Water remains hard even though the Autotrol softener appears to run normally

Safety: Shut off water and relieve pressure before opening the mineral tank or valve.

• Verify bypass and plumbing: Ensure the Autotrol bypass is in the service position and inlet/outlet are not reversed. Check for any external bypass piping.
• Check salt and brine: Confirm the brine tank has adequate salt and that brine is being drawn during regeneration (brine level should drop). If not, service the brine system (injector, brine line, float).
• Review programming: Confirm hardness, capacity, and regeneration frequency are set correctly for your water usage and conditions.
• Test resin: If hardness remains high after a proper regeneration, the resin may be exhausted or iron-fouled. Consider cleaning with a resin cleaner or replacing the cation exchange resin in the mineral tank.
• Resin replacement: To replace resin, disconnect the Autotrol valve, siphon or dump old resin, inspect and replace the distributor tube and bottom screen if damaged, then refill with new softener resin and reattach the valve.