Water remains hard at faucets even though the softener appears to run normally.

Safety first: Do not open the mineral tank while pressurized. Use test strips to confirm hardness before and after the softener.

• Verify bypass position: Ensure the Hellenbrand bypass is fully in the “Service” position, not partially in bypass.
• Test hardness: Use a hardness test kit on raw water and softened water. If both are similar, the softener is not exchanging hardness.
• Check salt and brine: Confirm adequate salt in the brine tank and break any salt bridges. During a manual regeneration, observe that the brine level drops during brine draw and refills at the end.
• Review programming: Confirm hardness, capacity, and reserve settings are correct for your water and usage. Underestimating hardness or overestimating capacity will cause early hardness breakthrough.
• Resin condition: If the unit is older or has been exposed to iron, chlorine, or fouling, the resin may be exhausted. Consider cleaning with a resin cleaner or replacing the resin bed.