Thank you SO much for this video. My husband passed and I didn’t know what schedule clean involved. Today I looked through the manual and it didn’t say anything about it. This walked me through it perfectly. I did it myself! Yay!!! Thank you for taking the time to do this video.
You're very welcome! Sorry to hear about your husband. I'm glad I was able to help you with cleaning your machine. I'm with you, it really should be in the manual, unfortunately it isn't. Thanks for watching and commenting!
I didn't even think about my ice maker, however remembered we bypassed the cold water in our kitchen so it doesn't come from the softener! Great video!
When the unit is in recharge mode it is also in bypass mode so it should be fine to use the toilets and sinks, etc. since you aren't getting water from the water softener during the recharge process.
That’s definitely true, you can do that, and it’ll just be standard tap water. I somehow didn’t realize when I did this that’s what happened, and that it didn’t introduce salt or anything into the water.
I would recommend purchasing a bottle of Res Care Resin Cleaner and a pack of Sani-System Water Softener Sanitizer. You can pour both down the brine well and the regenerate the water softener. This could bring back the resin to life and also sanitize water softener.
Thanks so much for posting this. I noticed the “schedule clean” msg flashing and had no clue what to do, as I’m only keeping an eye on my sister’s vacant house which is up for sale. This video is perfect, as it’s the same softener as the one in this house. Thanks again, sir!!
You’re very welcome! I always try to keep my videos easy to follow and straight to-the-point, as I know how hard it can be to watch a confusing video. Thank you very much for watching!
I would recommend just putting a shut off vale on the outlet of the water softener. When you start the cleaning you simply shut the water off past the softener. When done you turn back on.
Thank you so much for this information. On where on the cleaner bottle could I find how long the cleansing would take (2 hours). And no where does it say not to use the water in the meantime nor does it say to run water for 20 after! So I thank you for your helpful info! I’ve not done this cycle correctly since I’ve owned this unit until today. Thank you!
You're welcome! I think the cleaning time I based off personal experience, and the timer on the unit. The other parts may have been in the manual, but either way that's a lot of reading. I wanted to create a easy to follow video that anyone could use. I'm really glad you enjoyed it!
When the water softener is in recharge mode it is also I bypass mode, so you aren't getting water from the water softener. So, you are safe to use the toilets and sinks while it's recharging.
That's an interesting thought. More faucets mean more flow, so I suppose if you opened a few more, you could shave some time off the flush. High flow faucets like bathtubs and the kitchen sink are good for this since they can get more water through.
Hello, Thank you for the video! I have a question. When I took the cap off the black tube to put in the cleanser, I noticed that there was a great deal of salt pellets in there. In your video your tube looked empty. Is there supposed to be salt in that tube?
The black tube should not contain salt pellets. A little buildup on bottom is no issue, but there shouldn’t be a bunch of salt in there. Most likely the cap was off when adding salt, or someone thought that is where it should go. I personally would recommend cleaning as much out as you can, a wet/dry vac would probably do a good job. Not a huge deal, but if you can get them out, it’s worth it.
Thank you for the very helpful video. But, Do you really need to turn off the ice maker…I was told the pipe that water softener uses does not go to the kitchen.
The light blinking could mean a few things, so not always that it needs cleaned. On these softeners, a flashing light means it needs attention, kind of like a message light on a phone. Generally, whatever's flashing onscreen is what needs addressed. It could be low salt, the clock needs set after losing power, or a cleaning reminder. Only if it says "Scheduled Clean" or something similar do you need to do the cleanser bottle like in the video. A pretty ingenious system if you ask me, I think it makes it really easy to tell if there's an issue. Thanks a lot for the kind words!
I wouldn’t worry. It should flush out with the recharges. The water doesn’t directly contact the salt, so it really shouldn’t be an issue. I would however, recommend letting the salt get as low as possible before adding more, just to be sure.
No, you'll never have those issues from not doing the cleaner. The cleaner helps clean out the internal resin beads in the softener so they are as effective as possible in removing hard water. It's still good to clean it to maximize the performance, but you won't get leaking or property damage if you don't. Thanks for asking!
I would confirm with the back of the bottle just to be sure, but I think in that situation it's recommended to wait until your salt is either empty or almost empty, then add the cleaner to the salt tank and recharge. Then you can refill the softener with salt.
The water softener should not be bypassed for the cleaning. If it is, the machine won’t get any water and won’t be able to complete the cycle. If you started the recharge, and nothing happened, I would check to see if it is bypassed, and if it is, un-bypass it, and re-run a recharge cycle. Hopefully that helps.
Thank you very much for uploading a video like this now I know how to clean my Whirlpool Water Softener when me and my dad buy one at Fleet Farm thanks so much for your help now I know now
I have this same unit. If you push and hold the recahrge button yiu get two or 3 more cycles any idea what they are for ? One is like back wash recharge or something but the destruction manual doesn't cover it
I think I know what that means. On mine, if you just push the recharge button quickly it will schedule it to run later that night at its usual time. If you push and hold, it immediately starts the recharge. The names such as back wash and recharge are just parts of the recharge process, similar to how a washing machine might indicate that it's in wash, rinse, or spin. Thanks for asking!
Great video! Question around not turning on your hot water... I am a newbie and had a plumber install the same unit for me. I got my water tested and it came out to 75ppm hardness. I plan to fill it up at level 5... the issue is the unit is only connected to my hot water source (hot water tank) so if I had the cleaning solution running a cold tap will not work... just confirming to the best of your knowledge, if I add the solution then I’m assuming I would need to run hot water until my hot water tank is completely drained?
Running the tank until it’s drained would be my best recommendation, but you probably don’t need to drain the tank. I’d just run hot water for a little longer than I recommend for cold to make sure it all gets cleaned out
Mike Studmuffin I can tell you it’s been connected for a month now and I have had zero issues. If my basement was not finished I would have setup bypasses, especially in the kitchen and outside to prevent those cold points getting soft... since my basement was finished I decided just to do the hot water...as a result, my dog can continue drinking cold water from the tap and my garden, grass and plants will not die!
@@antoniod7324 Are you saying that dogs shouldn’t drink the tap if the water softener is hooked up to both? And my grass will die if I water it from my hose? I’ve never heard of that before. We use brita water for the dogs, but we have a terrible time growing grass. I wonder if this is why. Not much I can do about it though. Crap!!
@@mikejohnson601 I had family that lived in rural areas with hard water and had to use a water softener. I grew up with this information from them… originally I was more concerned about my grass as I’ve read that it dehydrates plants and grass. A simple google search will conclude this. It’s been 2 years now and I’ve only used it for the hot water however tbh I think the system works best when both hot and cold are activated as I don’t really get that silkiness when showering
Thanks for the video. I just installed new whirpool 40k, And starightway put this liquid cleaner . And i saw the liquid cleaner straightway coming out at the lower end. I stopped at that pointstill 1/4th of the bottle was poured into.. Does nt make sense adding the liquid from top and it coming out at the bottom.is thr sometjing wrong with the brienwell? I understand i shd nt hv done that. However my questions- 1. Is it normal that liquid coming out at the bottom end and goes in the main tank where we put salt. 2. Should i do something to flush it out. 3. I added salt right after putting the liquid,so salt must hv soaked the liquid. Shd i leave the salt and use it or shd i remove the salt. Pls advise thanks
You’re welcome! I’m really not sure about that as mine has always had salt in it when I’ve done the cleaner, so if any of it came out, I wouldn’t have seen it. I’d imagine it’s probably normal. The 20 minutes of running cold water after the recharge should be enough. As long as your water smells and tastes normal I’d say it’s OK. I probably wouldn’t worry about the salt. It will get used up eventually and it will also get “rinsed” with each recharge. Feel free to ask more questions if you want. I’ll gladly reply!
You're welcome! This one's the WHES44 44,000 grain unit and I highly recommend it. They work well and are designed to use less water and salt. I'd recommend doing this cleaner regularly and cleaning the nozzle and venturi every 6-12 months and you should be good.
I probably would just to be sure it got all of it out, definitely wouldn’t hurt anything to do another cycle. Might be a good idea to check the drain hose too, just in case something is blocking or restricting it.
Is the water softener cleanser needed for the initial installation recharge as well? The instruction manual doesnt detail if its needed for the install.
The cleaner is not needed for the installation recharge. My manual recommended bleach. I believe that was only in the full-length online manual. I remember it was around 3 tablespoons, poured into the black cylinder with the grey cap, the same place I poured the cleaner in the video. Otherwise the procedure is the same. Just recharge and flush, and you're good to go. Thanks for watching!
You can use Citric Acid which is basically the same thing and is much cheaper. You add 1 cup to 1 qt of warm water and dissolve it...then pour into the brine and run the regeneration process.
That's a pretty interesting idea I've never heard of before. My only recommendation would be to only use this method in softeners that are past their warranty period, as Whirlpool sent me a year's worth of cleaner and 1 year of extended warranty when this unit was new. After that, I'm sure the Citric Acid would work fine. It'd be a good backup if you need to clean your unit and can't get the cleaner.
@@sourcecreator2222 I had read it online and I confirmed by calling Whirlpool to ask what is the ingredient on their brand and they said Citric Acid. So basically you're just paying Whirlpool's Citric Acid at a much higher price.
@@toyota-eh3ub I called Whirlpool and they confirmed the ingredient used for cleaning is Citric Acid. So why pay so much for Citric Acid with Whirlpool's brand on it?... just buy the Organic one in Amazon and save money.
I really don’t think you could get sick from the water, I just like to let it run to make sure there’s no chance of any cleaner remnant left over. I started doing it after I used bleach to clean the softener, and when. I flushed the water, and it smelled like bleach in the room where the water was running. After 20 minutes or so no more smell. So I just kept doing the flush after the cleaner just to be on the safe side, even if it isn’t needed.
I’m thinking your drain hose and line for the softener may be clogged. You could take a look and see if anything is plugged up, if there’s nothing obvious it might be a good idea to call in a plumber. Hopefully that helps.
I’ve had my softener for 5 years and recently my brita water tastes salty. Could it be because we’ve never cleaned the softener. I’m getting a bottle of that stuff this weekend.
That could be the problem. I'd do the cleaner first and see if it helps. If it doesn't, you most likely need to clean your nozzle and venturi. I don't have a video on that, but there's usually instructions on the lid. Thanks for asking!
I can't imagine anything too bad would happen, other than you may need more than one recharge cycle to fully flush it all out. Using more than one is probably more than necessary, if you're looking for a deeper clean, a good option might be to do 2 cleanings, a week or so apart. That would probably help flush out as much contaminants as possible.
It looks like I messed up with the procedure. I poured the Whirlpool water softener cleanser on top of the salt but not into the brine well. In this case, do you have any suggestion what I should do?
In that case, I'd recommend running the recharge and flushing like usual, that should take care of most of it. I would also recommend using up as much salt as you can before adding any more, as that will definitely make sure no cleaner is left. Thanks!
It's recommended to clean it every 3-4 months, which is when the light comes on. It's usually best to just wait for the light but just in case your light doesn't work or you forget, 3-4 months is a safe bet.
I'd recommend doing this cleaning about every 3-4 months, or whenever the cleaning reminder appears on your softener, if your unit has a reminder. My softener is also around 5 years old, and still works great.
You can. Bleach can be used as an effective alternative to the cleaner. Just pour 2-3 tablespoons of standard bleach into the black cylinder where I put the cleaner in the video, run the recharge cycle, and then flush for 20 minutes afterward. You should be good to go.
Good question! If you're asking if you can still use your water if the unit is in bypass mode, then yes. Bypassing will make it as if the softener isn't even there. You will still have water, but it will not be softened.
great video and helps alot. I have a whirlpool whes40. There is about salt up to level 5 and i see no water at all. I imagine i should see no water. Doesnt seem like my water is being softened.
There shouldn't be visible water in the tank with the salt level at 5, so it looks like you're good there. If your water is not getting softened, like if you still have water spots, and have already done this cleanout, you might try cleaning the nozzle and venturi. Usually the instructions on that are located on the underside of the salt tank lid. It may be a good idea to bump up the hardness number in the menu as well.
@@toyota-eh3ub yea I'll try that abs thanks for your reply. I broke up a salt bridge I think and removed some of the salt. Performed a regen and added salt and there is some water now on top . Ran out of salt actually, level 4 or so. Will see how it works during the next day and will get more salt and look at the venturi. Thx again
A salt bridge would definitely cause your softener to not work well as it reduces or even eliminates salt getting into the softener. Doing what you did should have it working good. Thanks for the reply!
It all depends on where the smell is coming from. If the water coming from your faucets smells like sulfur/rotten eggs or something like that, then it's the water, not the softener and unfortunately there's not much you can do. If the softener itself stinks, there may be mildew or something in the tank where the salt goes causing it to smell. In that case, I'd recommend waiting for your salt level to get low, and then scrubbing out as much of the grey salt tank as you can reach with Clorox wipes or something similar. This cleaner probably won't help since it's internal, not for the outer parts of the unit. Either way, I wouldn't recommend replacing your water softener because of the smell. An odor on the machine won't contaminate the water. I think a good cleaning should eliminate the issue.
If the light is still flashing after pushing a button on the panel, your salt may be low. If the little level dots on the screen are at 2 or less, the light will flash. In that case, just add more salt to the tank and press the "Set Salt Level" button until the on-screen indicator reflects the actual salt level.
That all depends on how much is left in the tank and how big the tank is. I just filled mine today. It was around level 2 and the salt light was flashing. 2 bags did it for me. I use Morton salt that comes in the yellow bag. More isn’t always better, especially if you live in a more humid climate. Too much can cause a “salt bridge” where a big chunk of salt forms midway up the tank, stopping more from coming down and keeping the unit from using salt. You can break it up with a mop handle or other pole, but it’s a hassle. As for the cleaning, I’d say if it’s at 2 or lower I’d refill it. The cleaner can make it use extra, and you don’t want it to run out. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Thank you so much for this video because my cleaner light just came on today and believe it or not we have the same identical water softener. Perfect video and perfect timing..😀 Thanks again this was very helpful that's awesome 👍
I’m not sure, but I’d probably not recommend it. The cleaner is specifically meant for these units, and is effective without potentially causing issues. If you can’t get the cleaner, the manual recommends bleach. Just look up your manual for the recommended amount and does it just as I did the cleaner. Make sure you flush by running cold water for 20-30 minutes after. That ensures any leftover chemicals are gone.
Manufacturer recommendation is to open bypass valve prior to start regeneration. However, mfg and your video does not state when to open it back. Thanks
I wouldn't recommend bypassing the softener for this, as it takes it "out of the loop" and it won't have water going to it, which it needs for a successful recharge. If you do need to bypass your water softener, I would open back the bypass valve after you're done working on the softener.
Hey bro we got the same one Hey also what leve do set up for level of hardness also I did what you did but now my whole tank is full of water is that normal do I need to add more salt its full up to the rim and not sure what to do
ULYSES J-A I set my hardness at 14, but it depends on your water. Unfortunately, it sounds like you have a clogged drain. I would recommend a plumber and not adding more salt.
I'm really not sure as to why, I just know the manual says not to. I'd imagine that because the softener uses water to regenerate and clean itself, running water could disrupt the process. I usually run the cleaner before I leave the house for a few hours, or when I don't need the water and then run cold water for around 20 minutes like in the video.
Manual says "Note: Avoid using hot water while the conditioner is regenerating, because the water heater will refill with bypass hard water." I guess it's okay to use during regen but it will be hard water.
It does, though so long as your softener has the black tube like this one, it should work at any level. The tube helps keep the cleaner out of the salt.
That's true! It switches the house water supply to unsoftened water while it's recharging, that way you still have water. Also a good idea to have it set to recharge when you won't use much water, for example mine runs at 2:00 AM.
It does seem like a long time, but I don't think it's too much more than doing a load of laundry or taking a bath. If you didn't want to, it's not a necessity, but I've had good luck flushing it.
Not quite. To get to that many gallons, you’d need a faucet that puts out around 15 gallons per minute. I don’t think you could even get that out of a garden hose running full-blast. Even if it did, I’d still rather follow the manufacturers instructions to make sure the system is fully flushed.
@@kennyplay5982 I can forgive you for your numbers being off. It happens. I'm with you, it doesn't say to flush it on those instructions, but I heard it somewhere, either the system's manual or the plumber that installed this unit. I've done it ever since and haven't had any issues. To me, it's worth the water to not have to worry about the chemicals ending up in the water.
Hey friends... 1. Good video... some wrong info. Question: why do you think you should run the water for 20 mins after a cleaning cycle??? Answer... YOU DONT !!! Explanation: the 2 hour brine and rinse cycle takes care of it. Further explanation to stop yourself from running the abnormal and wasteful clearing 20 mins mentioned. The shut off valves activate and separate the entire tank form the water system. Unless your water source if so putrid you can't have one drop up the line without the softener being the source... you just simply put a few gallons from your source to the user.. Now last thought! You turn into the engineer that builds water softeners... are you really gonna leave out the triple rinse cycle to clear the beads of all solutions and brine before allowing the softener back online after it's cycle??? Oh... you wouldn't? NEITHER DID THEY! Consider reading the manual or calling a plumber to verify if you doubt the words above... Inform yourself where you can! Best of luck. To the video creator! Again. Good video.
While not required, I like to do it just to be sure. I know for a fact, if I clean the system using bleach, per the manual after installation, when flushing the room where the water was running definitely smelled like bleach. So while not required, I like to do it just to eliminate any chance of it being left over.
I do, and everyone should. While it does technically "waste" water, if you don't, remnants of the cleaner could still be there. Not flushing could ultimately lead to you ingesting some of it. Worse yet, run hot water, and now that's in your tank. While I've never tried not flushing the pipes afterward, I'd recommend everyone do it just to be on the side of caution.
@Mike Studmuffin My instructions on the cleaner bottle and in the manual say to flush it. The cleaning solution isn't running through your house pipes, but remnants of it could still be in the resin, resin tank, or other softener parts. Flushing ensures all of that is gone.
I typically run a cold tap for about 10 minutes or so. This cleanser is dyed blue so it makes it easier to see when it's all been flushed out of you pipes. One simple trick I just started doing is to put a white mixing bowl under the tap I'm running to make it easy to see when the water stops running blue. It ends up completely clear for me typically around the 12 min mark. The 20 min thing is just to cover everyone's situation, every faucet, house, etc. will have a different flow rate, way the plumbing is laid out. So that 20 mins is just to be on the safe side. Like I said mine is closer to 12 mins, but yours might be shorter or longer. The other thing I read you can do is to run another cycle on the softener, but that will probably use more water than running a tap for 10-20 mins. Also gotta figure that's about a load of laundry's worth or a couple showers, maybe even one shower since your probably only using half the flow rate (you'd typically have the hot tap going for a shower). Hope this helps.
To set the time, press the Program button, and it should start flashing. Use the up or down buttons to set the correct time, then press Program repeatedly until you’ve exited the menu.
![Digital Circus Episode 4 [TRAILER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/abZtsmMUbJo/mqdefault.jpg)
Thank you SO much for this video. My husband passed and I didn’t know what schedule clean involved. Today I looked through the manual and it didn’t say anything about it. This walked me through it perfectly. I did it myself! Yay!!! Thank you for taking the time to do this video.
You're very welcome!
Sorry to hear about your husband.
I'm glad I was able to help you with cleaning your machine. I'm with you, it really should be in the manual, unfortunately it isn't. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Thank you for taking the time to make and post this video. New home owner, new water softener owner, a whole new world of maintenance learning!!
You’re very welcome! I appreciate the kind words!
I didn't even think about my ice maker, however remembered we bypassed the cold water in our kitchen so it doesn't come from the softener! Great video!
You’re welcome! Glad I could help. Sounds like an interesting icemaker setup to bypass the softener.
Just made this procedure 10 mins ago, excellent video!
You’re very welcome!
When the unit is in recharge mode it is also in bypass mode so it should be fine to use the toilets and sinks, etc. since you aren't getting water from the water softener during the recharge process.
That’s definitely true, you can do that, and it’ll just be standard tap water. I somehow didn’t realize when I did this that’s what happened, and that it didn’t introduce salt or anything into the water.
I would recommend purchasing a bottle of Res Care Resin Cleaner and a pack of Sani-System Water Softener Sanitizer. You can pour both down the brine well and the regenerate the water softener. This could bring back the resin to life and also sanitize water softener.
Preston Short Thank you very much for your information! I’ll definitely keep your recommendations in mind if I ever have any issues with this unit.
Thanks so much for posting this. I noticed the “schedule clean” msg flashing and had no clue what to do, as I’m only keeping an eye on my sister’s vacant house which is up for sale.
This video is perfect, as it’s the same softener as the one in this house. Thanks again, sir!!
You're very welcome.
I was surprised to see the light blinking because I had no idea what it ment but thank god and you for this super easy video!
You’re very welcome! I always try to keep my videos easy to follow and straight to-the-point, as I know how hard it can be to watch a confusing video. Thank you very much for watching!
Thank you for the video. Can you use bypass and use water when it's cleaning?
I would recommend just putting a shut off vale on the outlet of the water softener. When you start the cleaning you simply shut the water off past the softener. When done you turn back on.
Was ther water in your dispenser were you poured the cleaner I couldn’t tell it was dark
Simple and very straightforward. Thank you so much for this video!
You’re very welcome! :)
Thank you very much to all of those who have helped this video reach over 7,500 views and 170 likes!
Thank you so much for this information. On where on the cleaner bottle could I find how long the cleansing would take (2 hours). And no where does it say not to use the water in the meantime nor does it say to run water for 20 after! So I thank you for your helpful info! I’ve not done this cycle correctly since I’ve owned this unit until today. Thank you!
You're welcome! I think the cleaning time I based off personal experience, and the timer on the unit. The other parts may have been in the manual, but either way that's a lot of reading. I wanted to create a easy to follow video that anyone could use. I'm really glad you enjoyed it!
When the water softener is in recharge mode it is also I bypass mode, so you aren't getting water from the water softener. So, you are safe to use the toilets and sinks while it's recharging.
if you open up more faucets can you shorten the time left on?
That's an interesting thought. More faucets mean more flow, so I suppose if you opened a few more, you could shave some time off the flush. High flow faucets like bathtubs and the kitchen sink are good for this since they can get more water through.
Hello,
Thank you for the video! I have a question. When I took the cap off the black tube to put in the cleanser, I noticed that there was a great deal of salt pellets in there. In your video your tube looked empty. Is there supposed to be salt in that tube?
The black tube should not contain salt pellets. A little buildup on bottom is no issue, but there shouldn’t be a bunch of salt in there. Most likely the cap was off when adding salt, or someone thought that is where it should go. I personally would recommend cleaning as much out as you can, a wet/dry vac would probably do a good job. Not a huge deal, but if you can get them out, it’s worth it.
@@toyota-eh3ub thanks for the quick response! I guess I have some work to do
You’re welcome!
Thank you for the very helpful video. But, Do you really need to turn off the ice maker…I was told the pipe that water softener uses does not go to the kitchen.
You probably don't need too. More than likely, it won't need to make ice during the cycle, and even if it did, it would be just fine.
So if the light starts to blink does it mean it has to be cleaned? This video was very detailed. I have a water softener system exactly like this. 👍
The light blinking could mean a few things, so not always that it needs cleaned. On these softeners, a flashing light means it needs attention, kind of like a message light on a phone. Generally, whatever's flashing onscreen is what needs addressed. It could be low salt, the clock needs set after losing power, or a cleaning reminder. Only if it says "Scheduled Clean" or something similar do you need to do the cleanser bottle like in the video. A pretty ingenious system if you ask me, I think it makes it really easy to tell if there's an issue. Thanks a lot for the kind words!
The instructions actually say to use when salt level is low to prevent “salt bridging”
That’s very true, and if you did have a salt bridge, this might even help break it up.
I just ran into your video today and I didn’t know that skinny tube is the brine. I poured the cleaner in the salt tank instead. Should I be worried?
I wouldn’t worry. It should flush out with the recharges. The water doesn’t directly contact the salt, so it really shouldn’t be an issue. I would however, recommend letting the salt get as low as possible before adding more, just to be sure.
@toyota2003 if you don't do this, could it lead to valve issues, water leaks / backups?
No, you'll never have those issues from not doing the cleaner. The cleaner helps clean out the internal resin beads in the softener so they are as effective as possible in removing hard water. It's still good to clean it to maximize the performance, but you won't get leaking or property damage if you don't. Thanks for asking!
My brine well does not have a cap to remove. Any suggestions for adding a product like this if I can't access the brine well.
I would confirm with the back of the bottle just to be sure, but I think in that situation it's recommended to wait until your salt is either empty or almost empty, then add the cleaner to the salt tank and recharge. Then you can refill the softener with salt.
do you have to move the bypass value? I don't know why nothing is happening like what you showed here?
The water softener should not be bypassed for the cleaning. If it is, the machine won’t get any water and won’t be able to complete the cycle. If you started the recharge, and nothing happened, I would check to see if it is bypassed, and if it is, un-bypass it, and re-run a recharge cycle. Hopefully that helps.
Thank you very much for uploading a video like this now I know how to clean my Whirlpool Water Softener when me and my dad buy one at Fleet Farm thanks so much for your help now I know now
You’re so very welcome! Glad I was able to help! These are really good softeners!
Do we open all the faucets in my house or just one Faucet ?
Just one is all you need. A higher volume one, like a bathtub, is preferable, but any faucet is good.
Do I turn my water heater off?
I have this same unit. If you push and hold the recahrge button yiu get two or 3 more cycles any idea what they are for ? One is like back wash recharge or something but the destruction manual doesn't cover it
I think I know what that means. On mine, if you just push the recharge button quickly it will schedule it to run later that night at its usual time. If you push and hold, it immediately starts the recharge. The names such as back wash and recharge are just parts of the recharge process, similar to how a washing machine might indicate that it's in wash, rinse, or spin. Thanks for asking!
thanks for the info I have the Exact same water softener!
You’re welcome! These softeners seem to be pretty popular, at least where I live.
Great video! Question around not turning on your hot water... I am a newbie and had a plumber install the same unit for me. I got my water tested and it came out to 75ppm hardness. I plan to fill it up at level 5... the issue is the unit is only connected to my hot water source (hot water tank) so if I had the cleaning solution running a cold tap will not work... just confirming to the best of your knowledge, if I add the solution then I’m assuming I would need to run hot water until my hot water tank is completely drained?
Running the tank until it’s drained would be my best recommendation, but you probably don’t need to drain the tank. I’d just run hot water for a little longer than I recommend for cold to make sure it all gets cleaned out
Mike Studmuffin I can tell you it’s been connected for a month now and I have had zero issues. If my basement was not finished I would have setup bypasses, especially in the kitchen and outside to prevent those cold points getting soft... since my basement was finished I decided just to do the hot water...as a result, my dog can continue drinking cold water from the tap and my garden, grass and plants will not die!
@@antoniod7324 Are you saying that dogs shouldn’t drink the tap if the water softener is hooked up to both? And my grass will die if I water it from my hose? I’ve never heard of that before. We use brita water for the dogs, but we have a terrible time growing grass. I wonder if this is why. Not much I can do about it though. Crap!!
hurstfamily6 from what I have been told ... this is true. You will see people setup a bypass wherever they don’t want the water to be soft.
@@mikejohnson601 I had family that lived in rural areas with hard water and had to use a water softener. I grew up with this information from them… originally I was more concerned about my grass as I’ve read that it dehydrates plants and grass. A simple google search will conclude this. It’s been 2 years now and I’ve only used it for the hot water however tbh I think the system works best when both hot and cold are activated as I don’t really get that silkiness when showering
Thanks for the video.
I just installed new whirpool 40k,
And starightway put this liquid cleaner . And i saw the liquid cleaner straightway coming out at the lower end. I stopped at that pointstill 1/4th of the bottle was poured into.. Does nt make sense adding the liquid from top and it coming out at the bottom.is thr sometjing wrong with the brienwell? I understand i shd nt hv done that. However my questions-
1. Is it normal that liquid coming out at the bottom end and goes in the main tank where we put salt.
2. Should i do something to flush it out.
3. I added salt right after putting the liquid,so salt must hv soaked the liquid. Shd i leave the salt and use it or shd i remove the salt.
Pls advise thanks
You’re welcome!
I’m really not sure about that as mine has always had salt in it when I’ve done the cleaner, so if any of it came out, I wouldn’t have seen it. I’d imagine it’s probably normal.
The 20 minutes of running cold water after the recharge should be enough. As long as your water smells and tastes normal I’d say it’s OK.
I probably wouldn’t worry about the salt. It will get used up eventually and it will also get “rinsed” with each recharge.
Feel free to ask more questions if you want. I’ll gladly reply!
Thanks! I’m thinking about buying a whirlpool softener ? Is yours a 3000 or 4000 and would you recommend it!
You're welcome! This one's the WHES44 44,000 grain unit and I highly recommend it. They work well and are designed to use less water and salt. I'd recommend doing this cleaner regularly and cleaning the nozzle and venturi every 6-12 months and you should be good.
I did one recharge and i still see blue color in the tank. Do i need to make another recharge?
I probably would just to be sure it got all of it out, definitely wouldn’t hurt anything to do another cycle. Might be a good idea to check the drain hose too, just in case something is blocking or restricting it.
This was helpful! Thanks!!!
You’re welcome! I’m glad it was helpful!
Thank you super easy to follow.
Do you have to set it on bypass or no?
You don’t, as that would cause the softener to not receive any water when recharging, so it would never do the cleaning. Hopefully that helps.
Is the water softener cleanser needed for the initial installation recharge as well? The instruction manual doesnt detail if its needed for the install.
The cleaner is not needed for the installation recharge. My manual recommended bleach. I believe that was only in the full-length online manual. I remember it was around 3 tablespoons, poured into the black cylinder with the grey cap, the same place I poured the cleaner in the video. Otherwise the procedure is the same. Just recharge and flush, and you're good to go.
Thanks for watching!
You can use Citric Acid which is basically the same thing and is much cheaper. You add 1 cup to 1 qt of warm water and dissolve it...then pour into the brine and run the regeneration process.
That's a pretty interesting idea I've never heard of before. My only recommendation would be to only use this method in softeners that are past their warranty period, as Whirlpool sent me a year's worth of cleaner and 1 year of extended warranty when this unit was new. After that, I'm sure the Citric Acid would work fine. It'd be a good backup if you need to clean your unit and can't get the cleaner.
Do you have any confirmation or certainty that this is sufficient for the softener to properly cleanse itself? Thanks
@@sourcecreator2222 I had read it online and I confirmed by calling Whirlpool to ask what is the ingredient on their brand and they said Citric Acid. So basically you're just paying Whirlpool's Citric Acid at a much higher price.
@@toyota-eh3ub I called Whirlpool and they confirmed the ingredient used for cleaning is Citric Acid. So why pay so much for Citric Acid with Whirlpool's brand on it?... just buy the Organic one in Amazon and save money.
@@macster1457 That's really helpful thank you!
This may sound stupid but what happens if you don’t let your faucet run for 20 mins? Could you get sick from the water?
I really don’t think you could get sick from the water, I just like to let it run to make sure there’s no chance of any cleaner remnant left over. I started doing it after I used bleach to clean the softener, and when. I flushed the water, and it smelled like bleach in the room where the water was running. After 20 minutes or so no more smell. So I just kept doing the flush after the cleaner just to be on the safe side, even if it isn’t needed.
do you know why my salt tank has many water？thanks
I’m thinking your drain hose and line for the softener may be clogged. You could take a look and see if anything is plugged up, if there’s nothing obvious it might be a good idea to call in a plumber. Hopefully that helps.
@@toyota-eh3ub thanks
You’re welcome!
I’ve had my softener for 5 years and recently my brita water tastes salty. Could it be because we’ve never cleaned the softener. I’m getting a bottle of that stuff this weekend.
That could be the problem. I'd do the cleaner first and see if it helps. If it doesn't, you most likely need to clean your nozzle and venturi. I don't have a video on that, but there's usually instructions on the lid. Thanks for asking!
What would happen if you added more than one bottle of cleanser?
I can't imagine anything too bad would happen, other than you may need more than one recharge cycle to fully flush it all out. Using more than one is probably more than necessary, if you're looking for a deeper clean, a good option might be to do 2 cleanings, a week or so apart. That would probably help flush out as much contaminants as possible.
It looks like I messed up with the procedure. I poured the Whirlpool water softener cleanser on top of the salt but not into the brine well. In this case, do you have any suggestion what I should do?
In that case, I'd recommend running the recharge and flushing like usual, that should take care of most of it. I would also recommend using up as much salt as you can before adding any more, as that will definitely make sure no cleaner is left. Thanks!
@@toyota-eh3ub Thank you for your quick response. Really appreciate that.
@@sellbook1 You're welcome
how often do i clean the unit, or just wait till the message comes on?
It's recommended to clean it every 3-4 months, which is when the light comes on. It's usually best to just wait for the light but just in case your light doesn't work or you forget, 3-4 months is a safe bet.
How often do you recommend doing this cleaning? (My water softner is 5yrs old)
I'd recommend doing this cleaning about every 3-4 months, or whenever the cleaning reminder appears on your softener, if your unit has a reminder. My softener is also around 5 years old, and still works great.
Thank you
You’re very welcome!
can i still clean it without the cleaner?
You can. Bleach can be used as an effective alternative to the cleaner. Just pour 2-3 tablespoons of standard bleach into the black cylinder where I put the cleaner in the video, run the recharge cycle, and then flush for 20 minutes afterward. You should be good to go.
Have same unit. Can still use water in house, just put in bypass mode (T handle in back of unit).
Good question! If you're asking if you can still use your water if the unit is in bypass mode, then yes. Bypassing will make it as if the softener isn't even there. You will still have water, but it will not be softened.
great video and helps alot. I have a whirlpool whes40. There is about salt up to level 5 and i see no water at all. I imagine i should see no water. Doesnt seem like my water is being softened.
There shouldn't be visible water in the tank with the salt level at 5, so it looks like you're good there. If your water is not getting softened, like if you still have water spots, and have already done this cleanout, you might try cleaning the nozzle and venturi. Usually the instructions on that are located on the underside of the salt tank lid. It may be a good idea to bump up the hardness number in the menu as well.
@@toyota-eh3ub yea I'll try that abs thanks for your reply. I broke up a salt bridge I think and removed some of the salt. Performed a regen and added salt and there is some water now on top . Ran out of salt actually, level 4 or so. Will see how it works during the next day and will get more salt and look at the venturi. Thx again
A salt bridge would definitely cause your softener to not work well as it reduces or even eliminates salt getting into the softener. Doing what you did should have it working good. Thanks for the reply!
Why my water softener stinks in spite of cleaning it. Do I need to change it with a new one?
It all depends on where the smell is coming from. If the water coming from your faucets smells like sulfur/rotten eggs or something like that, then it's the water, not the softener and unfortunately there's not much you can do. If the softener itself stinks, there may be mildew or something in the tank where the salt goes causing it to smell. In that case, I'd recommend waiting for your salt level to get low, and then scrubbing out as much of the grey salt tank as you can reach with Clorox wipes or something similar. This cleaner probably won't help since it's internal, not for the outer parts of the unit.
Either way, I wouldn't recommend replacing your water softener because of the smell. An odor on the machine won't contaminate the water. I think a good cleaning should eliminate the issue.
@@toyota-eh3ub thanks for your reply
We changed our water softener over the weekend it looks ok
No more bad smell and water pressure is good too🙏
You're welcome! I'm glad you got your problem taken care of!
Great video thank you
You're welcome!
What if the light keeps flashing after 5 hours of pouring cleaner and pressing the recharge button?
If the light is still flashing after pushing a button on the panel, your salt may be low. If the little level dots on the screen are at 2 or less, the light will flash. In that case, just add more salt to the tank and press the "Set Salt Level" button until the on-screen indicator reflects the actual salt level.
@@toyota-eh3ub great thank you for replying. I appreciate it.
You're welcome!
How much salt do you need
That all depends on how much is left in the tank and how big the tank is. I just filled mine today. It was around level 2 and the salt light was flashing. 2 bags did it for me. I use Morton salt that comes in the yellow bag. More isn’t always better, especially if you live in a more humid climate. Too much can cause a “salt bridge” where a big chunk of salt forms midway up the tank, stopping more from coming down and keeping the unit from using salt. You can break it up with a mop handle or other pole, but it’s a hassle.
As for the cleaning, I’d say if it’s at 2 or lower I’d refill it. The cleaner can make it use extra, and you don’t want it to run out.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
Thanks, this helped so much.
You're welcome!
@@toyota-eh3ub My light came on yesterday & followed the video and completed today. My whirlpool looks exactly like this one.
I’m so glad I could be of help here! These are pretty popular softeners. Thanks for the reply!
Thank you so much for this video because my cleaner light just came on today and believe it or not we have the same identical water softener. Perfect video and perfect timing..😀
Thanks again this was very helpful that's awesome 👍
Thank you so much! You're very welcome :)
Can I use Hydrogen peroxide? I pour a bottle every now and then.
I’m not sure, but I’d probably not recommend it. The cleaner is specifically meant for these units, and is effective without potentially causing issues. If you can’t get the cleaner, the manual recommends bleach. Just look up your manual for the recommended amount and does it just as I did the cleaner. Make sure you flush by running cold water for 20-30 minutes after. That ensures any leftover chemicals are gone.
@@toyota-eh3ub Thanks for the reply.
You’re welcome!
Couldn’t you start this cleaning cycle just before bed and then run the cold water flushing in the morning?
You definitely can, and I would recommend that as it's convenient and easy.
Manufacturer recommendation is to open bypass valve prior to start regeneration.
However, mfg and your video does not state when to open it back.
Thanks
I wouldn't recommend bypassing the softener for this, as it takes it "out of the loop" and it won't have water going to it, which it needs for a successful recharge. If you do need to bypass your water softener, I would open back the bypass valve after you're done working on the softener.
Hey bro we got the same one Hey also what leve do set up for level of hardness also I did what you did but now my whole tank is full of water is that normal do I need to add more salt its full up to the rim and not sure what to do
ULYSES J-A I set my hardness at 14, but it depends on your water. Unfortunately, it sounds like you have a clogged drain. I would recommend a plumber and not adding more salt.
Thank you!
You’re very welcome!
Thanks. I need to clean my machine.
You're welcome!
Why can't the water be used during the process?
I'm really not sure as to why, I just know the manual says not to. I'd imagine that because the softener uses water to regenerate and clean itself, running water could disrupt the process. I usually run the cleaner before I leave the house for a few hours, or when I don't need the water and then run cold water for around 20 minutes like in the video.
Manual says "Note: Avoid using hot water while the conditioner is regenerating, because the water heater will refill with bypass hard water." I guess it's okay to use during regen but it will be hard water.
Clearly says on bottle to use when salt is low.
It does, though so long as your softener has the black tube like this one, it should work at any level. The tube helps keep the cleaner out of the salt.
❤
You’re welcome!
10,000 Views!
There is a bypass mechanism that switches off the water softener while it's being cleaned.
That's true! It switches the house water supply to unsoftened water while it's recharging, that way you still have water. Also a good idea to have it set to recharge when you won't use much water, for example mine runs at 2:00 AM.
run your faucet for 20 mins? Holy shit that seems like a long time
It does seem like a long time, but I don't think it's too much more than doing a load of laundry or taking a bath. If you didn't want to, it's not a necessity, but I've had good luck flushing it.
@@toyota-eh3ub Honestly good point when you put it into perspective like that.
20 minutes of running water afterwards?? That would about 300gallons .. !!!
Not quite. To get to that many gallons, you’d need a faucet that puts out around 15 gallons per minute. I don’t think you could even get that out of a garden hose running full-blast. Even if it did, I’d still rather follow the manufacturers instructions to make sure the system is fully flushed.
@@toyota-eh3ub my numbers are off, but my point is , that's a lot of water.. plus, no where in my Ecopure says to flush after recharge.
@@kennyplay5982 I can forgive you for your numbers being off. It happens.
I'm with you, it doesn't say to flush it on those instructions, but I heard it somewhere, either the system's manual or the plumber that installed this unit. I've done it ever since and haven't had any issues. To me, it's worth the water to not have to worry about the chemicals ending up in the water.
Hey friends...
1. Good video... some wrong info.
Question: why do you think you should run the water for 20 mins after a cleaning cycle???
Answer... YOU DONT !!!
Explanation: the 2 hour brine and rinse cycle takes care of it.
Further explanation to stop yourself from running the abnormal and wasteful clearing 20 mins mentioned.
The shut off valves activate and separate the entire tank form the water system.
Unless your water source if so putrid you can't have one drop up the line without the softener being the source... you just simply put a few gallons from your source to the user..
Now last thought!
You turn into the engineer that builds water softeners... are you really gonna leave out the triple rinse cycle to clear the beads of all solutions and brine before allowing the softener back online after it's cycle???
Oh... you wouldn't?
NEITHER DID THEY!
Consider reading the manual or calling a plumber to verify if you doubt the words above...
Inform yourself where you can!
Best of luck.
To the video creator!
Again. Good video.
While not required, I like to do it just to be sure. I know for a fact, if I clean the system using bleach, per the manual after installation, when flushing the room where the water was running definitely smelled like bleach. So while not required, I like to do it just to eliminate any chance of it being left over.
Anyone here actually "flush" their pipes for 20 minutes after this process?? seems like a pretty big waste of water
I do, and everyone should. While it does technically "waste" water, if you don't, remnants of the cleaner could still be there. Not flushing could ultimately lead to you ingesting some of it. Worse yet, run hot water, and now that's in your tank. While I've never tried not flushing the pipes afterward, I'd recommend everyone do it just to be on the side of caution.
@Mike Studmuffin My instructions on the cleaner bottle and in the manual say to flush it. The cleaning solution isn't running through your house pipes, but remnants of it could still be in the resin, resin tank, or other softener parts. Flushing ensures all of that is gone.
I typically run a cold tap for about 10 minutes or so. This cleanser is dyed blue so it makes it easier to see when it's all been flushed out of you pipes.
One simple trick I just started doing is to put a white mixing bowl under the tap I'm running to make it easy to see when the water stops running blue. It ends up completely clear for me typically around the 12 min mark. The 20 min thing is just to cover everyone's situation, every faucet, house, etc. will have a different flow rate, way the plumbing is laid out. So that 20 mins is just to be on the safe side. Like I said mine is closer to 12 mins, but yours might be shorter or longer.
The other thing I read you can do is to run another cycle on the softener, but that will probably use more water than running a tap for 10-20 mins. Also gotta figure that's about a load of laundry's worth or a couple showers, maybe even one shower since your probably only using half the flow rate (you'd typically have the hot tap going for a shower).
Hope this helps.
How to set the time can u pls tell or tell or drop your instagram
To set the time, press the Program button, and it should start flashing. Use the up or down buttons to set the correct time, then press Program repeatedly until you’ve exited the menu.