Softener is stuck in regeneration and does not return to service; water may be hard or unavailable.
Safety Warning
This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.
If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.
Possible Causes
How to Fix / Troubleshooting
Safety first: Immediately place the softener in bypass to restore water to the home and prevent flooding. Unplug the unit.
Inspect the valve head:
- Remove the cover and locate the drive motor and cam/rotor assembly.
- Check for obvious broken gears or loose motor mounting.
- Attempt to gently rotate the cam to the service position; do not force it if it is solidly jammed.
Check for debris:
- Debris or resin beads can lodge in the valve. If you are experienced, you can disassemble the valve head following the AO Smith service manual, clean internal passages, and inspect the rotor/seal pack.
In many cases, replacing the drive motor and/or rotor and seal kit is required. If you are not comfortable with valve disassembly, contact a professional technician.
Repair Difficulty
Required Part
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