No water or very low water pressure to the house when the Clack softener is in service position.

Safety: Slowly move the bypass to avoid pressure surges. Depressurize before opening the valve.

Steps:

• Bypass test: Place the Clack valve in bypass. If house pressure returns to normal, the restriction is inside the softener.
• Check inlet screen: Remove the inlet fitting and inspect any inlet screen or y-strainer for debris. Clean or replace as needed.
• Inspect piston and seals: Remove the piston and seal/spacer stack and check for heavy fouling, scale, or damage preventing full open position. Replace if necessary.
• Evaluate resin bed: If the resin tank is very old or exposed to iron/sediment, the resin may be compacted or the bottom distributor screen may be clogged. This requires removing the control valve and inspecting the distributor tube and bottom screen. Replace resin and damaged internals as needed.
• Return to service: After cleaning or replacing components, reassemble, slowly return the valve to service, and check pressure.

Note: Installing a sediment prefilter upstream can prevent future blockages.