Kenmore Water Softeners Error Codes
Complete list of fault codes and troubleshooting guides. Use the search below to find your specific error.
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Err 01
The control displays “Err 01” and the softener will not start a regeneration cycle.
Turbine/Flow Meter Signal Failure
Err 02
The control displays “Err 02” and regeneration stops mid-cycle.
Motor or Cam Position Fault
Err 03
Display shows “Err 03” and the unit will not complete regeneration.
Brine Valve / Refill Circuit Fault
Err 04
Control displays “Err 04” and time-of-day or capacity settings reset frequently.
Control Board Memory / Power Interruption Fault
Err 05
Display shows “Err 05” and the unit will not advance through regeneration stages.
Position Switch / Encoder Fault
Err 06
Display shows “Err 06” and the softener will not accept programming changes.
Keypad / User Interface Failure
Err 07
Display shows “Err 07” and the unit remains in bypass or service mode only.
Bypass / Valve Position Error
Err 08
Display shows “Err 08” and no water is softened even though the unit appears to run.
Metering / Capacity Calculation Error
Err 09
Display shows “Err 09” and regeneration stops during brine draw.
Brine Draw Failure Detected
Err 10
Display shows “Err 10” and the unit will not initiate regeneration at the scheduled time.
Timer / Clock Circuit Failure
Err br
Display shows a brine-related error code and the unit aborts regeneration.
Brine Refill / Float Fault
Err dRAIN
Display shows a drain-related error and the unit stalls in backwash or rinse.
Drain Line Flow Restriction
Err FL
Display shows “Err FL” or similar, and the unit reports flow when no water is running.
False Flow Detection
Err SALT
Display shows a salt-related error (e.g., “Err SALT”) and regeneration is inhibited.
Salt Level / Brine System Fault
H0
Display shows “H0” or a similar hardness error, and water feels hard between regenerations.
Hardness Setting / Sensor Error
Lo Salt
Display shows “Lo Salt” or “Add Salt” even when salt is present in the tank.
Salt Level Detection / Brine Concentration Issue
Symptom
Air spurts from faucets after softener regenerates.
Air Ingress in Brine or Drain System
Symptom
Display is blank; softener appears completely dead.
No Power to Control Board
Symptom
Iron staining persists even though water feels soft.
Iron Fouling of Resin or Insufficient Iron Removal
Symptom
Low water pressure in the house when softener is in service.
Flow Restriction Through Softener
Symptom
No water flow through softener; house has no water when unit is in service position.
Internal Valve Blockage or Rotor Failure
Symptom
Salt tank full of water (brine tank overfilling).
Brine Tank Overfill
Symptom
Softener displays time but buttons do not respond.
Keypad Failure
Symptom
Softener emits a constant humming noise but does not move through cycles.
Stalled Drive Motor
Symptom
Softener frequently overflows the drain during regeneration.
Excessive Drain Flow or Restricted House Drain
Symptom
Softener leaking water from around the valve head.
Valve Head Seal or O-Ring Leak
Symptom
Softener makes loud clicking or grinding noises during regeneration.
Drive Gear or Cam Damage
Symptom
Softener regenerates at the wrong time of day.
Clock / Programming Issue
Symptom
Softener stuck in regeneration; continues to run water to drain.
Regeneration Cycle Not Advancing
Symptom
Softener uses too much salt; the salt level drops very quickly.
Excessive Brine Refill or Frequent Regeneration
Symptom
Softener uses very little or no salt; the salt level never seems to drop.
No Brine Draw or Refill
Symptom
The softener cabinet or surrounding area smells musty or moldy.
Standing Water or Poor Ventilation
Symptom
The softener causes water hammer or banging pipes during regeneration.
Rapid Valve Shifts or High Flow Changes
Symptom
The softener does not regenerate automatically; it only works when started manually.
Demand Initiation or Timer Failure
Symptom
The softener is stuck in bypass; soft water cannot be obtained even when the unit is set to service.
Bypass Valve Internal Failure
Symptom
The softener regenerates, but water is only partially softened (soft then hard before the next regeneration).
Insufficient Capacity or Incorrect Programming
Symptom
Visible resin beads are present in household faucets or aerators.
Distributor Tube or Bottom Screen Failure
Symptom
Water leaking from around the bypass valve or plumbing connections.
Bypass Valve Seal Failure
Symptom
Water remains hard; no noticeable softening even after regeneration.
Resin Bed Exhaustion or Fouling
Symptom
Water tastes salty after regeneration.
Insufficient Rinse After Brine Draw
| Error Code | Symptom | Fault Type | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Err 01 |
The control displays “Err 01” and the softener will not start a regeneration cycle.
|
Turbine/Flow Meter Signal Failure | View Details |
| Err 02 |
The control displays “Err 02” and regeneration stops mid-cycle.
|
Motor or Cam Position Fault | View Details |
| Err 03 |
Display shows “Err 03” and the unit will not complete regeneration.
|
Brine Valve / Refill Circuit Fault | View Details |
| Err 04 |
Control displays “Err 04” and time-of-day or capacity settings reset frequently.
|
Control Board Memory / Power Interruption Fault | View Details |
| Err 05 |
Display shows “Err 05” and the unit will not advance through regeneration stages.
|
Position Switch / Encoder Fault | View Details |
| Err 06 |
Display shows “Err 06” and the softener will not accept programming changes.
|
Keypad / User Interface Failure | View Details |
| Err 07 |
Display shows “Err 07” and the unit remains in bypass or service mode only.
|
Bypass / Valve Position Error | View Details |
| Err 08 |
Display shows “Err 08” and no water is softened even though the unit appears to run.
|
Metering / Capacity Calculation Error | View Details |
| Err 09 |
Display shows “Err 09” and regeneration stops during brine draw.
|
Brine Draw Failure Detected | View Details |
| Err 10 |
Display shows “Err 10” and the unit will not initiate regeneration at the scheduled time.
|
Timer / Clock Circuit Failure | View Details |
| Err br |
Display shows a brine-related error code and the unit aborts regeneration.
|
Brine Refill / Float Fault | View Details |
| Err dRAIN |
Display shows a drain-related error and the unit stalls in backwash or rinse.
|
Drain Line Flow Restriction | View Details |
| Err FL |
Display shows “Err FL” or similar, and the unit reports flow when no water is running.
|
False Flow Detection | View Details |
| Err SALT |
Display shows a salt-related error (e.g., “Err SALT”) and regeneration is inhibited.
|
Salt Level / Brine System Fault | View Details |
| H0 |
Display shows “H0” or a similar hardness error, and water feels hard between regenerations.
|
Hardness Setting / Sensor Error | View Details |
| Lo Salt |
Display shows “Lo Salt” or “Add Salt” even when salt is present in the tank.
|
Salt Level Detection / Brine Concentration Issue | View Details |
| – |
Air spurts from faucets after softener regenerates.
|
Air Ingress in Brine or Drain System | View Details |
| – |
Display is blank; softener appears completely dead.
|
No Power to Control Board | View Details |
| – |
Iron staining persists even though water feels soft.
|
Iron Fouling of Resin or Insufficient Iron Removal | View Details |
| – |
Low water pressure in the house when softener is in service.
|
Flow Restriction Through Softener | View Details |
| – |
No water flow through softener; house has no water when unit is in service position.
|
Internal Valve Blockage or Rotor Failure | View Details |
| – |
Salt tank full of water (brine tank overfilling).
|
Brine Tank Overfill | View Details |
| – |
Softener displays time but buttons do not respond.
|
Keypad Failure | View Details |
| – |
Softener emits a constant humming noise but does not move through cycles.
|
Stalled Drive Motor | View Details |
| – |
Softener frequently overflows the drain during regeneration.
|
Excessive Drain Flow or Restricted House Drain | View Details |
| – |
Softener leaking water from around the valve head.
|
Valve Head Seal or O-Ring Leak | View Details |
| – |
Softener makes loud clicking or grinding noises during regeneration.
|
Drive Gear or Cam Damage | View Details |
| – |
Softener regenerates at the wrong time of day.
|
Clock / Programming Issue | View Details |
| – |
Softener stuck in regeneration; continues to run water to drain.
|
Regeneration Cycle Not Advancing | View Details |
| – |
Softener uses too much salt; the salt level drops very quickly.
|
Excessive Brine Refill or Frequent Regeneration | View Details |
| – |
Softener uses very little or no salt; the salt level never seems to drop.
|
No Brine Draw or Refill | View Details |
| – |
The softener cabinet or surrounding area smells musty or moldy.
|
Standing Water or Poor Ventilation | View Details |
| – |
The softener causes water hammer or banging pipes during regeneration.
|
Rapid Valve Shifts or High Flow Changes | View Details |
| – |
The softener does not regenerate automatically; it only works when started manually.
|
Demand Initiation or Timer Failure | View Details |
| – |
The softener is stuck in bypass; soft water cannot be obtained even when the unit is set to service.
|
Bypass Valve Internal Failure | View Details |
| – |
The softener regenerates, but water is only partially softened (soft then hard before the next regeneration).
|
Insufficient Capacity or Incorrect Programming | View Details |
| – |
Visible resin beads are present in household faucets or aerators.
|
Distributor Tube or Bottom Screen Failure | View Details |
| – |
Water leaking from around the bypass valve or plumbing connections.
|
Bypass Valve Seal Failure | View Details |
| – |
Water remains hard; no noticeable softening even after regeneration.
|
Resin Bed Exhaustion or Fouling | View Details |
| – |
Water tastes salty after regeneration.
|
Insufficient Rinse After Brine Draw | View Details |
No matching codes found
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