Water softener

[RapidRabbit]

So ever since we moved into the new house we have been chasing a flooding issue in the basement. There was never any water when we bought the house. Then 2 days after we moved in the utility area flooded.

I mopped it up and set up some towels to try and track where it was coming in. Checked it at least 2 times a day and stayed completely dry for 3 weeks even after some heavy rain storms.

Exactly 3 weeks to the day it flooded again, but it was really raining that day. Cleaned it up and again stayed dry for 3 weeks.

So I have been trying to eliminate possible causes. Today I decided the 3 week coincidence must be the water softener. So I decided to manually regenerate the unit. Sure enough a couple hours into the process it flooded.

So it appears to be coming from this white tube on the side. I have no idea why or what's going on. I know nothing about water softners.

Any idea what would cause this our what needs to be done to stop it?

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[FordDude]

So you are saying that elbow or 90 pointing down is draining water during the cycle? Um have you tried getting a hose (Home Depot/Lowes/Menards) sells different size plastic tubing. Connect the tube to your drain. Hope that you have one in your basement. It has been awhile since I lived with my parents, 26+ years, that I had a water softener. Kinda remember that when they cycle water in and water (brine) out. Is the water that is flooding salty? Y'all got hard water up there in the great white north? :jerk

fd

 

[RapidRabbit]

Yes the little elbow is where it is coming out. I assume it's some kind of overflow.

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[One_fast67]

If your softener is anything like mine, that elbow should be connected with a hose to a drain. Mine has a similar elbow that serves as an overflow connection and is separate from the main discharge hose.

 

[jims6t6]

If your softener is anything like mine, that elbow should be connected with a hose to a drain. Mine has a similar elbow that serves as an overflow connection and is separate from the main discharge hose.

My softener has a drain.

 

[camachinist]

Here's a typical install guide. Note the overflow.


Since your unit is in the basement, the overflow can run via gravity to any open drain. If there is no open drain, consult a plumber, since potable water systems and their accessories should never be in direct contact with DWV systems. Your softener drain likely uses an air-gap device to meet this standard. A plumber can advise you further.

 

[RapidRabbit]

Ok. Thanks guys. I will have figure out the drain. Don't have a for drain in that room, but there is a drain pipe that the main line dumps into when it regenerates. Also a sink next to it, but I assume it should just go to that.

Here you can see the drain line in the back.

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[camachinist]

To me, it looks like a copper pipe runs into open PVC with a trap, and at a height lower than the tank outlet so even if the plumbing backed up, 'bad' water would never reach the tank, rather go out onto the floor. Use that as your guide for doing the overflow, wherever you run it. You always want any potential 'bad' water to be lower than the overflow outlet on the tank.

Since it appears that a professional installed this, if you know who it is, you might wish to contact them and ask them why they left the overflow open to spillage on the basement floor with no floor drain. Heh.

 

[RapidRabbit]

I think the companyu who put it in its listed on the unit. I may give them a call if they are even still in business. No idea how long ago this was put in. We do have a home warranty too so maybe they will cover it. I assume it should not overflow every time it regenerates.

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[opentrackerSteve]

Something with your softener is not right. I suspect the cycle where the softener is supposed to suck the brine out of the salt tank isn't aligned correctly and it's filling up. PM me your email address and I'll send you details and links to how to check and possibly repair it...