Maintenance for Water Softener?

[Chris Shearer Cooper]

We installed a Kenmore Genius II water softener 10+ years ago, and with the exception of refilling it with salt every so often (actually I use the potassium chloride) I've completely neglected it.  And it hasn't really complained - as far as I know, it is quietly humming along doing its thing.  The water pressure in the house might be less than it was 10 years ago, it's kind of hard to know for sure.

 

This last time as I refilled it, I noticed a sticker inside the lid telling me how to clean the nozzle and venturi, and it got me wondering if that was something I was supposed to be doing every so often.  Which, in turn, got me wondering if there was other maintenance I was supposed to be doing every so often.

 

And should I run a hardness test on the water to see if it is in fact doing its job?

 

Thanks for all advice,

Chris

 

p.s. The input is city water (chlorinated etc.), if that makes a difference.

 

[RegUS_PatOff]

... Kenmore Genius II water softener.

model number

[Chris Shearer Cooper]

Model # 625.348670

[jay jay]

Testing the hardness before and after the softener, and keeping that in a record will let you monitor the hardness capacity of the unit over time.

The venturi maintenance is important so that the brine suction works properly.  Eventually the brine tank will accumulate the non salt content from the bagged salt.  If salt is 98%, then the 2% lays in the tank.  It is also a good idea to use a resin cleaner once in awhile.  Do NOT use Vaseline on any of the rubber parts.  If necessary, use only a silicone lubricant.