Water remains hard even after recent regeneration; soap does not lather and scale forms on fixtures.

Safety first: Bypass the softener before opening any plumbing. Depressurize by opening a faucet.

• Check bypass: Verify the Crystal Quest bypass valve is fully in the SERVICE position and not partially bypassing hard water.
• Test hardness: Use a hardness test kit to measure water before and after the softener. If both are similar, the softener is not exchanging hardness.
• Verify regeneration: Confirm the unit is regenerating at the correct interval and that brine is being drawn (brine level should drop during brine draw). If not, service the brine injector and valve.
• Inspect resin: If the system is older or has been exposed to iron, chlorine, or fouling, the resin may be exhausted. Plan to replace the media with Crystal Quest cation softening resin sized for your tank.
• Reprogram settings: Ensure hardness, capacity, and salt dose are set according to Crystal Quest guidelines for your water and resin volume.