Water remains hard even though the Clack water softener appears to run normally and shows no error codes.

Safety: No high-voltage work is required, but always close valves slowly to avoid water hammer.

Steps:

• Check bypass position: Verify the Clack bypass valve is fully in the “Service” position and not partially in bypass. Mispositioned bypass can mix hard and soft water.
• Verify salt and brine: Inspect the brine tank for adequate salt and break any salt bridges. Ensure there is water in the brine tank and that brine is being drawn during regeneration.
• Confirm programming: Check that hardness, capacity, and reserve settings match your actual water hardness and usage. Underestimating hardness can cause early exhaustion.
• Run manual regeneration: Initiate a manual regeneration and test water hardness 1–2 hours after completion. If water is still hard, the resin may be exhausted or fouled.
• Resin condition: If the system is older or exposed to iron, chlorine, or tannins, the resin may be permanently fouled. Plan to replace the Clack-compatible softening resin in the mineral tank.

Note: If you have high iron, consider adding an iron filter or using a resin cleaner periodically to extend resin life.