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How To Turn Off a Water Softener System

Are you wondering how to turn off a water softener? While you probably want your water softener to run when you are using your water supply, there are plenty of situations where you might want to turn off your water softener.

While the exact steps you will follow will depend on the type of water softener you have, you generally need to set the unit to bypass mode first. Then, you can turn off your water supply and unplug the water softener from the power outlet.

Take a look at some more details regarding what you need to do to turn off your water softener, and do not hesitate to reach out to an expert if you need help or clarification regarding your soft water or water softener shut off.

How To Turn Off Your Water Softener: Step By Step

Time needed: 5 minutes

If you have a water softener at home, and it has been installed at the point of entry of water into your home, there are a few steps to follow. They include:

  1. Turn The Water Softener Bypass Valve To Set It To Bypass Mode

    First, you need to identify the bypass valve. If you cannot find the bypass bill for your water softener, take a look at the manual. You need to turn the bypass valve to set the water softener to bypass mode to stop the supply of softened water and turn off water softener.

    The vast majority of water softening systems have three separate modes. They include service mode, regeneration mode, and bypass mode. When your system is working normally, it will be in service mode. If you want to shift water away from the system, you will need to turn your water softener to the bypass setting.

    While every water softener is different, you should be able to figure out how to turn your water softener to bypass mode by taking a look at the manual. 

  2. Turn Off the Water Supply

    If you have set your water softener to bypass mode, there should not be any water flowing through the main component of the system. If you are turning off your water softener to perform routine maintenance, setting the water softener to bypass mode should be enough.

    On the other hand, if you want to turn off the water softener because you are worried that your house has a leak, or if you are concerned that a leak could develop when you are away on vacation, you need to turn off the water supply to your house as well.

    You will need to figure out where the main valve for your home’s water supply is located. If you cannot find it, you may want to take a look at the documents that came with the house when you bought it. The location of the water main should be found there.

    Then, you should use a wrench to twist the valve to the “off” setting. To complete the process, you will need to remove the water that is already present in the pipes of your home. You can do that by opening a nearby faucet to ensure all the pressure has been removed. 

  3. Unplug the Water Softener

    If you want to be extremely thorough, you should finish the job by unplugging the water softener. Many water softeners will automatically switch themselves into bypass mode when they regenerate.

    If you are going to be gone for a while, you won’t be using your water, so you don’t have to worry about your water softener going through the regeneration process. To make sure you save money and avoid placing unnecessary stress on your system, you may want to unplug the water softener completely.

The Top Reasons Why You Should Turn Off Your Water Softener

This is just a brief overview of what you need to do to turn off your water softener. Now, you might be wondering, why do you need to turn off your water softener?

There are a few reasons why you need to turn off your water softener. They include:

You Will Be Out of Town

If you will be out of town for a while, you may not want your water softener to run while you are gone. For example, if your water softener continues running while you are out of town, you could place an unnecessary amount of stress on it, and you don’t want a water leak to develop while you are away.

If you aren’t going to use your water softener for a while, you might as well save it for later. You can turn it off to stop problems from developing.

Note here that DROP systems can turn your water on and off remotely from the DROP app, so even if you forget to turn off your water and remember while you are already on your trip, you can still turn it off.

You Need To Perform Maintenance On It

You may also want to turn off your water softener because you need to perform maintenance on it. If you want your water softener to last as long as possible, you need to take care of it. While you are working on your water softener, you don’t necessarily want water to go through it. It will make your job a lot harder, and you could make a mess everywhere.

You can fix this issue by shifting your water softener into bypass mode. That way, the water is out of your way when you work on it, but the system itself is still active. 

There Is a Problem With Your Water Softener

If you think there is something wrong with your water softener, the best thing you can do is turn it off. Until you can figure out what is wrong with it, you don’t want your water softener to keep running, as you could potentially make issues worse.

You can shift your water softener into bypass mode while you try to diagnose and solve the problem. If you cannot figure out what is wrong with your water softener, you may want to reach out to an expert who can help you. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Turning Off Your Water Softener

It is not unusual for people to have questions about their water softeners. Some of the most common questions people ask about water softeners include:

Why can’t I find the off button for my water softener?

A water softener is not like other appliances in your home. There isn’t an off button you can just press. If you want to turn off your water softener and prevent water flow to the inside of the system, you need to shift your water softener into bypass mode.

If I unplug my water softener, is that enough to turn it off? 

No. Simply unplugging your water softener is not going to turn it off. All you will do is stop your water softener from regenerating, which could potentially place an unnecessary amount of stress on the water softener. If you want your water softener to stop softening your water, you need to shift it into bypass mode.

When I am done working on my water softener, how do I turn it on again? 

You simply need to perform the same steps in reverse. You need to take your water softener out of bypass mode, and it should go back to work.

How long can a water softener sit unused after turning it off?

In general, a water softener can sit unused for about 7 days without any issues. However, this can vary depending on factors such as the type of water softener, the quality of the resin, and the environmental conditions where the unit is stored.

Find the Best Water Softeners at DROP

If you want your water softener to work as well as possible, you need to take a look at the selection from DROP. We have smart water softeners and water filters that can help you improve the quality of your water supply. If you want to ensure that everyone has a healthy supply of water, and you want to protect your appliances against hard water, find the best water softener for your needs from DROP.

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