your Vitapur water softener repaired, contact WaterSmart. Our fully trained technicians are highly experienced and are able to work on any make or model of water softener you may have. We will always try our best to repair your water softener before we would recommend replacing it.
If you do, however, need to replace your softener, we can recommend the right type and size of softener that you need.
Even if you didn't purchase your water softener from us, you can still rely on us to fix it for you at an affordable price. You can trust WaterSmart for your water softener repair, purchasing, and installation as well as all your plumbing needs.
WaterSmart has been serving the Kitchener region including Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, Brantford, and surrounding areas since 1994 with innovative water softening products and excellent service.
We are committed to helping you improve the quality of your home's water. We live and work in the Kitchener-Waterloo region so we understand the hard water challenges of this area. We know how to program your water softener for maximum efficiency and are familiar with the types of water softener repairs that you might need.
Contact WaterSmart today to book an appointment.
WaterSmart also offers a full range of plumbing services that include, but are not limited to:
Kitchens and Bathrooms
Leaks
Toilets and Taps
Clogged or Slow Drains
Dishwasher Installations
Tankless Hot Water Heaters
New Plumbing and Renovations
Master Plumber and Gas Fitter
““What a great experience!! I did a search on the internet, called regarding the price of a water softener and the next day it was installed and we had soft water again. Paul removed the old softener, installed and setup the new one and was out in just over an hour. He also noted that the grounding of water pipe was not done by previous installer and he corrected that as well. Cost was the same as softener that was installed 14 years ago - I am impressed.””
