H99
Whirlpool Hardness Setting or Resin Capacity Issue

Display shows maximum hardness (e.g., H99) and water remains hard after regeneration

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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

Hardness set too low for actual water, Exhausted or fouled resin bed, Incorrect resin volume programmed, Bypass valve partially open

How to Fix / Troubleshooting

Safety first: Place the softener in bypass before opening any plumbing connections. Unplug before removing covers.

Steps to check:

  • 1. Confirm bypass position: Ensure the Whirlpool bypass valve is in the "service" position (arrows aligned with flow). A partially bypassed unit will leave water hard.
  • 2. Test hardness before and after softener: Use test strips on raw water and softened water. If both are similar, the softener is not exchanging hardness properly.
  • 3. Perform a manual regeneration: Start a manual regeneration and allow it to complete. Afterward, retest softened water hardness.
  • 4. Check resin condition: If water is still hard, the resin may be exhausted, iron-fouled, or damaged. Inspect the resin tank by removing the control valve (advanced). If resin is mushy, clumped, or heavily discolored, plan to replace the resin bed.
  • 5. Verify programming: Ensure the capacity and hardness settings match the actual resin volume and water conditions per Whirlpool specifications.

When to call a technician: Resin replacement and valve removal are advanced tasks; if unsure, contact a water treatment professional.

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Repair Difficulty

Hard 4/5

Required Part

Cation Resin
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