Water remains hard at faucets even though the AquaClean softener appears to operate normally and displays no error code.

Safety: Close the inlet valve and depressurize the system before opening any tanks or valve heads.

Steps:

• Check bypass: Verify the AquaClean bypass is in the "Service" position. If it is in bypass, move it to service and retest water hardness.
• Verify settings: Confirm the programmed hardness and capacity settings match your actual water hardness (use a test kit or lab report).
• Inspect salt level: Ensure the brine tank has adequate salt and that water is visible at the bottom. If the tank is full of solid salt with a hollow space underneath, break up the salt bridge.
• Run manual regeneration: Initiate a manual regeneration and test the water hardness after completion.

If hardness remains high after proper regeneration and settings, the AquaClean resin bed may be exhausted or fouled and should be replaced.