Sterling Water
Insufficient Softening Capacity
Water remains hard even after regeneration; soap does not lather and scale forms on fixtures
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Safety Warning
This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.
If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.
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Possible Causes
Exhausted or fouled resin bed, Incorrect hardness or capacity settings, Bypassed plumbing or open bypass valve, No brine draw during regeneration
How to Fix / Troubleshooting
Safety: Most checks are external; do not open pressurized tanks. If removing the valve head, depressurize and wear eye protection.
Steps:
- 1. Confirm bypass position: Ensure the Sterling bypass valve is in the SERVICE position, not BYPASS or MIX.
- 2. Test hardness: Use a hardness test kit on water before and after the softener. If both are similar, the softener is not working.
- 3. Check programming: Verify hardness and capacity settings on the control. Increase hardness setting if your raw water is harder than originally programmed.
- 4. Verify brine draw: During regeneration, confirm that brine is being drawn from the tank. If not, address injector/brine line issues.
- 5. Resin condition: If the unit is older or has been exposed to iron or chlorine, the resin may be fouled. Consider cleaning with a resin cleaner or replacing the cation resin in the mineral tank.
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Repair Difficulty
Medium
3/5
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