April 20, 2023

Water softener repair guides

Your water softener removes hard minerals such as calcium and magnesium from your house's water supply, preventing white-scale buildup on plumbing fixtures and inside your pipes and water heater. When your water softener quits working, use our repair guides and videos for replacing common parts such as the venturi and timer. Check out our water softener repair help section for error code charts covering Kenmore, Whirlpool and GE water softeners, and find out how to determine your water's softness. Search for your model number to find a complete list of replacement parts, then order the part you need.

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Repair guides for Repair guides common to all water softeners

These step-by-step repair guides will help you safely fix what’s broken on your water softener.

How to replace a water softener venturi
January 01, 2015

How to replace a water softener venturi

The venturi valve in your water softener draws brine water from the salt tank to the resin tank for regeneration. Follow…

Repair difficulty
Time required
 15 minutes or less
How to replace a water softener rotor position switch
January 01, 2015

How to replace a water softener rotor position switch

The rotor position switch detects the position of the valve rotor. If the rotor position switch fails, follow these step…

Repair difficulty
Time required
 30 minutes or less
How to replace a water softener timer
January 01, 2015

How to replace a water softener timer

The timer is the control board you use to program the water softener. If the timer isn’t accepting commands when you pus…

Repair difficulty
Time required
 15 minutes or less
How to replace a water softener valve motor
January 01, 2015

How to replace a water softener valve motor

The valve motor rotates the valve rotor to operate the water softener. If the water softener valve motor fails, follow t…

Repair difficulty
Time required
 30 minutes or less

Symptoms for water softeners

Choose a symptom to see related water softener repairs.

Main causes: clogged drain hose, faulty rotor valve, leaky rotor valve seals…

Main causes: broken water flow meter, faulty timer, water flow to softener is bypassed…

Main causes: faulty brine valve assembly, bad rotor valve…

Main causes: broken resin tank screen, bad resin tank seals, cracked upper distributor in resin tank…

Main causes: salt bridge inside the salt tank, bad timer, valve motor failure, faulty rotor valve, clogged venturi…

Main causes: lack of electrical power, bad power transformer, faulty timer…

Main causes: empty salt tank, salt bridge, depleted resin, clogged or damaged venturi, broken rotor position switch, fai…

Main causes: loose water line connections, cracked water-carrying components, bad rotor valve seals…

Articles and videos for water softeners

Use the advice and tips in these articles and videos to get the most out of your water softener.

Top questions about Sears and Sears PartsDirect

Top questions about Sears and Sears PartsDirect

Get answers to frequently asked questions about Sears and Sears PartsDirect.…

How to read a wiring schematic video

How to read a wiring schematic video

Learn how to decipher symbols so you can buy the right part for your problem.…

How to use a multimeter to test electrical parts video

How to use a multimeter to test electrical parts video

Learn how to use a multimeter to check for wiring problems in an appliance that's not working…